Resources on this page
Military Acronyms
SAAB Time Line
USS Saratoga SCVN
Endo/Exo SA-43 Hammerheads
ISSCV
RAF BC-48 Spitfires
BC-45 Hurricane
RAF Tornado

USS SARATOGA SCVN-2812

Manufacturer : AeroTech Space Division - Newport News, Virginia
Assembled : James Lovel Orbital Assembly Facility
Serial specs : Space Carrier Vehicle Nuclear
Weight : 646.269 tons (890.755 tons fully loaded)
Length : 525,6 m (1.724 ft) -245,1 m (804 ft) in the beam
Height : 185,4 m (608 ft)
Hull depth (draft) : 74,4 m (254 ft)
Superstructure : 67,7 m (222 ft)
Lidar dome : 40,2 m (132 ft)
Propulsion : He3 Fusion Drive - complemented by a Bussard Ramjet (for increased fuel savings)
Engines : 2 MF3600 Fusion Reactors - 7 year lifespan
Max Speed : 0,96c - under acceleration of 3,9g and without FTL
Range : [CLASSIFIED] lightyears per day - when using the inertialess drive. Sublight range = 5,7 lightyears.
Other : in case of catastrophic engine failure, 3 Emergency Chemical Rockets may be used to bring the ship to a halt
Armament :13 Laser cannon batteries

Existing hardpoint configuration :
1 x 1,2GW Laser cannon
2 x 450 MW
6 x 300 MW
4 x 50 MW
30 Phalanx II missile launchers
72 KEW/Torpedo launchers

Crew:
Ship's company : 3228
Navy Air Wing : 1008
Marine Expeditionary Unit : 1344
Army Infantry : 565

Air Wing composition:
168 SA-43 Hammerhead Endo/Exo Transatmospheric Attack Jet
_14 AT-72 Stingray Recon Craft
__4 B-290 Barracuda Fighter-Bombers
__4 SWAC Spacebourne Warning And Control craft
_16 ISSAPC Inter-Solar-System Armoured Personnel Carriers
__8 SSRT Sub-Orbital Short-Range Transport craft
__8 LC-19 Landing Craft

ISSCV/APC

Endo-Exo Trans-atmospheric InterStellar Space Cargo Vehicle/Armoured Personnel Vehicle

Primary Function : A smaller transport ship used to travel from one system to another.
Manufacturer : AeroTech Space Division - Newport News, Virginia
Specs: Endo-Exo Trans-atmospheric InterStellar Space Cargo Vehicle/Armoured Personnel Vehicle
Primary Function : A smaller transport ship used to travel from one system to another.
Manufacturer : AeroTech Space Division - Newport News, Virginia
Length : 50 meters
Height : 4.8 meters
Wingspan : 4 meters
Ferry range: N/A
Combat radius: N/A
Fighter mission: N/A
Attack mission: N/A
Manoeuverability: N/A
Propulsion : 6 HE3 Fuselage Core Realspace Thrusters with 7.6 Gs max acceleration
Engines : 2 SCAMjet intakes for Atmospheric Flight
Armament : Nose mounted 12 megawatt twin laser pulse cannon turret capable of 180 degree swivels but with low elevation and depression, a back mounted 8.4 megawatt twin laser pulse cannon turret capable of 360 degree and -3 depression swivels that are used with a headgear guide and two side hatch mounted 10 mm Gauss laser machine cannons located at the starboard and port sections of the ship.

Features
: The vessel carries a box-like cargo or troop compartment, which can be dropped off.
LIDAR : Laser Infrared/Imaging Detection And Ranging. Long Range, configurable. Can track and engage up to 100 independent targets.
HUD : Heads-Up Display. Mainly used for displaying flight parameters, navigational information and overall combat intelligence.
ODP : Optical Disk Playback. Used for mission data recordings. Can be used lateron for mission evaluation.
Crew : 2 pilots / 1 board sniper / 1 navigator
Introduction date: N/A
Unit Replacement Cost: N/A

Mission: This is the main combat configuration of the ISSCV series. The APC is capable of transporting 30 soldiers to touch down and extraction sites. The APC module also contains an EW station equipped with a LIDAR system capable of monitoring enemy activity.

