Wyrm SDS Submersible Fortress

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This article is about submersible fortress. For the Vigilant-class WarShip, see Wyrm (Vigilant).
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Wyrm SDS Submersible Fortress
Production information
Use Space Defense System
Chassis Type Fortress
Motive Type Naval (Submarine)
Technology Base Inner Sphere
Cost
Introduced 3072
Technical specifications
Size (in hexes) 18
Length (meters/Hexes) 180 meters/6 Hexes
Width (meters/Hexes) 150 meters/5 Hexes
Height (meters/Levels) 60 meters/10 Levels
Power System Fusion
Fuel NA
Heat Sinks (total) 4,588
Construction Factor 150
Armor (per Hex) 150
Total Cargo (tons) 4224.5
Doors (total) 11
Bays 4 Super-Heavy Vehicle Bays
8 Heavy Vehicle Bays
4 Light Vehicle Bays
Escape Pods 40 (normal)
30 (maritime)
Crew 100 officers
108 crew
324 gunners
243 bay personnel
36 battle armor
36 marines
Armament 36x LRT 20 w/Artemis IV
28x SRT 6 + Artemis IV
16x ER Large Laser
4x Large VSP Laser
48x Medium Pulse Laser
12x ER PPC
8x Arrow IV
8x Gauss Rifle
16x LB 2-X AC
Equipment 32x Laser Anti-Missile System
4x NL55
4x Barracuda
2x Killer Whale
1x Killer Whale-T
Facilities 36 steerage quarters
356 crew quarters
1 MASH unit
20 tons comms eqpt
3 field kitchens
1 helipad
2 mobile field bases
4 lift hoists
BV (1.0) ????
BV (2.0) 47,107



Overview

The Wyrm was the first specialised Space Defense System designed by the Word of Blake to augment their Star League-era defenses.[1]

Description

The Blakists began development of the Wyrm within weeks of taking control of Terra, but the size and complexity of the system meant that it would take until 3072 before the first Wyrm entered service, and only 12 would be constructed before the liberation of Terra by the allied coalition towards the end of the Jihad. Not only was each Wyrm one of the largest mobile structures ever built, it was also one of the most complex and most expensive, due to the requirement that each be submersible.[1]

Each Wyrm was built with the intent that it could remain at sea for months or even years at a time; as such, each had extensive cargo bays and a range of facilities that included a MASH unit with ten additional operating theatres, three field kitchens and two mobile field bases, although all of the crew and officer quarters were double-berth.[1]

As befits the nature of the Wyrm, each carries a ferocious amount of firepower. The combined power of the assorted NL55s, Killer Whale and Barracuda launchers makes a Wyrm capable of destroying a DropShip in a single salvo. In addition to the numerous weapon pods blistering the hull, each Wyrm has four retractable turrets, each of which weighs more than 100 tonnes and carries enough firepower to destroy an AeroSpace Fighter in a single volley, while the multiple long- and short-range torpedo tubes and laser weapons make a sub-surface attack a risky proposition. The hull of a Wyrm is compartmentalised and heavily armoured, allowing it to continue to submerge and operate even after taking substantial damage.[1]

In addition to the built-in defensive measures, each Wyrm carries four submarines to provide additional protection; with bays to support two Manta fast-attack subs and two Moray heavy attack subs, engaging the Wyrm underwater becomes an increasingly difficult task. Should a Wyrm be successfully boarded, the onboard garrison consisting of a Level II of battle armor has to be overcome in a fierce intership battle.[1]

Of the twelve Wyrms manufactured prior to the invasion of Terra, five were destroyed by AeroSpace bombing runs or targetted orbital bombardment, while five more were captured along the Asian coastline as a result of fierce hand-to-hand boarding actions. By 3079 only two Wyrms were believed to still be on active service, capable of keeping to the depths of the oceans other when not surfacing to replenish oxygen supplies or launch guerilla attacks against coalition forces.[1]

Noteable Stations

  • Lowyfur - the last of the Wyrms to remain in active surface, the Lowyfur was finally defeated in February 3080 as a result of a daring boarding action in the North Sea. Gurkha HALO troopers under the command of Major Tracy Rhys executed a combat drop during a storm to board the Lowyfur, which had resurfaced only briefly to re-air. The surviving Ghurka commandos boarded the Lowyfur's bridge and disabled it for long enough to allow follow-on battalions of Battle Armor to be delivered by DropShip before the Lowyfur submerged, leading to a deadly compartment-by-compartment battle that saw the Lowyfur's crew finally defeated 3,000 meters below the surface of the North Sea.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 189-190, "Wyrm SDS Submersible Fortress"
  2. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 36, "Terran Security Assured"

Bibliography