Gibraltar Class Carrier

(Version 1.01 - Last updated: 04/30/03)

Background and RPG Statistics by Kenneth Olson
Artwork from Wildstorm Comics "Robotech #0"

BACKGROUND

In the early 1990's, the United States Navy realized that a Global Conflict with the Eastern Co-Prosperity Sphere (ECPS) forces was a real possibility.  Control of the sea-lanes would be of critical importance to allow the Western Alliance the capability of shipping war material from the United States to its European and Asian allies.  As the current Nimitz class carriers, even under wartime conditions, would take nearly four years to complete, a new design was necessary to speed up the rate of carrier production to replace ships which would inevitably be lost in combat.  In an effort to save on production costs the United States and  Royal Navies entered into a joint program which would take the best characteristics of the Nimitz class and place them on a new class of carriers which could be massed produced.

The resultant Gibraltar class carrier has the same basic hull, flight deck, command tower, elevator, and catapult locations as the older Nimitz class carriers; however, its modular design allows much of the fabrication of the ship to be carried out off site.  This same basic hull design allows the Gibraltar class to carry one squadron of F-14 "Tomcats" and three squadrons of F/A-18 "Hornets" along with numerous other electronic attack, airborne early warning, and support aircraft (see ship's compliment). 

The Gibraltar class does feature a new nuclear propulsion plant which leverages from the previous three generations of shipborne nuclear technologies and is rated for 50 years (or the lifetime of the ship) without the need for refueling.  In addition to the reactors a new electrical system was added to the Gibraltar class of carriers.  The newer system is completely redundant and will require reduced maintenance over the previous generation.

The joint United States  Royal Navy design was approved in July 1990 with two sister ships laid down simultaneously, CVN-86 USS Langley in the Newport News shipyards and the HMS Gibraltar by Vickers Shipbuilding in the UK.  Difficulties resulting in the construction of the Royal Navy's first nuclear propelled carrier pushed the commissioning of the Gibraltar back nearly 12 months after the Langley.  However, the design proved so successful that other Western Alliance members, mainly France, expressed an interest in obtaining the new carrier design.  The technology was quickly transferred to the DCN International Shipyard in Brest France and they began construction on the Layette 14 months prior to the commencement of the Global Civil War.

As the prospect of a conflict with ECSP forces became evident the number of new carriers laid increased at a feverish rate.  Once the conflict broke out in early 1995 the Western Alliance had four ships in commissioned with three under construction in the US, one in the UK, and one in France.  Throughout the four year conflict, both the Nimitz and Gibraltar class carriers participated in nearly every major battle with the ECSP forces.  A total of 15 Gibraltar carriers were produced during the war (10 for the US, 3 for UK, and 2 for France) and 8 were lost during the course of the war.  Of all of these losses only CVN-95 Monterey and the R92 Lafayette were sunk as a result of airborne attacks.  The other six Gibraltar carriers were lost as a result of torpedo or submarine launched cruise missiles. 

Although the arrival of the SDF-1 did result in the destruction of one of the most fabled carriers of the conflict the CVN-90 Kenosha when she was caught in a seismic title wave, the arrival did bring about the end of the Global Civil War and the formation of a new United Earth Government.  Any new military operations would occur mainly in space and as a result any earth bound surface ships would be extremely vulnerable to bombardment from low orbit  All of the Gibraltar carriers under construction were scrapped to clear the way for the next generation of Prometheus and Daedalus submersible carriers which were currently under design. 

When the United Nations Naval Force was created in 2001, five of the surviving carriers were transferred to the new UN Navy where they continued to serve over the next decade battling anti-unification forces around the world, but at no time did they come under direct attack as they were positioned well away from the front lines.  All of that changed in April of 2011 when the Zentraedi armada bombarded the planet destroying all but CVN-87 Intrepid and CVN-94 Oriskany. 

During the reconstruction years, these carriers traveled around the oceans providing stability to war wracked locations.  Both of the surviving carriers were sent on no less than 35 humanitarian missions over the next 5 years flying much needed food, water, and medical supplies to regions in need.  Although, the combat mission had decreased for the conventional super-carrier as both the Daedalus and Prometheus class carriers were superior in all aspects, both ships served as mobile bases for RDF forces in South American providing air support for ground units.

Both carriers were transferred to the Armies of the Southern Cross with the departure of the REF in December of 2022.  The Intrepid was destroyed by bioroid forces while protecting the UEG headquarters in Scandinavia at the end of the 2^nd Robotech War.  The Oriskany and sole survivor of the once proud class of super-carriers was finished off by the Invid during their invasion of the planet in 2031. 

