Japanese Miura class Dock Landing Ship:

These craft can be considered an enlarged version of the Osumi class amphibious ships. Like the previous class, they were original designated "LST" for "Landing Ship Tank" although were later designated "LSD" for "Landing Ship Dock." Originally it was planned for eight of these vessels to be built but only four were actually completed.

These vessels were one of the first vessels laid down using the new composite and alloy materials. These materials were many times as strong as steel and virtually immune to corrasion. Many older vessels were refitted with the new materials during the same time period including the four Osumi class amphibious ships. Still, the rebuilt vessels are far inferior to new construction vessels.

Later, three of Taiyo class multi role amphibious assault ships and six Yura amphibious transport dock ships joined the amphibious forces of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force. In reality, the Taiyo class were virtually slow carriers in their designs. Even though the oldest amphibious vessel class remaining in service, the Miura class dock landing ship still gave useful service.

Both vessels surviving until the coming of the Rifts, the Miura class went through multiple extensive refits during their service. If the Rifts had not happened, the Japanese Self Defense Force was developing a replacement design for the Miura class. These would likely have entered service around 2112. Two of the vessels was at sea at the time of the coming of the Rifts and are thought lost with one of the others, the Ojika, being in port in Kure and brought forward in time with the other vessels in port at the time. After losing several vessels, the Republic of Japan does not often deploy naval assets although the ships are well maintained.

Originally the Miura class were powered by a pair of diesel engines. Unlike the Taiyo class multi role amphibious assault ships powered by gas turbines, it was not a relatively straight forward refit to replace the engines. Instead, the engine room required extensive rebuilding to fit a fusion plant. There is some discussion that it would have been less expensive to build a new amphibious vessel. Still, the original top speed was twenty-two knots and more powerful fusion plant raised this to twenty-five knots.

These ships are relatively lightly armed with a pair of point defense batteries. Originally this was a pair of Mk. 29 RAM launchers but this was later replaced by a pair of Sea Sabre combination batteries which combine a rail gun with a short range missile battery. While the Sea Sabre mounts were new, the original Mk. 29 mounts were pulled from decommissioned vessels. Replacing the light weaponry aboard was far easier than replacing the propulsion plant. The OPS-14D air search radar were pulled from decommissioned vessels and reconditioned. There was some consideration given towards replacing the OPS-14D radar system with a single panel phased array system such as the SPS-88 but the older radar system was retained

To reduce construction costs further, these amphibious vessels did not incorporate any real stealth features. Similar in basic configuration to the Osumi class amphibious ships although a bit larger, these ships have a superstructure on the starboard side with a large helicopter deck on the fantail. Forward and beside the superstructure, there is additional space which can be used for additional aircraft or ground vehicles. Four aircraft, usually V-22 Osprey, can be embarked on the rear flight deck with the ability to embark four additional aircraft. In some cases attack helicopters may also be embarked but fighters are rarely carried aboard. The Japanese Navy experimented with operating the FV-38 Panther but the FV-45 Sea Hawk was considered too larger. There is no hanger for aircraft and the elevators are two small for aircraft.

There is a dry deck in the stern of these vessels. There is space for a pair air cushion landing craft. In addition, the ships can carry up to four hundred troops and a compliment of tanks and armored vehicles. The elevators up to the main deck are limited to thirty metric ton armored vehicles and tanks cannot be brought up to the main deck. As a result, the Hawke armored reconnaissance vehicle was often carried in place of the Jackson Main Battle Tank. Armored vehicles can be carried on the main deck in place of additional helicopters. Cargo can also be carried instead of vehicles. Originally no power armors were embarked but these vessels began embarking power armors later in service. Sixty armor between the Semper Fi and SAMAS designs were often embarked and about ten Glitter Boys can be embarked.

Model Type: LSD-4500 Miura class Dock Landing Ship
Vehicle Type: Ocean, Amphibious Transport Vessel
Crew: 155 (18 officers, 22 chief petty officers, 115 enlisted [Has a high degree of automation])
Troops:  80 pilots for Power Armors (Semper Fi and SAMAS power Armors), 20 Pilots for Glitter Boy Power armors, 120 vehicle crew members, and 180 soldiers (Increase soldiers to 200 if no Glitter Boys are Embarked.)

Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles (Standard):

Assault

Transport

Power Armors:

	30	30	Semper Fi Power Armors (With Flight Packs)
	30	30	PA-04A SAMAS
	10	10	USA-G10 Glitter Boys

Fighter/Aircraft Compliment:

	8 (6)	4	V-22N Super Osprey Tilt Rotors (Reduce number if RAH-66E embarked)
	0 (2)	0	RAH-66E Super Comanche Attack Helicopter (Optional - Replace V-22N)

Landing Craft:

2

2

Air Cushion Landing Craft

Tanks & Other Vehicles:

	4	6	USA-M-7 Jackson MBT (Optional: 8 / 12 USA-LGS-10 "Hawke" ARV)
	6	10	USA-M-8 Maverick IFV (Optional: 12 / 15 USA-LAV-2 Kodiak - Various)
	4	6	USA-M-9 Morgan Missile (Optional: 8 / 12 USA-LAV-2 Kodiak - Missile)
	6	10	AAAV-10 Wolverine Amphibious Vehicle
	20	30	Support Vehicles

M.D.C. by location:

	[1] Rear Flight Deck	300
	[2] Elevators (2):	200 each
	Rear Vehicle / Well Deck Doors:	200
	[3] Main Bridge / Superstructure:	500
	[4] OPS-14D Long Range Radar Mast:	120
	Mk 44 Combination Anti-Missile Defense System (2, Superstructure):	200 each
	Chaff Launchers (4, Superstructure):	10 each
	[5] Main Body:	3,000

