Class: Special Operations Submersible.
Crew: Five; one pilot, one copilot/sonar operator, two gunners and
one torpedo operator, with room for two additional crew members and up to ten passengers. A crew member must be present at the tor- pedo tube in order to load and fire torpedoes. Standard complement for Ishpeming Navy Bluestorms are five crewmen and 10 naval com- mandos or special forces operatives (half that number if the troops are clad in power armor).
Internal Dive Hatch: The dive hatch built into the rear of the
Bluestorm can accommodate two divers or one power armor trooper at a time and deploy one pair of divers every four melee rounds/one minute.
M.D.C. by Location:
* Fore/Aft Lasers (2) – 65 each Medium Torpedo Tubes (2) – 100 each * Tethered Anti-Aircraft Pod – 80 ** Dive Planes (4) – 100 each * Sensor Periscope – 80 *** Main Body – 300
* A single asterisk indicates a small and difficult target to strike, requiring the attacker to make a “Called Shot,” and even then the attacker is -4 to strike.
** Destroying more than one dive plane makes it difficult for the sub to change elevation underwater. Any torpedoes fired at it are +1 to strike and the time it takes to submerge doubles from the normal speed of about 30 seconds (2 melee rounds) to one minute (4 melee rounds).
*** Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the ve- hicle down completely, making it useless. If in the water, the ves- sel sinks within 4D6 minutes.
Speed:
Ground and Air: None.
Water Surface: 32 mph (51 km).
Underwater: 40 mph (64 km) with a maximum depth of 3 miles (4.8 km).
Endurance: Bluestorms have enough space for 6 months worth of food and supplies if their cargo holds are empty. Typical military missions last less than half that duration.
Statistical Data:
Height: 20 feet (6 m). Width: 24 feet (7 m). Length: 54 feet (16.5 m). Weight: 62 tons.
Cargo: Can carry up to 8 tons in its cargo bay. In addition, the sub has a flat deck that can be loaded with an additional 20 tons of cargo.
Note: Using the top deck for storage cuts the sub’s speed by 50%
and any cargo not prepared for submersion in water and subsequent water pressure will be destroyed or break free and float loose. Power System: Nuclear; average energy life is 15 years. Solid Oxide versions are also available.
Cost: Not sold on the open market. 42 million credits nuclear and 38 million Solid Oxide to its allied nations.
Weapon Systems:
1. Medium Torpedo Tubes (2): The Bluestorm carries medium tor-
pedoes as its heavy anti-ship weapons. While they may be more
limited than long-range versions, the Bluestorm’s stealth and de- ployment within the Great Lakes mean this is rarely a problem. Primary Purpose: Anti-Ship.
Secondary Purpose: Anti-Sea Monster. Range: About 10 miles (16 km).
Mega-Damage: 3D4x10 M.D. for high explosive or 2D6x10 M.D. for plasma.
Rate of Fire: One torpedo every four melee rounds (60 seconds), half that time if two crewmen are manning the torpedo tubes.
Payload: 16 total, eight per tube.
2. Fore and Aft Blue-Green Laser Turret (2): A low-profile la-
ser turret is located on deck in the front (fore) and back (aft) of the vessel. Each can rotate side to side 180 degrees and has a 30 degree up and down arc of fire. They are used against sea mon- sters when the ship is submerged and as deck guns when on the surface, where they can fire at pursuers, incoming torpedoes or anything in between.
Primary Purpose: Defenses and Anti-Torpedo (-1 to strike an incom- ing torpedo).
Secondary Purpose: Anti-Ship and Anti-Sea Monster. Range: 4,000 feet (1,219 m).
Mega-Damage: 5D6 M.D. per blast, per gun. The two lasers cannot engage in linked fire, each requires a dedicated gunner.
Rate of Fire: Each blast counts as one melee attack. Payload: Effectively unlimited.
3. Towed Anti-Aircraft Pod: The towed AA pod is the Bluestorm’s
miles (3.2 km) away from the sub, keeping return-fire held at a safe distance. When the pod bobs up to the surface it activates a small radar and begins searching for targets. A camera array lets the gunners on the sub use their own eyes as well, firing the mis- siles at pursuers and then retracting the pod to be reloaded and used again. In desperate times, the pod can be cut loose from the sub and allowed to drift, programmed to fire off its entire missile complement at the next target it detects and then going silent. Primary Purpose: Anti-Aircraft.
Secondary Purpose: Defense.
Range: Varies with missile type; 1-5 miles (1.6 to 8 km).
Mega-Damage: Varies by missile type. M.D.C. of the Towed Missile Pod: 80.
Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of two. Payload: 40 mini-missiles or 8 short-range missiles.
4. Sensor System Note: In addition to the standard sensor systems
common to most robot vehicles, the Bluestorm also has a sophis- ticated sonar system. Passive sonar has a range of 10 miles (16 km) and can track up to 30 different targets without revealing the presence of the sub. Active sonar has a 50 mile (80 km) range and can track the same number of targets, but reveals the position of the Bluestorm to anyone watching on their own sonar unit.