NORTHAMPTON-CLASS STEALTH FRIGATE

(Version 0.9 - Last modified: 07/25/98 20:05)

RPG Stats by DANIEL HENWOOD (dhenwood@hotmail.com)
Background text by DAVE DEITRICH (deitrich@mcs.net)
Background info provided by the MACROSS ONLINE COMPENDIUM

BACKGROUND

RPG STATS

Government: New Unity Government (Earth)
Ship Type: Long Distance Stealth Frigate
Class: Northampton Class
Manufacturer: ORTEC Company/UN Spacy

Crew: 750 total

Command Tower: 30

Main Ship: 500

VF Pilots: 48

VF Support Crew: 72

Troops: 100

Notable Ships of Class:

UNSS Stargazer (launched 2036 as part of the Macross 07 colony fleet, regarded as the fastest ship of the fleet, destroyed 2046 by Protodeviln during Operation Stargazer)

(1) Main Body                                  12,500
(2) Command Tower                               2,500
(2) Sensor Array (on top of Command Tower)        300
(3) Main Engines/Power Plants (2)               4,000 each
(3) Secondary Engines (4)                       1,250 each
(3) Small Guidance thrusters (20)                 200 each

    Main Cannons (2)                              500 each
    Heavy Missile Launchers (2)                   400 each
    Anti-Warship Cannons (8)                      300 each
    Anti-Aircraft Missile Launchers (6)           250 each

    Small Airlocks/Access Hatches (25)            250 each
    Flight Deck Airlock (1)                       500
    Outer Hull (per 40ft area)                    120
    Interior walls (per 20ft)                      20

(4) Pin Point Barriers (4)                      2,500 each

1. 
2. Depleting the MDC of the main body will put the frigate out of commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal gravity. The ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating wreck.
3. Destroying the command tower will instantly kill the command staff and deprive the ship of all forms of long range communications, radar and targeting. The range and targeting capabilities of the secondary systems are equal to that of a VF-11 Thunderbolt. The ship can still operate, but is at -3 on initiative, -3 to strike, and number of attacks per melee of the weapon systems are reduced by half. Destroying the main sensory array atop the command tower will have the same effect, but the command staff will not be killed instantly.
4. Depleting the MDC of the main engines will force the ship to rely on its secondary engines. Depleting the MDC of the main engines AND secondary engines will leave the ship adrift in space. If in an atmosphere, the ship will crash (destruction of the main engines will render the antigravity system useless due to loss of power).
5. The Pinpoint Barriers regenerate at a rate of 1,250 MD per second (2,500 MD per melee round). If destroyed, a barrier will completely regenerate within 2 seconds (1 melee rounds). See the Pinpoint Barrier System entry for details.

SPEEDS:

Speed(sublight): 0.20 speed of light (32,000 miles per second)

Speed(Auxiliary Drives): Mach 3
Space Fold: Range Unlimited (1 light year every 6 minutes)
Planet bound:

Can land if necessary but not designed to maneuver in an atmosphere. Can only land in a body of water (does not have landing gear).

Maximum Range: Unlimited (estimated 20 year life span, which can be extended with regular maintenance and overhauls)

Note: the Northampton-class frigates are extremely agile (in starship terms) and get an additional +2 to dodge (plus stealth bonuses) when avoiding fire from enemy starships or protodeviln.

STATISTICAL DATA:

Length: 820 ft (250 m)

Weight: 120,000 tons (empty) / 160,000 tons (standard)

Power System:

ORTEC/General Galaxy Main reactor

Fold System:

ORTEC/Shinnakasu/General Galaxy Advanced Fold Cluster

Sublight Drive:

ORTEC/Centinel Impulse Drive Cluster

Gravity Control System: Internal

Auxiliary Engine:

Shinnakasu/Shinsei Industries/Agar Nuclear Pulse Rocket Motor Cluster

Sensor System: Standard & Subspace Mass Detector

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

1. MAIN LASER CANNONS (2): The main weapon systems of the Northampton frigates are two heavy laser cannons, mounted on either side of the ship near the command tower facing forward. Despite the ship's small size these cannons pack a punch equal to those used by larger UN Spacy and Zentraedi vessels and make the Northampton a foe to be reckoned with. Each laser can fire separately or together, but can only fire at targets that are almost directly in front of the frigate (lasers can aim 10 degrees off the ship's centerline).
• PRIMARY PURPOSE: Heavy Assault
• SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Warship
• RANGE: 100,000 miles (160,000 km)
• DAMAGE: 1D8x1000 M.D. per blast
• RATE OF FIRE: Unlimited. Will function so long as the main engines are intact.
2. HEAVY MISSILE LAUNCHERS (2): To back up the heavy lasers the Northampton frigates are also armed with two heavy missile launcher tubes that launch ICBM-like missiles at enemy ships. The missile tubes resemble torpedo launchers and are mounted alongside the main laser cannons on each side of the ship. The launchers contain long-range nuclear or reflex missiles and are usually used only during assaults and heavy combat.