The Inter Solar System Cargo Vessel is a large, rectangular modular containment vessel capable of carrying human and mechanical cargo alike. The ISSCV is transported by the ISSAPC, and can serve as a base of operations.

SA-43 HAMMERHEAD

Endo-Exo Trans-atmospheric Attack Jet


Primary fighter of the United States Marine Corps.

Primary Function : Deployment in combat missions (Combat Space Patrol), interception, Close Air Support (CAS) and Colonial Defense, but can also be adapted for SAR (Search and Rescue).
Manufacturer: AeroTech Space Division - Newport News, Virginia
Length : 11.5 m
Height : 1.7 m
Wingspan : 12.5 m


Ferry range: Over 2,000 mega statue kilometres
Combat radius: N/A
Fighter mission: N/A
Attack mission: N/A
Manoeuverability:
Propulsion : He3 fuelled SCRAMjet (Supersonic Combustion RAMjet)
Engines : SCRAMjet - enabling the SA-43 to fly from inside an atmosperic envelope to a transorbital fase right into ACM (Air Combat Manoevring, i.e. dogfighting), in the (almost complete) vacuum of space
Armament : 1 x frontal, sub-nose gimbal-mounted electro-magnetic railgun (capable of covering a 50° kill-zone) 1 x dual-barrel aft-mounted railgun, mounted in a turret, capable of auto-target seeking and tracking
Existing hardpoint configuration : 6 x hardpoints, capable of carrying:
- a. Missiles : Spartan space-to-space missile
- b. Bombs
- c. Pods : for carrying special electronic Eqt or instrument modules

Features: The SA-43 has various modular components, easily replaced in case of malfunction.
The canopies are detachable, enabling the craft not only to dock on board carriers, but also on various types of space stations. The cockpit usually is lifted up to the flightdeck (hence smaller decks are possible). It also doubles as an escape pos in case of midair emergency.
LIDAR : Laser Infrared Detection And Ranging. Long Range, configurable. Can track and engage up to 100 independent targets.
HUD : Heads-Up Display. Mainly used for displaying flight parameters, navigational information and overall combat intelligence.
ODP : Optical Disk Playback. Used for mission data recordings. Can be used lateron for mission evaluation.
Crew: 1
Introduction date: N/A
Unit Replacement Cost: N/A

Mission: Specific SA-43 tasks include:
- Intercept and destroy enemy craft in conjunction with ground or airborne fighter control under all-endo/exo conditions.
- Conduct day and night close air support.
- Conduct day and night deep air support. Deep air support consists of LIDAR search and attack, interdiction, and strikes against enemy installations using all types of weapons compatible with assigned craft.
- Conduct armed escort of friendly craft.
- Be able to operate from spacecraft carriers, advanced bases, and expeditionary airfields.
- Be able to deploy or conduct extended range operations employing aerial refueling.

BC-48 Spitfire V/STOL

Endo-Exo Trans-atmospheric Attack Jet - as used in the Megan Chambers Series

Primary function: Intercept and destroy enemy air/spacecraft under all-weather/space conditions and attack and destroy surface targets.
Manufacturer: British AeroSpace
Propulsion: Two General Electric Turbo SCRamJet thrusters with afterburning capability
Thrust: 21,000 pounds per engine
Length: 56 feet (17.06 meters)
Wing span: 37.5 feet (11.43 meters)




