This class is one of the smallest nuclear attack submarines ever built. The Norwegian Navy preferred small submarines for coastal operations over larger submarines. All previous Norwegian submarine classes were conventional in design, first Diesel Electric and later Air Independent Propulsion systems.
During the Twenty-Forties, even though the Skolpen class submarines were relatively new, it was decided that a new submarine class would be developed. Small fusion reactors and the introduction of high strength materials made the vessels obsolete. Due to the small size of the submarines, refitting them would be far more difficult than larger vessels.
The Kjell class was the results with the first of the class laid down in the early Twenty-Fifties. They were developed with German assistance although built in Norway. Over the next two decades, a total of twenty-four of these submarines were built. As these boats were completed, the older submarines were quickly retired. A pair of these older boats were retained for training purposes but even they were retired soon.
Until just before the coming of the Rifts, no other Norwegian submarine classes were planned. Due to rising tensions however, an expansion of a further twelve submarines were planned. Concurrent with this was an expansion in the surface navy. These new submarines would have been to an all new design. They would have been slightly larger and heavier armed including mounting a vertical launch missile system. It also was suppose to have improved sound reduction technology. At least initially, it was not planned to replace the Kjell class but supplement them.
Even though nuclear powered, these boats were rarely deployed far from Norwegian territories. At least a couple of Kjell class survived, washing up on shore. Their construction from high strength composites and alloys makes them able to take incredible abuse and virtually unaffected by corrosion. There are still quite a number of missing vessels but it is quite possible than more than have been found are intact.
Some of the surviving Kjell class submarines have found their way into the hands of mercenaries. Compared to many larger boats, they require relatively small crews making it easier to be operated by a mercenary company. In addition, their small size allows them to operate from small ports.
The submarine uses a small fusion power plant which powers an electrical propulsion system. The reactor is extremely compact and is designed to operate for only ten years before needing to be refueled. Still, range is more limited by crew supplies with the boat able to carry four months worth of supplies. Top speed is twenty-five knots underwater and twelve knots on the surface. A pump jet was used instead of a conventional propeller to reduce noise. The Kjell class is not designed to dive as deep as some of the classes produced by many other navies although can still dive much deeper than previous classes.
As far as weaponry, the submarine has eight 533 mm heavy torpedo tubes. There is an automatic reload system with eight torpedoes carried in addition to the torpedoes already carried in the tubes. In most cases, six tubes are loaded with standard heavy torpedoes with two tubes loaded with anti-ship missiles in canisters. Unlike the boats built by most navies, these submarines did not have any vertical launch missile systems. The boat does mount a retractable blue-green laser on the bow above the torpedo tubes.
These submarines mount bow and flank along with a towed array sonar systems. A smaller array than carried on most larger submarines, the sonar does not have the range of the larger sonar systems. Of German design and manufactured by Atlas Elektronik, the sonar system is still extremely sophisticated. There is a towed sonar array mounted in the sail. With the rocky coastline of Norway, there was always a danger that the towed array would get snagged and several were lost in such a manner. Like most submarines, the submarines were coated in sonar absorbing materials to reduce the noise signature and make it harder to detect with active sonar.
Model Type: S-500 Kjell class
Class: Attack Submarine
Crew: 24; 4 Officers, 3 Chief Petty Officers, and 17 Enlisted
(Has a high degree of automation)
Troop Capacity: None
Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:
None
M.D.C. by Location:
| Retractable Laser Cannon Turret (1, Bow): | 125 | |
| 21 Inch (533 mm) Torpedo Tubes (8, Bow of submarine): | 100 each | |
| Main Sail: | 300 | |
| [1] Bow Planes (2, Bow): | 100 each | |
| [2] Pump Jet Propulsor (1): | 200 | |
| [3] Main Body: | 1,200 |
Notes:
[1] Destroying the submarines bow planes will reduce the submarine's
ability to change depths but will not eliminate it. It also makes it difficult
for the submarine's crew to control the submarine giving a penalty of -25%
to all piloting rolls.
[2] Destroying the submarines Pump Jet Propulsor causes serious problems.
The submarine will no longer be able to use forward momentum and the bow
planes to keep the submarine level. It is recommended that ballast takes
are immediately blown so submarine comes to surface.
[3] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body destroys the submarine's
structural integrity, causing it to sink. If the submarine is underwater,
the entire crew will die unless protected by environmental armors that
can withstand the pressure that the submarine is under. If on the surface,
there are enough flotation devices and inflatable life rafts to accommodate
everyone aboard.
Speed:
Surface: 13.82 mph (12 knots/ 22.24 kph)
Underwater: 28.79 mph (25 knots /46.33 kph)
Maximum Depth: 3,280.8 feet (1,000 meters)
Range: Effectively Unlimited due to fusion engines (needs to
refuel every 20 years and requires maintenance as well). Boat carries four
(4) months of supplies on board.
Statistical Data:
Length: 200.79 feet (62.1 meters)
Beam: 18.04 feet (5.5 meters)
Draft: 15.09 feet (4.6 meters)
Displacement: 1,100 tons surfaced / 1,250 tons submerged
Cargo: 4 tons (3.63 metric tons) of nonessential equipment and
supplies. Each enlisted crew member has a small locker for personal items
and uniforms. Boat's officers have more space for personal items. Most
of the boat's spaces are taken up by extra ammo, armor, weapons, and engines.
Power System: Nuclear; average energy life of 10 years. Normally
refuels every 5 years
Market Cost: Not for sale; many nations and organizations would
pay hundreds of millions of credits for a new and undamaged Kjell class
Submarine.
Weapon Systems:
Special Systems:
The submarine has all systems standard on a robot vehicle plus the following
special features:
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Palladium Books Inc. ]
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and
Palladium Books Inc.]
Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).
Copyright 2011 Kitsune. All rights reserved.