The torpedo tubes are also linked via an elaborate loading system to the main mecha bay of the warship. This allows the Northampton frigates to use the new VF Rocket Sleds which allow fighters to rapidly enter a planetary atmosphere without wasting fuel.

• PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
• SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Warship (Mecha Planetary Assault)
• RANGE: 3,000 miles (4824 km)
• SPEED: Mach 2+ (1340 mph/2140 kmph) in an atmosphere.
• DAMAGE: 4D6x1000 M.D.
• BLAST RADIUS: 3,000 feet (915 m)
• RATE OF FIRE: The rapid reload system used on the missile launchers allows each tube to be loaded and fired once per round. The launchers can fire both missiles and VF Assault Rockets at this rapid rate.
• PAYLOAD: A typical battle carrier carries 20 missiles in storage that can be readied for firing in about 30 minutes. Additional missiles can be carried if deemed necessary, however. The Northampton will only be issued VF Rocket Sleds for special missions, in which case they will be given 48 rockets (enough for every VF carried).
• NOTE: These missiles CANNOT be used by variable fighters. Each missile is approximately the same size as a VF-11 Thunderbolt. Variable fighters that require nuclear ordinance usually carry RMS-1 Anti-Warship long range missiles.
3. ANTI-WARSHIP CANNONS (8): Northampton frigates are also armed with anti-warship cannons similar to zentraedi concealed laser cannons. Six of these lasers are mounted facing forward while two are mounted to the rear to attack enemies behind the ship. Like the main laser cannons the anti-warship cannons have only a limited arc of fire (15 degrees off centerline) and thus can only be used against ships to the front or rear of the frigate.
• PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
• SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Warship
• RANGE: 100,000 miles (160,000 km)
• DAMAGE: 1D6x100 M.D. per shot
• RATE OF FIRE: Each cannon can fire twice per melee. The cannons can fire individually or be combined with the heavy lasers to fire a single volley.
• PAYLOAD: Unlimited.
4. MEDIUM MISSILE LAUNCHERS (6): For anti-aircraft defense the frigates are armed with medium-range missile launchers set at key locations along the ship's hull. Each launcher contains 6 missile tubes allowing volleys of up to 6 missiles to be fired at a single target per launcher. Once depleted, the missile launchers are reloaded by an automated loading system that takes 15 seconds (one melee round) to reload all 8 missiles. Armor-piercing smart missiles are usually used to avoid chances of friendly fighters being shot down by the missiles.
• PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-Aircraft
• SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Warship
• MISSILE TYPES: Any type of UN Spacy Medium Range Missile can be used. Smart missiles are commonly used to avoid hitting friendly aircraft.
• RANGE: Varies, typically 60 miles (80.4 km).
• SPEED: Varies, typically 1600mph (2571kmph).
• DAMAGE: Varies, typically 2D4x10 M.D.
• BLAST RADIUS: Varies, typically 15 feet.
• RATE OF FIRE: Volleys of 2, 4 or 6 missiles per launcher.
• PAYLOAD: Each launcher holds 6 missiles. Once the missiles are expended the launcher is reloaded within 1 round via an automated system. The reload system holds 36 missiles per launcher.
5. PINPOINT BARRIER DEFENSE SYSTEM: Originally developed by researchers onboard the SDF-01 Macross during Space War One, the Pinpoint Barrier System is a standard defense system on board all UN Spacy starships, including the Northampton frigates. The system generates four small disc-shaped force fields that can be positioned anywhere along the ship to deflect missiles, energy beams or projectiles. Each pinpoint barrier is about 200 ft (61 m) in length and can absorb up to 2,500 MD in damage, which then regenerates within four seconds (1 melee round). The barriers can also be layered on top of each other to generate a field which provides 10,000 MDC and can even deflect heavy particle beams (sometimes).

The four barriers are controlled by operators in the command tower of the carrier. These operators are instructed to defend (1) the command tower, bridge, and sensor array, (2) main engines, (3) hangar bays, and (4) weapon systems, in that order. The operators primarily concentrate on defending the ship against larger spacecraft and leave defense against mecha attacking the carrier to the VF pilots.

