Oscar II Nuclear Propelled Guided Missile Submarines (SSGN)

(Version 1.0 - Last updated: 05/15/03)

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

BACKGROUND

Designed during the cold war to attack United States carriers at long distances, the Oscar II submarine was third only to the US Ohio and Soviet Typhoon class in overall size.  The Oscar class, like all post World War II Soviet designs, is based on a double hull with ten internal watertight compartments.   The huge size of these submarines severely limits their performance as compared to contemporary US fast attack designs, as the Oscar II is slow to dive and maneuver; however, the double-hull construction does make the unit resistant to damage requiring three or more Mark 46 (US) torpedoes to sink a single Oscar II.  These performance limitations were not viewed as a major handicap given the fact that the submarine's primary mission was to attack carrier battle groups at long range. 

The Oscar's primary weapon are 24 SS-N-19 (NATO codename "Shipwreck") missiles in two rows of 12 on either side of the conning tower.  The launchers are placed at approximately 40 degrees in elevation and are fitted between the inner (pressure) and outer (hydrodynamic) hulls.  Each SS-N-19 is mounted with either a 750 kg conventional warhead or a 500 kiloton nuclear warhead and are capable of accurately hitting targets out to approximately 630 km.  In addition to the 24 SS-N-19 missiles, the Oscar II is armed with four 533mm and two 650mm torpedo tubes on the bow of the unit.  Each tube can respectively fire either standard Type-53 or Type-65 torpedoes, or SS-N-15 and SS-N-16 missiles.

Production of the Oscar II design began in 1985, with one additional submarine produced every year from 1985 through 1990.  In the early 1990's, the Soviet Union realized that a Global Conflict with the Western Alliance was imminent and tripled production such that before the Global Civil War started in early 1995 a total of 21 Oscar II submarines were available at the start of the war.  Production remained at three per year through the five year conflict, with battle losses roughly equaling the production rate of new vessels.  Roughly 75% of the Oscar II submarines destroyed during the war were the result of engagements with Western Alliance fast attack submarines, such as the Los Angles class, and the remainder were destroyed by airborne submarine killer aircraft.  However, the design proved successful in its original mission sinking no less than seven Western Alliance carriers during the course of the conflict.  There was even rumors that the Minsk was responsible for sinking the famed USS Kenosha during the late stages of the Global Civil War; however, this rumor proved to be incorrect with confirmation that the carrier was destroyed by a seismic title wave caused by the landing of the SDF-1

Over the next decade, the Soviet Navy continued to build the Oscar II class at a much slower rate, stabilizing the total number in the Soviet fleet to 20 vessels.   Although, the Soviet Union was nominally members of the United Earth Government rumors persisted that they used their submarine force to supply anti-unification forces and attack allied shipping as they refused to provide any submarines to the newly formed UN Navy.  With the disruption of the UEG after the Zentraedi  "Rain-of-Death" in April of 2011, the newly formed Eastern Block Soviet Independent States (EBSIS) obtained the 7 units which had survived through the bombardment.  Although no new Oscar II submarines were built, the remaining craft were used extensively during the Malcontent uprisings to provide long-range fire support and supplies to EBSIS allied Zentraedi groups in South East Asia, Africa, and most importantly South America.   The EBSIS navy continued to use Oscar II designs through the 2020's and up until the Invid invasion of 2031 when all but the Minsk were destroyed during the initial attack.  The Minsk survived and became the primary platform for the "Hammer and Sickle" resistance group comprised mostly of former EBSIS soldiers.  The nearly 4 decade old ship continued to solder on until 2037 when it was abandoned by the group because of lack of spare parts and the degraded condition of the two onboard nuclear reactors.

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type: Nuclear Propelled Submarine

Class:  Guided Missile Submarine

Manufacturer:  Sevmashpredpriyatiye (Severodvinsk Shipyard 402), Severodvinsk, Russia
Crew:  130 total (44 officers and 68 enlisted)

Service History:

Soviet Union from 1985 until 2011

Eastern Block Independent States from 2011 until 2031
Hammer and Sickle resistance group from 2031 until 2037

Units Built:  52 from 1985 until construction stopped in 2011 

MDC BY LOCATION:

NOTES:

1. Destroying the front diving planes will hinder the submarines capability dive. 
   
2. Destroying the bow sonar array will destroy the primary active/passive Shark-Gin sonar system; however, the towed sonar and aft system will remain operational.
   
3. Destroying the conning tower or the mast sensor array will destroy all radar and ESM systems along with the periscope.
4. Destruction of the main body will sink the submarine in 1D4 minutes (if on surface) or instantaneously if submerged.
   
5. Destruction of the aft rudder and diving planets will hinder the submarines capability to dive as well as destroy the aft towed sonar array
   
6. Destroying a single propeller will reduce the top speed to 65% and destruction of both propellers will leave the ship without any means of propulsion.