Ferry range:
Over 2,000 mega statue kilometres
Combat radius:
Fighter mission: 755 msk
Attack mission: 550 msk
Manoeuverability: Turn performance is very good, turns can be done at 8g without loss of speed (altitude in air fight); or instantly by using the YAW of the spacecraft (can only be done in space though). Turn radius is low; making the BC-48 a good adversary for the Chig crafts. ASCM (Air/Space Combat Manoeuvering) is good, with minimal losses of kinetic energy.
Armament: Five external wing stations, comprising two wingtip stations for an assortment of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons; two inboard wing stations for external fuel tanks or air-to-ground stations; two nacelle fuselage stations and a center station for fuel tank or air-to-ground weapons. Two 20mm six-barrel gun, one is mounted in the nose; a second turret is mounted on the top rear.
LIDAR : Laser Infrared Detection And Ranging. Long Range, configurable. Can track and engage up to 100 independent targets.
HUD : Heads-Up Display. Mainly used for displaying flight parameters, navigational information and overall combat intelligence.
ODP : Optical Disk Playback. Used for mission data recordings. Can be used lateron for mission evaluation.
Crew: 1 (single-seat)
Introduction date: March 2052
Unit Replacement Cost: £7,100,000

Mission: Specific BC-48 tasks include:
- Intercept and destroy enemy craft in conjunction with ground or airborne fighter control under all-endo/exo conditions.
- Conduct day and night close air support.
- Conduct day and night deep air support. Deep air support consists of LIDAR search and attack, interdiction, and strikes against enemy installations using all types of weapons compatible with assigned craft.
- Conduct armed escort of friendly craft.
- Be able to operate from spacecraft carriers, advanced bases, and expeditionary airfields.
- Be able to deploy or conduct extended range operations employing aerial refueling.

Features: The RAF BC-48 strike fighter multi-mission spacecraft was designed to replace the F-4 Phantom. The BC-48 Spitfire is missionized for traditional fighter, attack, and close air/space support roles through selection of external pods/equipment to accomplish specific mission objectives. Any craft can quickly be configured to perform either fighter or attack missions, or both. RAF BC-48s may be land-based from prepared airfields, or they can operate from expeditionary airfields (EAF). They may also be space-based, operating from the decks of Royal Navy spacecraft carriers.
Like the 20th Century Harrier attack jet the BC-48's features V/STOL (Vertical/Short Take Off and Landing).

All-Round Looking LIDAR; their cockpit units seperate from the plane after landing, and are stored on the flight deck.
Unlike the SA-43 Hammerhead the navigation, HUD, LIDAR and Comm have been layouted in a slightly different way, i.e. the positions are switched form left to right and vice versa.

Inventory: 14 active and 4 reserve RAF units with 10 planes each for a total of 180 planes. Two squadrons of five fighter/pilots form one unit.

Background: The CC war was the operational proving ground for the BC-48. Six single-seat BC-48 squadrons deployed to Central India to participate in combat operations. These squadrons flew in excess of 4600 sorties for a total of 8864 hours while experiencing no combat losses.

During the Chig War, the BC-48 is still the standard endo/exo attack jet of the Royal Air Force, though it will be gradually exchanged for the Tornado. Currently 14 active RAF units are using BC-48s, 8 squadrons serving on the Royal Navy spacecraft-carriers HMS Wellington (SCVN) and 3 each on the flag-ship HMS Ark Royal (SCVN)and HMS Trafalgar.

Tornado F. 22 (ADV)