• PRIMARY PURPOSE: Defense (the pinpoint barrier system cannot be used as a weapon)
• RANGE: Up to 300 feet (91.5 m) from the surface of the vessel.
• DAMAGE CAPACITY: Can sustain up to 2,500 MD per round. Regenerates at a rate of 2,500 MD per melee round.
• RADIUS: 200 ft (61 m)
• DEFENSIVE MOVEMENT: Can move from one end of the carrier to the other in less than a single round. Trained operators can attempt to block attacks up to 8 times per melee (counts as a parry) and are at +7 to block. Untrained characters can parry up to their number of hand-to-hand attacks with their normal parry bonuses only.
• PAYLOAD: Nearly inexhaustible. Will work as long as system is functional (see below) and engines are intact. If main engines are destroyed, the barrier will loose power and not function.
• NOTE: If all four barriers are grouped in a single spot they can deflect a heavy particle beam attack, such as the one generated by the Macross Cannon, Zentraedi/Varuta command warships, and some Protodeviln. However, the beam will completely destroy all four barriers and put incredible strain on the pinpoint barrier system, to the point where it may short out. After deflecting an energy beam, roll percentile dice on the table below to determine additional effects/damage.
• 01-05: Lucked out, system will be operational in 1D6 hours.
• 06-20: Minor damage, system will require 4D6 hours to repair.
• 21-35: Major damage, system will require 2D6x10 hours to repair (yes, DAYS of work).
• 36-64: Completely destroyed! System can be rebuilt, but will require new parts and 2D6 DAYS of work to replace.
• 65-79: Major damage, system will require 2D6x10 hours to repair.
• 80-94: Minor damage, system will require 4D6 hours to repair.
• 95-99: Lucked out, system will be operational in 1D6 hours.
• 00: It's a miracle! Trivial damage only, system will be operational again in only 4D6 melee rounds!

SYSTEMS OF NOTE:

• ANTIGRAVITY PROPULSION SYSTEM: The Northampton frigates are equipped with an anti-gravity propulsion system used for planetary landings and liftoffs. The system is good for vertical ascent/descent only and can lift the ship at speeds of up to 1,320 feet (400 m) per minute. The system will function so long as the main engines can supply energy to it.
• ELECTRONIC COUNTERMEASURES (ECM) "STEALTH" SYSTEMS: The Northampton frigates are the smallest UN Spacy capital ships to be equipped with advanced ECM packages commonly referred to as "Stealth Systems". These systems disrupt enemy radar and tracking systems, making it difficult for them to lock onto the frigates with weapons. The stealth systems give the Northampton a +3 to dodge, +2 to strike and +1 on initiative in combat WITH OTHER STARSHIPS ONLY. VFs and other close-range combat mecha are not affected by these systems, nor are Protodeviln. The frigate's stealth systems will fail if the main engines are destroyed.
• HYPERSPACE COMMUNICATIONS: Based on the same technology as the space fold system, the hyperspace communications relay allows faster-than-light communication between UN Spacy starships and other vessels or planetary bases. Hyperspace communications are still not instantaneous, however. Audio/video communication travels through hyperspace at a rate of about 5 seconds per light year, so messages communicated over vast distances can still take days, weeks, or months to arrive.
• LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS: The stealth frigates have sufficient life support to provide breathable air and comfortable temperatures for 750 people for up to 20 years (air is recycled). In an emergency the life support system can support up to 1,000 people at one time, though living conditions onboard will get extremely cramped at that point. The carrier also holds sufficient food and water to support 750 people for up to 6 months. 
• LONG-RANGE LASER/SATELLITE RELAY COMMUNICATIONS: The impressive communications array of the stealth frigate can communicate with up to 1,000 craft simultaneously at ranges of up to 900 miles (1,440 km). This range can be boosted indefinitely by using satellites or other spacecraft as to relay communications.
• LONG-RANGE RADAR: The radar array of the stealth frigate is equally as impressive as the communication system, and can track and identify up to 2,000 craft simultaneously. The radar system has a 2,000 mile/3,200 km range.
• SPACE FOLD SYSTEM: For FTL propulsion, the stealth frigate is equipped with an ORTEC/Shinnakasu/General Galaxy Advanced Fold System Cluster, capable of propelling the carrier through hyperspace at speeds up to 3.28x10^10 mps (5.25x10^10 kmps), or 1 light year per 6 minutes. The range of the fold drive is theoretically unlimited except by the life expectancy of the spacecraft.
• SUBLIGHT ENGINES: As a backup to the Fold System, the stealth frigate is equipped with ORTEC/Centinel Impulse Drive Cluster engines that can propel the craft at speeds up to 0.20 speed of light (32,000 miles per second) in space. Note that these engines are mainly intended for rapid movement inside a planetary system and are not suited for long voyages between star systems. In a planetary atmosphere the carrier is limited to speeds of Mach 3 maximum due to hull stress.
• SUBSPACE MASS SENSORS: The Northampton frigates are equipped with subspace sensors, which are based on the same principles as the hyperspace communications array. These sensors can essentially instantly detect mass readings and movement of objects up to 1 AU (93 million miles) distant from the carrier, and the readings are used both for early warning and for navigation when travelling at sublight speeds. Readings taken with the subspace sensors are not very detailed (-25% penalty when trying to identify a detected object) and cannot detect objects of less than 60,000 kg (this includes most variable fighters).

MECHA COMPLEMENT (STANDARD):

• VF-11C Thunderbolt: 48 (4 Squadrons) on active status.

REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN

• "Doe's All The Worlds' Starship Guide: Stargazer Stealth Frigate Entry"
• Macross 7 TV series