PROPULSION:

ENGINE:

[MAIN]:  2 x OK-9 steam geared turbines with two shafts, total of 98,000 shp

[AUX]:  2 x Electric low speed motors

REACTORS:

2 x OK-650B 380 MW pressurized-water reactors

ELECTRIC GENERATING POWER:

2500 kW with an additional 250 kW emergency from electric engines

MAX SPEED:

[MAIN]:  31 kts submerged; 15 kts surface

[AUX]:  5 kts on electric motors

MAX DIVE DEPTH:

600 m

ENDURANCE:

Estimated reactor life of over 20 years

STATISTICAL DATA:

LENGTH:

155 m (overall)

BEAM:

20.1 m (over stern planes)

DRAFT:

9.2  m

HANGER DECK DIMENSIONS:

250 m x 40 m x 9.5 m

WEIGHT:

14,700 tons (surfaced)

23,860 tons (submerged)

 

WEAPON/DEFENSIVE SYSTEMS:

1. 24 x SS-N-19 "SHIPWRECK" (P-700 GRANITE) MISSILES LAUNCHERS :  Twenty-four missiles launchers are mounted on either side of the conning tower.  Once a target has been acquired, either through the use of onboard sonar or cues from external platforms, the SS-N-19 is launched from its tube with compressed air and solid rocket booster propels the missile to its cruising altitude of nearly 20,000 meters. Once the missile has obtained cruising altitude, the SS-N-19 is powered by a KR-93 turbojet mounted in the center and underneath.   The SS-N-19 is guided with its own inertial navigation guidance system and radar seeker which it uses to acquire the target. 
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-ship
   • RANGE:  445 km
   • SPEED:  Mach 1.6
   • DAMAGE:  2D6*100 MDC with 750 kg conventional warhead or 500 kilotons nuclear warhead
   • BLAST RADIUS:  40 meters with conventional warhead
   • RATE OF FIRE:  Individual shots with up to 4 missiles per melee
   • PAYLOAD: 24 SS-N-19 Shipwreck missiles
   • BONUS:  +3 to strike against surface contacts
     
   
   
2. 4 x 533MM BOW TORPEDO TUBES: The torpedo tubes can fire either SS-N-15 "Starfish" cruise missiles or any of the family of Type-53 torpedoes. The SS-N-15 "Starfish" is fired from the submarine while underwater and is propelled out of the water using an onboard rocket booster.  Once the missile has traveled to the projected target location, a parachute slows its decent and the "missile" enters into the water to seek out the target as a torpedo once again. 
   
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-ship (Type-53 torpedoes and SS-N-15 Starfish)
     
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-submarine (Type-53 torpedo)
   • RANGE: 16,000 m (Type 53) / 45 km (SS-N-15)
   • SPEED:  35 kts (Type-53(SET-65) torpedo) / Mach 0.95 (SS-N-15)
     
   • DAMAGE:  1D4*100 MDC (Type-53(SET-65) torpedo) / 5D6*10 (SS-N-15)
     
   • BLAST RADIUS:  30 m (Type-53(SET-65 torpedo) / 20 m (SS-N-15)
     
   • RATE OF FIRE:  Individual shots up to four missiles/torpedoes per melee
     
   • PAYLOAD:  Total of 20 Type-53 torpedoes for all four tubes
     
   • BONUS:  +3 to strike
   
   
3. 2 x 650MM BOW TORPEDO TUBES:  The 650mm torpedo tubes can fire either SS-N-16 Stallion or any of the family of Type-65 torpedoes.  The SS-N-16 "Stallion" is fired from the submarine while underwater and is propelled out of the water using an onboard rocket booster.  Once the missile has traveled to the projected target location, a parachute slows its decent and the "missile" enters into the water to seek out the target as a torpedo once again. 
   
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE:  Anti-ship
     
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-submarine (Type 65 torpedo)
     
   • RANGE:  100 km at 30 kts or 50 km at 50 kts (Type 65/DT torpedo) / 92 km (SS-N-16)
     
   • SPEED:  50 kts (Type 65/DT torpedo) / Mach 2.5 (SS-N-16)
   • DAMAGE:  2D4*100 (Type 65/DT torpedo) / 1D4*100 MDC (SS-N-16)
     
   • BLAST RADIUS:  35 meters (Type 65/DT torpedo) / 30 m (SS-N-16)
   • RATE OF FIRE:  Up to 2 missiles per melee, one per volley
   • PAYLOAD:  Total of four Type-65 torpedoes or SS-N-16 missiles
     
   • BONUS:  +3 to strike
   
   
4. 2 x TORPEDO DECOYS:  Two torpedo noise decoys are mounted on the rear of the Oscar II each holding up to five decoys apiece.  The noise dispensers are released if the defensive system officer determines that inbound torpedoes are targeting the ship and are designed to create as much seismic noise as possible to mask the signature of the submarine. 
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-Torpedo
   • RANGE: 500 m
   • RATE OF FIRE:  Up to four noise makers per melee
   • PAYLOAD:  Five noise makers per launcher for a total of ten
   • BONUS: Subtract -5 to strike from the torpedo attack roll for every noise maker (-2 for intelligent torpedo)

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE OSCAR II:

• COMBAT COMPUTER: The combat computer tracks and identifies specific enemy targets.  The computer can identify contacts based on their acoustic signature and track up to 48 targets simultaneously.
  
• COMMUNICATIONS BUOY:  ELF/VLF communications buoy mounted on a tube on the tail fin is used to communicate with fleet command.
  
• LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS:  The ship under normal conditions carry enough food for its crew for six months.  Water is provided  by onboard distilling units which transforms sea water into fresh water for crew use. 
  
• 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 (ELECTRONIC SUPPORT):  Rim Hat / Bald Head for passive intercept and direction finding
• RADAR (SURFACE SEARCH) SNOOP PAIR :  X-Band radar providing short range coverage, 60 kilometers maximum, for navigation and surface surveillance.
• SONAR (CAVITATION MONITOR):  Hull mounted MG-512 passive sonar
• SONAR (MINE DETECTION AND AVOIDANCE):  Hull mounted MGK-59 Mouse Roar high frequency active sonar
• SONAR (SEARCH):  Passive Pelamida extremely low frequency towed sonar array, deployed from rear rudder fin
  
• SONAR (SEARCH AND ATTACK):  Hull mounted Shark-Gill Active/Passive sonar array
• SONAR (SEARCH AND ATTACK):  Flank mounted Shark-Fin Active/Passive sonar array mounted on rear rudder fin

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

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