Endo-Exo Trans-atmospheric Attack Jet - as used in Search and Rescue

Manufacturer: Panavia
Propulsion: Two Turnbo Union RB 300 Afterburning Scramjet engines
Thrust: 26,000 pounds per engine
Length: 56 feet (17.06 meters)
Wing span: 37.5 feet (11.43 meters)
Ferry range: Over 3,000 mega statue kilometres
Combat radius:  700 msk
Manoeuverability:
Turn radius at low level (atmospheric) > 100 metres.
  Mid altitude: > 500 metres.
  High altitude: < 1000 metres. 
Extreme altitude (edge of space): > 500 metres, with assistance from RCS thrusters. 
Space: 0 metres.
Acceleration: Space, < 400 m/s2.  Atmosphere, 200 m/s2
Armament: Mountings for four long range missiles on the lower fuselage.  Each wing carries two pylons: inboard pylon equipped to carry one drop tank for extended range and two short range missiles.  Outboard pylon carries three medium range missiles, making a total missile load of fourteen weapons.
Additionally, two high-yield omni-directional laser cannons mounted low down on either side of the nosecone.
LIDAR : Laser Infrared Detection And Ranging. Long Range, configurable. Can track and engage up to 100 independent targets.  Fitted with JTIDS software, allowing aircraft to exchange targeting information.  In an emergency, one Tornado can even operate in an SWACS capacity for other aircraft.
HUD : Heads-Up Display. Mainly used for displaying flight parameters, navigational information and overall combat intelligence.
ODP : Optical Disk Playback. Used for mission data recordings. Can be used lateron for mission evaluation.
Crew: 2
Introduction date: Original variant: 1982.  F.22 variant: Early 2064
Unit Replacement Cost: £10,633,000
Mission: Specific Tornado tasks include:
- Intercept and destroy enemy craft in conjunction with ground or airborne fighter control under all-endo/exo conditions.
- Conduct day and night close air support.
- Conduct day and night deep air support. Deep air support consists of LIDAR search for enemy air/spacecraft and attack
- Conduct armed escort of friendly craft.
- Search and Rescue operations in hostile environments.
- Be able to operate from all bases under all conditions utilising VTOL.
- Be able to deploy or conduct extended range operations employing aerial refueling.
Features: The Tornado ADV (Air Defence Variant) is the air-to-air version of the highly successful Tornado IDS attack jet.  It is designed for maximum effectiveness against enemy air and naval traffic Unlike most combat aircraft, the Tornado is mission specific&the ADV cannot engage enemy ground targets, except in an emergency using the cannon.
However, a selection of extra pods can replace the weapons, allowing both variants of Tornado to operate in the reconnaissance and electronic warfare roles.
The Tornado also has a V/STOL capability, allowing it to operate from bases in all locations, under nearly all conditions.
All-Round Looking LIDAR; Their cockpit units seperate from the plane after landing, and are stored on the flight deck.
Inventory: 8 Squadrons in active service in the RAF.  Each Squadron consists of six active and one reserve aircraft.

BC-45 Hurricane V/STOL


Endo-Exo Trans-atmospheric Attack Jet - as used in the 'Shards of Fire' series.
Primary function:
Intercept and destroy enemy air/spacecraft under all weather conditions; attack and destroy surface targets; conduct aerial reconnaissance.
Manufacturer:
British AeroSpace/ Boeing-McDonnell Douglas
Propulsion:
One Rolls-Royce Turbo SCRAMjet with afterburning capability
Thrust:
35,000 pounds
Length:
50 feet (15.36 meters)
Wing span:
36 feet (10.97 meters)
Ferry range:
Over 2,200 mega statue kilometres
Combat radius:

Fighter mission:
850 MSK
Attack mission:
600 MSK
Reconnaissance mission: 800MSK
Manoeuvrability:

Due to high-capacity RCS thrusters, low wing loading, and high thrust-to-weight ratio, agility is very high - even marginally superior to that of the later BC-48. Combined with high speed, this gives the Hurricane at least equivalency, and often superiority, to 'Cobra' and 'Venom'-class alien fighters in most categories.
Armament:

Wingtip rails for short- or medium-range anti-aircraft missiles. Three under-belly and four underwing external stations, compatible with most weapons and stores with UEF-standard interfaces; centre-line and inboard underwing stations are plumbed for external fuel tanks. Twin fixed chin-mounted 10mm Gauss cannons with one thousand rounds per gun.
Electronics:

GEC-Marconi SLD-07 'Red Gryphon' LIDAR; medium-long range, rugged and reliable, easily serviced. Track-while-scan facility allows simultaneous tracking of up to 75 independent targets and simultaneous engagement of up to three.

