Before the collapse of the Soviet Union in the late Twentieth Century, the Soviet Navy had been growing incredibly fast. This all ground to a halt with the end of the Cold War and the Soviet Navy mostly rusted in port for the next few decades. Many ships were scrapped until, by the time of the Soviet reformation, there was little of the once proud war machine.
As a result, while the Western powers could refit old ships when the revolution in high strength materials came about, this was not an option for the New Soviet navy. A few of the surviving ships were refitted with these new composite but due to their poor condition, they were scrapped when there was enough new construction to replaced them. The only exception was the Kuznetsov carrier which was retained in service even though it needed to be almost completely rebuilt.
The Soviet Navy before the end of the Twentieth Century once had a huge frigate force, almost two hundred, but only a handful remained in service including a pair of Neustrashimyy class frigates. These were initially refitted but no other frigates were judged worth rebuilding. Otherwise, only a small number of Burevestnik / Krivak class frigate remained which were quickly scrapped. Mostly used as training vessels by the New Soviet Navy, even the two Neustrashimyy class frigates were retired, although in their case sold to India instead of scrapped, when replaced by new construction frigates.
Almost destroyer sized, the first of the Burkut class guided missile frigates was laid down in Twenty-Thirty-Eight compared to Twenty-Thirty-Four for the first Novik class multi-role destroyer. The United States began construction of the Byrd class frigate at a similar time. A total of about two dozen of these New Soviet frigates were built total over the next decade. It was eventually decided to develop a slightly smaller and less expensive frigate. Instead of building more Burkut class frigate, the number of additional Novik class destroyers and over forty of the new class of light frigates were built. Still, the New Soviet Navy preferred more capable destroyers and built far more destroyers than they did frigates.
While called "Guided Missile Frigates", the Burkut class were quite large and were a general purpose design. They had extensive anti-submarine capabilities. As well, they shared many systems with other New Soviet built around the same time. While not as well liked as the Novik class destroyers, they were excellent vessels in most respects. Because they used the new composites and alloys, corrosion was not a major factor and they had long life spans. One was lost due to an accident but the remainder remained operation until the coming of the Rifts. All but two were in full service with those two assigned to officer training duties. Three of these frigate are known to have survived and it is believed that several more may be intact in the frozen arctic.
These frigates used a pair of gas turbines which are copies of the American LM-2500 Gas Turbines. A huge amount of Soviet technology was lost during the intervening decades and the Soviet copies systems when they could get away with it. It is believed that they copied the technology through India. Upgraded models, they could produce almost 35,000 horsepower each for a top speed of just under thirty-two knots. As with the Novik class destroyers, these engines were later replaced by fusion turbines during upgrades. These new engines gave the vessels virtually unlimited range and increased top speed to thirty-four and a half knots. The United States and Western European Navy had gone to electric drive engines but the Soviet vessels retained a more conventional drive system with variable pitch blades.
These frigates did not feature any major radar reduction in their design but did have a sophisticated electronic warfare suite including a powerful jamming suite and anti-missile chaff system. Instead of a fixed phased array, the frigates mounted a single rotating phased array which was electronically steered. Known as "Morningstar", this same array is mounted on the Marshal Isachenkov class amphibious warfare ship as their main radar systems and on both carriers and cruisers classes as a backup radar system. The frigate has an advanced sonar system including both a hull sonar dome and towed array.
Originally developed in 1967, before the dissolution of the first Soviet State, a standard 100 mm AK-100 gun mount is mounted on the bow of the frigate. Designed to engage both surface targets and aircraft and extremely reliable, new rounds were developed for the gun to keep it effective. Due to a high rate of fire, it is quite effective even though lighter than what most larger combatant vessels carried. A total of four hundred rounds are carried for the mount. Just behind the main gun and to the starboard side is the frigate's "Killer Dart" torpedo interceptor. Firing short range torpedoes, it is quite effective against torpedoes fired against the frigate.
Behind the AK-100 gun mount and "Killer Dart" systems, the frigate mounts its missile batteries on a raised deck. Eight medium range and four long range vertical launch systems are mounted. These are identical to weapon systems carried on the Novik class destroyer and other classes. The medium range missile launchers are derived from the launcher from the SA-N-9 Gauntlet missile and the long range launcher are derived from the SA-N-6 Grumble missile launcher. A total of sixty-four medium range missiles and thirty-two long range missiles are normally carried. Originally the New Soviet navy considered copying the American Mk 41 launcher and also tried to purchase the design for the French Sylver missile launchers but in the end they ended up modifying their own hardware.
