The Sea of Tranquility frigate class will follow on from the Arafura class which has just completed production. The SOT is the Terran Sea D though some has cheekily called it the "Luna Sea" class. At a DDS Media Briefing to announce the beginning of construction of the first example it was announced that the sprint speed has been slightly increased following refinements to the hyperspace geometry. TPM load has also been increased slightly following some slight changes to the internal layout.
The biggest surprise however was that the class has been increased from 3 to 5 examples. The first example F161 Sea of Tranquility is expected to enter testing in the Autumn with an expected entry in service before the end of the year.
30.4.08
29.4.08
Fighting Falcon delivered to DDS
The first Dinomark XT-DDS has been delivered to the DDS for completing as the first Fighting Falcon class littoral warfare ship. The ship will receive DDS communication and computer interface systems, weapons and DDS standard internal fittings. The XT-DDS differs from standard Dino XTs in having retractable wing surfaces to improve high altitude performance.
A DDS Research team is also working with the Dinos to see if extra power can be got out of the Solarburst engine. The engine has powered the XT for decades and is regarded as being at the end of it's development life. A hybrid engine known as Super Solarburst which uses technology from the PT's Pulseburst platform is used in the flagship Dinomark but the Dinos have not yet decided if they will use this for new build XTs.
The first Fighting Falcon is expected to enter type proving trials and tests in the Summer with a planned introduction into service by the Fall.
A DDS Research team is also working with the Dinos to see if extra power can be got out of the Solarburst engine. The engine has powered the XT for decades and is regarded as being at the end of it's development life. A hybrid engine known as Super Solarburst which uses technology from the PT's Pulseburst platform is used in the flagship Dinomark but the Dinos have not yet decided if they will use this for new build XTs.
The first Fighting Falcon is expected to enter type proving trials and tests in the Summer with a planned introduction into service by the Fall.
Pangaea receives Ferret support
The first of the DDS amphibious warfare LHDs, L101 Pangaea, is currently being modified ready for the next phase of it's testing and development. Pangaea will receive support for the Ferret-E UCV now in service with the DDS. Pangaea will be able to operate Ferrets operating in a support and reconnaissance role especially guarding the landing pods after they leave the Pangaea and head to the target planet's atmosphere.
Pangaea has no hangar facilities for Ferrets though so the UCVs will be hosted externally. Pangaea will also receive the full C3 suite to allow it to act as a command centre in major operations.
The LHA, due to supplement the LHD from next year, the Tethys Ocean class is also taking shape. It could be the first type to use the improved SUP-X backbone if the SUP-X specification and computer modeling can be completed in time.
Pangaea has no hangar facilities for Ferrets though so the UCVs will be hosted externally. Pangaea will also receive the full C3 suite to allow it to act as a command centre in major operations.
The LHA, due to supplement the LHD from next year, the Tethys Ocean class is also taking shape. It could be the first type to use the improved SUP-X backbone if the SUP-X specification and computer modeling can be completed in time.
27.4.08
Emperor intervenes after Windy causes upheaval in Bolitic Confederacy
Emperor Aliowaki has ordered the Bolitic Confederacy to give Windscorpion a wide berth after the Apogee Of Man, on his mission to find the New Cross, has caused the downfall of a couple of Houses. Barons Reigan and Pendleman were both killed in the battle of Smolask when they tried to destroy Windy.
The House Of Pendleman has been taken over by Sir Melson and is now the House Of Melson though has been badly weakened by battle losses. Reigan's House as yet has no new master because virtually all of it's strength was lost in the battle against the DDS, it is likely the House will be disbanded. Although both were only medium-ranking in the Confederacy the upheaval caused by the scramble to grab lost lands and resources has seen no less than 16 conflicts break out between various Houses. Aliowaki, who it is thought wants to end inter-House conflict so the Bolitic can concentrate their forces for a new war against the Dinos, has ordered all Bolitic to avoid further battles against the DDS and to rein in their inter-House rivalry. Of course the Emperor saying it is one thing, the Bolitic actually obeying is another.
The House Of Pendleman has been taken over by Sir Melson and is now the House Of Melson though has been badly weakened by battle losses. Reigan's House as yet has no new master because virtually all of it's strength was lost in the battle against the DDS, it is likely the House will be disbanded. Although both were only medium-ranking in the Confederacy the upheaval caused by the scramble to grab lost lands and resources has seen no less than 16 conflicts break out between various Houses. Aliowaki, who it is thought wants to end inter-House conflict so the Bolitic can concentrate their forces for a new war against the Dinos, has ordered all Bolitic to avoid further battles against the DDS and to rein in their inter-House rivalry. Of course the Emperor saying it is one thing, the Bolitic actually obeying is another.
26.4.08
DDS launch upgrades division
With the success of their export business growing the DDS have launched a spacecraft upgrades division, with a surprising first client... the Clones! The DDS are to re-engine 20 of the HCS' older freighters of the Type A3 and A4 classes. The freighters will be fitted with Hitachi HS-740B engines as used on the SUP family of ships like the Provider. The deal is worth 395 million zarks to the DDS and Hitachi.
A DDS spokesman said that obviously the upgrades available to a customer would depend on who they were. "For a client like the HCS there is no harm in supplying commercially available powerplants though of course we would only sell upgrades such as weapon systems to allies." One such contract will be to upgrade the Raegris' fleet of RC-2 to RC-2B standard with Z-cannon and TPM launcher.
A DDS spokesman said that obviously the upgrades available to a customer would depend on who they were. "For a client like the HCS there is no harm in supplying commercially available powerplants though of course we would only sell upgrades such as weapon systems to allies." One such contract will be to upgrade the Raegris' fleet of RC-2 to RC-2B standard with Z-cannon and TPM launcher.
25.4.08
Ferret-E cleared for full production
The final development build of the Ferret UCV, the Ferret-X M05B has completed it's intensive trials programme (which included deployment in the Crayfish exercises). R102 Lancer which operated some 20 Ferrets has left the DDS deployment (C125 Positron being made flag for the remaining part of the deployment) to return to Solaris for crew rotation and resupply.
Production has now begun of the first block of production Ferret-Es, which are very similar to M05B. The 27 M05Bs already built will be converted to E standard and added to the fleet. Lancer and the other carrier Missileer will each deploy 40 Ferret-Es with numbers rising to 80 each by next year. The Ferrets are being built at a large new facility on Starbot, initial production rate has been set at 8 a day with the aim of increasing to 12 by the end of the year. The DDS have 1200 on order, the Dinos 650 and Starbot 200.
The first operational deployment of Ferret-E aboard a Missileer is expected in the Summer. The Dinos have taken the lead in the next stage of the Ferret development, the Ferret-G which has the ability to fight in atmospheres too. This is expected by 2110.
Production has now begun of the first block of production Ferret-Es, which are very similar to M05B. The 27 M05Bs already built will be converted to E standard and added to the fleet. Lancer and the other carrier Missileer will each deploy 40 Ferret-Es with numbers rising to 80 each by next year. The Ferrets are being built at a large new facility on Starbot, initial production rate has been set at 8 a day with the aim of increasing to 12 by the end of the year. The DDS have 1200 on order, the Dinos 650 and Starbot 200.
The first operational deployment of Ferret-E aboard a Missileer is expected in the Summer. The Dinos have taken the lead in the next stage of the Ferret development, the Ferret-G which has the ability to fight in atmospheres too. This is expected by 2110.
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