GEC-Marconi SD-09 mission computer with FDD-27 HUD, three MFCD head-down-displays, JTIDS link and optical-disc programming/playback. HUD displays all relevant flight-data, including navigational information and combat situation support.  MFCDs are fully configurable in-flight, but centre MFCD is usually dedicated to tactical display, left to flight instrumentation, right to stores status and weapons control.
Crew:
1 (single-seat)
Introduction date:
June, 2041
Unit Replacement Cost:
£4,300,000 (in 2041 currency)

Mission:
Specific BC-45 tasks include:
- Intercept and destroy enemy craft in conjunction with ground or airborne fighter control under all-endo/exo conditions.
- Conduct day and night close air support.
- Conduct day and night deep air support. Deep air support consists of LIDAR search and attack, interdiction, and strikes against enemy installations using all types of weapons compatible with assigned craft.
- Conduct armed escort of friendly craft.
- Be able to operate from spacecraft carriers, advanced bases, and expeditionary airfields.
- Be able to deploy or conduct extended range operations employing aerial refuelling.
- Conduct aerial photographic, video, and LIDAR reconnaissance of enemy positions with minimal support.

Features:
Designed to replace the Jaguar attack fighter with a minimum of technological risk or pilot conversion training, the BC-45's design goals also included longer range, better manoeuvrability, and strong export potential; the desired cost-per-unit was £5,000,000. Using the widely-exported Saab-Scania JAS-39 'Gryphon' as their starting point, the design team produced an aircraft that achieved (or surpassed) all the set benchmarks while remaining more than a ton under maximum permissible design weight and significantly under desired unit cost, an effort reminiscient of Ed Heinemann's legendary A-4 Skyhawk.

Designed from the outset for both anti-aircraft and ground-attack missions, the Hurricane need only be fitted with the appropriate warload to perform a given mission; extended combat service in the CC and AI wars garnered the aircraft near-legendary status for its survivability, long range, and high warload capacity. The design team was foresighted enough to include considerable expansion room and high modularity, substantially easing systems maintenance and upgrades.
While technically V/STOL capable, the Hurricane operates best from conventional landing bases or space carriers. Design compromises and technological advances since its introduction mean that the Hurricane does not feature the now-common 'cockpit pod' system; the cockpit is part of the fuselage, and pilots must physically climb into their aircraft.
The Red Gryphon LIDAR system provides reliable, 360-degree coverage, but lacks the range and tracking capacity of more recent systems. Many examples have been updated with more modern LIDARs, a process facilitated by the aircraft's modularity and the flexible SD-09 mission computer. Most relevant flight, weapon, and mission controls are operated via the HOTAS (Hands On Throttle And Stick) system, and the cockpit instruments include three Multi-Function Colour Displays. Like its younger cousin, the BC-48, the Hurricane uses a left-hand-operated throttle.

Though originally designed for the Royal Air Force, the BC-45 was quickly adopted by many other air arms around the world, and was even licence-produced by Boeing under the designation SF-37 Mustang when BAe factories could not meet demand.

Inventory:
With the introduction of the BC-48 and Tornado F.22, all RAF and most US examples have been sold or pensioned off to secondary users, but the Venezuelan Air Force alone operates three squadrons.

Background:
As with their namesakes a century before, in the CC war Hurricanes were the workhorses of the Commonwealth air arms, while Spitfires got most of the glory. Hurricanes quickly became legendary for safely returning from missions with battle-damage that would have pulverised any other aircraft.

Multiple squadrons of BC-45s/SF-37s serve in the air arms of Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, the Royal Navy, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States Air Force and Navy Reserves, and Venezuela. Due to their obsolescent avionics, however, many of these aircraft have either been substantially upgraded or relegated to second-line units.

Information used on this site thanks to Mission Status Home, The S:AAB Intelligence Center, Werrf (author of Search And Rescue and inventor of the Tornados F.22), Danyel Woods (author of Shards Of Fire and inventor of the BC-45 Hurricane) and yours truly, inventor of the BC-48 as first featured in A Class Of Its Own.


© DrkNite 1996-2005