On either side of the frigate are triple torpedo tubes near midships where the funnels were originally located. Most larger New Soviet vessels carried quintuple tubes. Still, while most Western surface vessels mounted 324 mm tubes, the New Soviet frigate design mounted 533 mm tubes. While primarily used for anti-submarine warfare, they can also be useful against surface targets. In addition to standard long range torpedoes, special rocket propelled torpedoes can also be fired. There is a total of twelve torpedoes carried for reloads with tubes automatically reloaded between firing.
Going further back, the ship has two close in anti-missile defense mounts. Originally the frigates mounted the CADS-N-1 close in weapon system in the same position but there were replaced in later service with a much more capable system. In some ways similar, the replacement Kashstan CADS-N-6 CIWS Systems combines short range missiles with a laser that is a modified version of the S-500 Cyclone Pulse Laser Rifle. A total of thirty-two short range missiles are carried and ready to fire for each mount. Designed to engage missiles which leak through the out missile defenses, it is a quite capable autonomous defense system.
The hanger is designed for two helicopters or other VTOL aircraft, usually anti-submarine designs. The landing pad extended all the way to the stern of the frigate. There is no provision for flying power armors. Generally the New Soviet military did not operate many power armors but instead preferred cyborg troops. A total of eight troops are usually embarked for shipboard defense with the troops often being full conversion or partial conversion cyborgs. These vessels are designed with advanced crew automation although they still had larger manning that many Western frigates. Designed for reasonable crew comforts, the officers' accommodations were not as luxurious as previous classes like the Kirov and Slava classes were from before the dissolution of the first Soviet Union.
Model Type: Burkut class Guided Missile Frigate
Vehicle Type: Ocean, Guided Missile Frigate
Crew: 165; 18 officers, 147 petty officers and enlisted crew
members.(Has a high degree of automation and can be run effectively by
80 crew members)
Troops: 8 Helicopter Crew Members, 8 troops for shipboard defense
(Including Partial Conversions and Light Cyborgs).
Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:
| 2 | Helicopters or other VTOL Aircraft (Usually for ASW) |
M.D.C. by location:
| Bridge: | 300 | |
| [1] "Morningstar" Active Phased Array Radar (1, Superstructure): | 250 | |
| Single 100 mm / 70 cal AK-100 Gun System (1, Forward): | 120 | |
| CADS-N-6 Combination Anti-Missile Defense Systems (2, Hanger): | 225 each | |
| Octuple Long Range Vertical Launch Systems (4, Forward): | 150 each | |
| Octuple Medium Range Vertical Launch System (8, Forward): | 125 each | |
| Triple 21 inch (533 mm) Torpedo Launchers (2, Sides): | 80 each | |
| Killer Dart "Interceptor" Torpedo Launcher (1, Forward): | 80 | |
| Chaff Launchers (4, Superstructure): | 10 each | |
| Hanger (Aft): | 350 | |
| [2] Main Body: | 1,300 |
Notes:
[1] Destroying the "Morningstar" Phase Array radar panel will destroy
the ship's main fire control systems but the vessel has backup systems
with a shorter range (Equal to robot vehicle sensors.)
[2] Destroying the main body causes the ship to lose structural integrity,
causing the ship to sink. There are enough life preservers and inflatable
life boats to accommodate everyone on the ship.
Speed:
Surface: 39.15 mph (34 knots/ 63.01 kph)
Range: Unlimited due to fusion engines (needs to refuel every
10 years and requires maintenance as well). Ship carries two months of
supplies on board.
Statistical Data:
Length: 427.17 feet (130.2 meters)
Draft: 18.37 feet (5.6 meters)
Width: 51.84 feet (15.8 meters)
Displacement: 4,200 tons standard and 4,800 tons fully loaded.
Cargo: 100 tons (90.72) of nonessential equipment and supplies.
Each enlisted crew member has a small locker for personal items and uniforms.
Ship's 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: Two (2) Nuclear Fusion Reactors, average life
span is 10 years
Market Cost: Not for Sale but if found on the black market would
probably cost 300-400 million credits.
Weapon Systems:
Special Systems:
The ship has all systems standard on a robot vehicle plus the following
special features:
[New Navy, New Sovietskiy, and TRIAX are trademarks
owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and
Palladium Books Inc.]
Initial Concepts by Marina O'Leary (LusankyaN@aol.com ).
By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).
Copyright © 2011, Kitsune. All rights reserved.
