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U.S. DDGN-168 Raymond Fox Nuclear Guided Missile Destroyer:

In the dangerous years before the coming of the Rifts, there was a need for small combatants as well as larger combatants. This included both Frigates and Destroyers for the United States Navy as well as other nations. One important need was for multi-role escorts. Anti-Submarine warfare was very important along with air defense. The Japanese had a need for new destroyers as well to escort the carrier that they had under construction and they were also interested in the destroyer. It was decided that the new destroyer would be designed by the United States and Japan together. Later, Australia decided to buy several of these fine vessels from the United States and eventually constructed several of their own as well.

The design incorporated the ability to carry a large compliment of Vertical Take Off and Landing aircraft for anti-submarine warfare. For this, the vessel carried a large flight deck aft and a hanger under the flight deck In this respect, the vessels were similar to the long decommissioned Italian Vittorio Veneto class cruiser and French French Jeanne D`Arc. The destroyers are large and would likely be considered cruisers in many post Rifts navies. The design was also constructed for stealth and the superstructure looked much like the Spanish F-100 class frigate. While the destroyer carries fewer missiles than the Delaware class cruiser, it still carried a large number of missiles and was quite capable of task force protection. The vessel was designed to carry the same long range Aegis type radar system as was carried on the Delaware class cruiser to direct the missiles.

The construction of this destroyer class was started before the Darcey class guided missile frigates and several were in service before the first Darcey class frigate entered service. Some member of congress wanted to terminate production of the destroyers instead concentrate on the frigate but production was continued after a long and drawn-out debate in the United States Congress. Slightly over one hundred of these fine destroyers were constructed by all nations involved in production. The Fox class destroyers were often used as flagships for anti-submarine warfare groups. It is known that several of the Japanese constructed destroyers survived and it is quite possible that some of the other destroyers survived as well.

The American Fox class destroyers are named for historic officers and enlisted personnel of the United States Navy and other historic individuals such as Secretaries of Defense and friendly Prime Ministers. Many were named for admirals and captains. This follows the standard naming conventions for destroyers and frigates since the first destroyer was commissioned. The Japanese named their destroyers for famous naval vessels. The first of the Japanese class was named Hyuga and the second vessel was named Ise with both being named after the hybrid battleship-carriers.

Like other American designs of the time, the Fox class destroyer used a conventional hull design. The next frigate and destroyer classes were planned as tri-hull designs but they were never started before the coming of the Rifts. The destroyers were wide hulled and were fitted with hull stabilizers. The destroyers were both smooth riding and very seaworthy. This allowed for both high speeds and VTOL operations in heavy weather. Both the hull and superstructure were constructed from advanced alloys, composites, and ceramics. This gave the ships the ability to withstand huge amounts of punishment and were radar absorbent to increase stealth. The angles on the faces of the ship’s superstructure combined with the special materials gave these vessels excellent stealth characteristics.

The first several vessels of the class originally carried a gas turbine propulsion system but this was replaced by adapted fusion turbines after several years of service. The fusion turbines were both more powerful and had a longer operational period. Later vessels of the class were fitted with fusion turbines before completion. The vessels used electrical drive but were also fitted with variable pitch propellers. This made the ships more maneuverable and cable of radical speed changes. The destroyer carried bubble masking systems for both the hull and propellers to improve quiet operation.

The destroyer carries a similar sensor fit to the Delaware class guided missile cruiser. This included the powerful and advanced Aegis type radar system. This system acts as both a search and fire control radar. The destroyer also carried both a powerful towed array and hull sonar for anti-submarine warfare. All sensor systems integrated in a powerful computer system. The sensor systems of the embarked craft and other vessels could be linked in as well.

The ships are lighter armed than the Delaware class cruiser but the vessel is still well armed and very capable in both surface and submarine warfare. The first group of Fox class destroyers carried a conventional 155-mm cannon when they were first commissioned but there were later replaced with 155 mm electro-thermal cannons.

The electro-thermal cannon was extremely long ranged and used many of the same components as the electro-thermal cannon mounted in the USA-M-10 Galahad self propelled howitzer. The main gun mount is in front of both the superstructure and the main missile battery. The missile battery is mounted on a slightly raised deck behind it. It is a vertical launch system with 96 missile cells but the destroyer only carries one vertical launch system. Each cell can carry one long range missile or two medium range missiles. Normally these launchers carried mostly anti-surface and anti-air missiles but several anti-submarine missiles were carried as well. The ship carries four combination short range missile launcher and rail gun systems for point defense. Normally the missiles are fired first at incoming missiles and the rail gun is the last ditch weapon to destroy any that leak through or when the short range missile launchers run out of missiles. These guns could also be used against small surface targets. The first several ships of the class carried a standard Vulcan CIWS and RAM missile launchers but they were replaced with the newer systems when they became available. The ship has torpedo tubes on either side for use against submarines and has anti-missile chaff to confuse remaining incoming missiles.