Notes:
[1] If the flight deck is destroyed, no aircraft can be launched or land.
[2] If both elevators are destroyed, no vehicles can be moved from the vehicle bays to the main flight deck.
[3] If Bridge / Superstructure is destroyed, the ship can still be piloted from engineering but with a -15% to piloting rolls. Communication and sensor equipment are not concentrated on the bridge to reduce the effectiveness of bridge hits.
[4] Destroying the OPS-14D Radar Mast will eliminate long range radar but the vessel has backup systems with a shorter range (Equal to robot vehicle sensors.)
[5] Destroying the main body destroys propulsion and power systems, disabling the ship. The ship is fitted with advanced polymer armors that allow the ship to withstand up to -500 M.D.C. before losing structural integrity and sinking. There are enough life preservers and inflatable life boats to accommodate everyone on the ship including marines.

Speed:
Surface: 28.8 mph (25 knots/ 46.3 kph)
Range: Unlimited due to fusion engines (needs to refuel every 20 years and requires maintenance as well). Ship carries six months of supplies on board.

Statistical Data:
Length:  598.75 feet (182.5 meters)
Draft: 20.34 feet (6.2 meters)
Width: 86.94 feet (26.5 meters)
Displacement: 9,800 tons standard and 15,600 tons fully loaded
Cargo: 4,000 tons /3,630 metric tons of nonessential equipment and supplies (Increase to 6,000 tons / 5,440 metric tons without vehicles.) Each enlisted crew member has a small locker for personal items and uniforms. Ships officers have more space for personal items. Most of the ship's spaces are taken up by extra ammo, armor, troops, weapons, and engines.
Power System: 2 Fusion Reactors, average life span is 20 years
Market Cost: Not for Sale but costs around 200 million credits to construct. If found and sold on the black market would probably cost 400 to 800 million credits.

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

1. Two (2) Mk 44 "Sea Sabre" Combination Anti-Missile Defense Systems: One point defense mount is fitted on each side of the superstructure. This anti-missile defense system combines both a rapid fire rail gun and a short range missile launcher. While mounted in one system, both defense systems have separate tracking systems. The short range missile launchers can target up four targets and can fire a volley up to twice per melee. The rail gun is capable of destroying any missile or inflicting serious damage on aircraft. The rail gun can fire on automatic at up to six targets per melee (Has +3 to strike missile and +2 to strike aircraft). The rail gun is very similar to those carried on the Sea King Cruiser and it is likely that the Sea Kings rail guns came from a prototype of this system. The system also can be used against other ships and ground targets. The system has a 360 degree rotation and can elevate up to 90 degrees to fire at targets directly overhead.
   Maximum Effective Range: Rail Guns: 11,000 feet (2 miles / 3.2 km). Short Range Missiles: As per short range missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table.)
   Mega-Damage: Rail Guns: 3D4x10 MD per burst of 40 rounds (Can only fire burst). Short Range Missiles: As per short range missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table.)
   Rate of Fire: Rail Guns: 6 attacks per melee. Short Range Missiles: 2 attacks per melee, can fire one at a time or in volleys of two or four.
   Payload: Rail Guns: 8000 rounds (200 burst) each. Short Range Missiles: 16 short range missiles each.
2. Chaff Launcher (4): Located on the sides of the hull of the ship, they are designed to confuse incoming missiles. All four launchers must be operated or effects will be reduced. Reduce effects of launchers by 50% per launcher not used. Rifts Earth decoys systems are assumed to not operate on Phase World missiles due to technological difference. Reduce effects by 20% against smart missiles (Add +20% to rolls for smart missiles.)
   Range: Around Ship
   Mega Damage: None
   01-35 Missile or Missile volley detonates in chaff
   36-60 Missile or Missile volley loses track of target, may lock onto another target
   61-00 No Effect; Missile Still on target
   Payload: 24 each for a total of 96
   
3. Advanced Towed Decoys (4): The vessel carries four advanced towed decoy drones. They are each a small automated vehicle that creates a false sonar image designed to mimic the vessels. The decoy is dragged behind the amphibious vessel using a cable. If decoys are not destroyed, they can be recovered and repaired. Rifts Earth decoy systems are assumed to not operate against Phase World weapons due to technological difference.
   M.D.C.: 20
   Effects: The decoy has an 80% chance of fooling ordinary non military sonars and non smart guided torpedoes, the decoy has a 50% chance of fooling military level sonars (like those of the Coalition), and the decoy has a 25% chance of fooling advanced military sonars (Like those of the New Navy and Triax) and smart torpedoes.
   Range: Not Applicable
   Rate of fire: One can be deployed at a time and requires 2 minutes to deploy (Reel Out) another decoy
   Payload: 4 Decoys.

Special Systems:
The ship has all systems standard on a robot vehicle plus the following special features:

• OPS-14D Radar: Long range air search radar system. Radar system has a range of 220 nautical miles (253.3 miles / 407.7 km). Radar system can track up to 64 targets simultaneously.
• Combination Radar Detectors and Active Jamming System: Combination of radar detection system (ESM) and an active jamming system. The system can detect another radar system at 125% of the range of the transmitting radar. In jamming mode, causes -25% to detection but when it is active, other vehicles/ bases can detect that it is jamming, and some missiles will home in on jamming signals. Jamming also causes a -4 penalty to all radar guided weapons.

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By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

Copyright © 2011, Kitsune. All rights reserved.