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type: Nuclear Propelled Aircraft Carrier

Class: 2nd Generation Improved Nimitz Class

Manufacturer:  Newport News Shipbuilding (US), Liton Ingalls Shipbuilding (US), Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering (UK), and DCN International (FRA)
Crew:

Ship Compliment:  3160 Total (160 Officers and 2900 Enlisted)

Marines:  72 total (2 Officers and 70 Enlisted)

Air Wing:  2865 Total (365 Officers and 2,500 Enlisted)

Service History:

United States Navy from 1992 until 2005

Royal Navy from 1994 until 2005

Marine Nationale (French Navy) from 1996 until 1999

Earth Defense Forces from 2005 until 2022

Armies of the Southern Cross 2022 until 2031

US Navy Names and Dispositions

NNS - Newport News Shipbuilding

LIS - Liton Ingalls Shipbuilding

Royal Navy Names and Dispositions

Marine Nationale Names and Dispositions

MDC BY LOCATION:

NOTES:

1. Destroying the flight deck will prohibit any fixed wing air assets from using the carrier; however, rotary assists can still land
2. Destroying the command tower will kill most of the senior officers and destroy the long range SPS-48(E) radar system
3. Destroying the sensor array will knock out the SPS-48(E) long range radar system; however, the command personnel are not killed
4. Destruction of the main body will sink the carrier in 1D4 minutes
5. Destroying all four propellers will leave the ship without any means of propulsion

PROPULSION:

ENGINE:

4 steam geared turbines with four shafts, total of 280,000 shp

REACTORS:

2 x General Electric A4W/A1G pressurized-water reactors

ELECTRIC GENERATING POWER:

64,000 kW with an additional 8,000 kW emergency from four diesel engines

MAX SPEED:

33 kts

ENDURANCE:

10,000,000 miles with an estimated reactor life of over 50 years

STATISTICAL DATA:

LENGTH:

335 m (overall / flight deck)

320 m (waterline) 

BEAM:

41 m (hull)

79 m (flight deck at maximum extent)

DRAFT:

12.0 m

HANGER DECK DIMENSIONS:

250 m x 40 m x 9.5 m

WEIGHT:

78,500 tons (light)

102,250 tons (full)

AIRWING:

1992-1994

• 12 x F-14(A/C/D) "Tomcat"
• 36 x F/A-18(A/C) "Hornet"
• 4 x E-2C "Hawkeye"
• 4 x EA-6B "Prowler"
• 7 x S-3B "Viking"
• 7 x SH-60F "Ocean Hawk"
• 1 x C-2A "Greyhound"

1994-2009

• 36 x F-203 "Dragon-II"
• 12 x LTV A-12 "Avenger II"
• 4 x E-2C "Hawkeye"
• 4 x EA-6B "Prowler"
• 7 x S-3B "Viking"
• 7 x SH-60F "Ocean Hawk"
• 2 x VC-33 "Mom's Kitchen"

2009-2022

• 24 x VF-1 "Valkyrie"
• 36 x  F-203 "Dragon-II"
• 4 x ES-11D "Cat's Eye"
• 7 x SH-303 "Sea Sergeant"
• 2 x VC-33 "Mom's Kitchen"

2022-2031

• 84 x VF-8 "Logan"
• 4 x ES-11D "Cat's Eye"
• 7 x SH-303 "Sea Sergeant"
• 2 x VC-33 "Mom's Kitchen"

 

AVIATION FUEL:

9,000 tons

CATAPULTS:

4 x Steam C-13 Mod 1

ELEVATORS:

Two on starboard in front of the command tower and one to the rear, one on the port side

 

WEAPON/DEFENSIVE SYSTEMS:

1. 3 x NATO SEA SPARROW (Mk 29) 8-TUBED LAUNCHERS:  The Sea Sparrow naval version of the AIM-7 Sparrow was developed in the late 1960s as an interim system for use against Soviet anti-ship missiles.  The missile was developed over the next three decades leading up to the Global Civil War of the 1990's so that it can now engage a variety of anti-ship cruise missiles and aircraft to support ship defense.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-aircraft
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Mecha
   • RANGE:  14.8 km
   • SPEED:  Mach 2.5
   • DAMAGE:  2D4*10 (high explosive rod) / 2D6*10 (high explosive fragmentation) MDC
   • BLAST RADIUS:  15 meters
   • RATE OF FIRE:  Up to 4 missiles per melee, one per volley
   • PAYLOAD: 8 missiles
   • BONUS:  +2 to strike
   
   
2. (1992-2009) 4 x 20MM MK 15 PHALANX (CIWS) : The Phalanx is the primary weapon system which provides the carrier an automatic defense against anti-ship cruise missiles and other airborne targets.  The weapon fires a 12.75 depleted uranium at a rate of 4,500 rpm out to an effective combat range of 2,000 meters.  The Phalanx can be used against surface targets by using conventional optical target designators.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-Missiles
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Assault
   • RANGE: 2,000 m
   • DAMAGE:  5D6 MDC per short bursts (50 rounds)
   • RATE OF FIRE: Up to 10 short bursts per melee
   • PAYLOAD:  1,562 rounds
   • BONUS:  +2 to strike
   