The ship is designed with a moderate crew and is fairly comfortable due to the ship having a fair amount of automation. Unlike most smaller naval vessels, the Fox class destroyer was designed to carry a compliment of marines. This put a squeeze on space available for the crew but the ability to use the vessels large flight deck for assault missions was not lost on the designers. The ship has hanger space to carry six helicopters or other VTOL aircraft. The hanger was designed under the flight deck and had a central elevator to move aircraft into the hanger. Normally, the Kingfisher class VTOL aircraft were carried. The usual compliment was four anti-submarine variants and two electronic warfare variants. These would normally be replaced by transport versions when the ship was used for assault roles.

Model Type: DDGN-168 class Destroyer
Vehicle Type: Ocean, Guided Missile and Air Capable Destroyer.
Crew: 185; 15 officers, 22 Chief Petty officers, and 148 enlisted (Has a high degree of automation)
Troops: 56 Kingfisher Crew members, 60 Power Armor Pilots (Flight capable Semper Fi Power Armors), and 220 marines.

Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:
Power Armors:

40Semper Fi Power Armors (Has Flight Packs / Sometimes replaced by PA-04A SAMAS)
Aircraft Compliment:
4EVS-84A Anti-Submarine Warfare
2EVE-84A Electronics Warfare

M.D.C. by location:

[1] Phase Array Radar Panels (4, Superstructure):400 each
155 mm Cannon Barrels (1, Turret):125 each
155 mm Electro-Thermal Cannon Turret (1, Forward):300
Mk 59 VLS Missile Launchers (1, Forward):750
Torpedo Launchers (2, sides):50 each
Chaff Launcher (2, Superstructure):10 each
Hanger / Flight Deck (Aft):800
[2] Main Body:3,000

[1] Destroying Phase Array radar panels will destroy the ship’s fire control systems but guns have backup systems and panels can compensate for each other.

Surface: 46 mph (40 knots/ 74.1 kph)

Statistical Data:
Length: 641 feet (195.4 meters)
Draft: 28.5 feet (8.9 meters) including sonar dome.
Width: 70 feet (21.3 meters)
Displacement: 10,150 tons standard and 12,400 tons fully loaded
Power System: Nuclear Reactor, average life span is 20 years
Market Cost: Not for Sale but if found on the black market would probably cost 500 million credits.


  1. One (1) Single Barrel 155 mm Electro-Thermal Naval Guns: Main weapon mounted in turret in front of ship and replaced previous conventional 155 mm artillery on the first few of the class. Similar to the cannon carried on the USA-M-10 Galahad self propelled howitzer. The projectile is loaded into the barrel, behind which there is a "propellant," which is a dot of light metal. A powerful electromagnetic force is applied to the metal, which causes its atoms to "switch" directions. This happens so violently that the metal turns to plasma, and this expanding gas then drives the projectile forward. The reload system is fully automated and the rate of fire can be maintained as long as the system retains ammunition. While the projectiles has a lot greater range than standard 155 projectiles, they carry the same size warheads and inflicts about the same damage. Self Guided projectiles can be used for pinpoint accuracy although G.P.S. Satellite guided projectiles are no longer useful due to the elimination of the satellites. Guided projectiles are far more expensive. Both non rocket assisted and rocket assisted projectiles are available for the weapon system. Weapon is not designed to use Extended range Guided Munitions and they were not seen as necessary with the great range of the electro-thermal projectiles. The turret can rotate 360 and has a 90 arc of fire.
    Rate of Fire: Up to five single shots per melee.
    Payload: 400 rounds total
  3. MK 59 Vertical Launch Missile Launcher (1): Launching cells are located forward behind the 100 mm rail gun mount on a raised deck. The system is similar to the vertical launch system employed on many ships in the late twentieth century to launch the SM-2 series missile but since the missiles are smaller they have a reload system that reloads from under the launcher and can reload within 15 seconds. The launcher have a total of 96 individual cells and is eight missile cells longs by twelve cells wide. The launcher can fire up to half its total payload per melee. The launcher can use a vast variety of missiles including surface skimming missiles and rocket propelled torpedoes. Each cell can carry one long range missile or two medium range missile. The reload for the cell must carry the same load as the main cell. Long range missiles are normally used against large targets and aircraft further out where the medium range missiles will normally be used to engage closer targets. About half of all long range missiles carried are fusion warheads and most missiles are normally smart missiles.
    Mega Damage: As per long or medium range missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
    Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), four (4), eight (8), sixteen (16), thirty-two (32), or 48 missiles for the whole launcher per melee. Missile cells are automatically reloaded and are ready to fire next melee.
    Payload: 96 missile cells in launcher with reload systems for each cell (1 reload each cell). One long range missile or two medium range missiles may be carried per cell but reload must be the same load out as well. The ship will often carry 24 cells with two medium range missiles each and the other cells loaded with one long range missile each.
    Maximum Effective Range: 20 miles (32 km)
    Mega Damage: By Medium torpedo warhead type (See revised Rifts torpedoes for details.)
    Rate of Fire: Can fire torpedoes one at a time or in volleys of two (2) or four (4) torpedoes per side, launcher can fire a maximum of two volleys per melee each launcher
    Payload: Has 80 torpedoes for reloads
    Maximum Effective Range: Around Ship
    Mega Damage: None
    Payload: 24 each for a total of 48
    M.D.C.: 20
    Maximum Effective Range: Not Applicable
    Payload: 4 Decoys.

Special Systems:





Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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