   
3. (1999-2009) 2 x RIM-116 ROLLING AIRFRAME MISSILE (RAM):  The Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) is a rapid-reaction, short-range, missile system for shipboard defense using a modified AIM-9 "Sidewinder" missile with an IR seeker from the Stinger SAM.  In the initial flight phase, the missile uses passive radio frequency homing on target emissions to point its IR seeker at the target.   During the terminal portion of the flight, the guidance switches to IR if sufficient signal strength is coming from the target otherwise the missile continues to guide towards the target using the initial RF cue.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE:  Anti-missile
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-aircraft
   • RANGE:  20 km
   • SPEED:  Mach 2.5
   • DAMAGE:  1D6*10 MDC
   • BLAST RADIUS:  7 meters
   • RATE OF FIRE:  Up to 5 missiles per melee, one per volley
   • MISSILE PAYLOAD:  10 missiles per launcher
   • BONUS:  +3 to strike (IR) or +0 to strike (RF)
   
   
4. 6 x LORAL HYCOR MK 137  SUPER RAPID BLOOMING OFF BOARD CHAFF DISPENSER :  Six chaff dispensers are scattered around the carrier to provide protection against RF homing missiles.  Each dispenser consists of six tubes filled with six packets of chaff deployed by the defensive systems operator.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-Missiles
   • RANGE: 500 m
   • RATE OF FIRE:  Up to 6 packets per volley
   • PAYLOAD:  Six packets of chaff per tube for a total of 36 per launcher
   • BONUS: Subtract -5 to strike from the missile attack roll for every chaff/flare burst (-2 for intelligent missiles)
   
   
5. 1 x SLQ-32(V)4 ELECTRONIC WARFARE SUITE:  Providing broadband protection, the SQL-32 will inhibit enemy radars from detecting carrier, identifies threats, and diverts missiles from hitting their target.  The system produces very high effective radiative power on inbound targets minimizing their burn through range until they can no longer adjust their flight path to hit the ship. However vehicles with ECCM systems will have an easier time to located the system through passive direction finding techniques.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE:  Electronic Warfare
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-missile
   • RANGE:  100 km
   • BONUS SENSOR INSTRUMENTS:  Subtract -10% from read sensory instruments for every 10 kilometers within 100 kilometers effective range of the system (eg at 60 kilometers subtract -40%).  ECCM systems are +25%.
   • BONUS MISSILES:  RF homing missiles are -5 to strike; however anti-radiation missiles are +5 to strike
   
   
6. 1 x AN/ALQ-25 NIXIE TORPEDO COUNTERMEASURE:  The Nixie is a passive, electro-acoustic decoy system providing countermeasure against acoustic homing torpedoes.  The Nixie is towed from the rear of the carrier with an onboard signal generation on the ship transmitting waveforms through a fiber optic cable down to the decoy.  The takes the incoming signal from the inbound torpedo and magnifies it thereby presenting a more appealing target than the ship.  Once the decoy is deployed, the top speed of the ship is reduced to less than 15 kts or the risk damaging the decoy
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE:  Anti-torpedo
   • RANGE:  +25 km
   • BONUS:  -5 to strike with acoustic torpedoes

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE GIBRALTAR CARRIER:

• COMBAT COMPUTER: The combat computer tracks and identifies specific enemy targets.  The computer can identify and track up to 500 targets simultaneously. 
• LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS:  The ship under normal conditions carry enough food for its crew for 90 days.  Water is provided through four distilling units with the capability of creating 400,000 gallons of fresh water from sea water per day.
• HEAT AND RADIATION SHIELDS: Special shielding prevents the penetration of life threatening radiation. A radiation detection and alarm system are linked with the shields and will sound an alarm if there is a rupture in the shields and what the levels of radiation are.
•  LASER/RADIO COMMUNICATION: Long range, directional communications system with satellite relay capabilities. Range: 600 miles (960 km) or can be boosted indefinitely via satellite relay.
• RADAR (3D-SURVEILLANCE) ITT SPS-48(E):  Long range S-Band pulse Doppler providing detection at all altitudes with an estimated detection radius against a 0 dBsm target out to 300 km.  System consists of a electronically scanned phased array antenna mounted on top of the command tower.
• RADAR (2D-SURVEILLANCE) SPS-49(A):  Long range L-Band radar providing two dimensional air surveillance in the presence of severe clutter and jamming environment.  The system has an estimated detection radius against a 0 dBsm target out to 300 km.
• RADAR (SURFACE SEARCH) SPS-67(V)1:  Short range X-Band two-dimensional radar providing highly accurate surface and low altitude detection.
• RADAR (NAVIGATION) SPS-64(V)9:  Short range X-Band two-dimensional radar providing a high degree of target resolution for accurate detection.  Maximum detection range of 150 km
• RADAR WARNING RECEIVER ZTR-2 (RWR):  Providing all aspect broadband protection from RF guided missiles. 

Random Hit Locations

When there is an equal chance of hitting both sides from 1D6

• 1-3 hits the right side
• 4-6 hits the left

When there is a preferred side, roll 1D10

• 1-8 hits the preferred side
• 9-10 hits the opposite side