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Jepray — Snekkja-class destroyer

Published: 2011-01-03 10:11:35 +0000 UTC; Views: 11375; Favourites: 169; Downloads: 251
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Description Named after a particularly deadly form of fast-attack longship used by the Vikings, the Snekkja lives up to its namesake’s reputation as a fast and deadly combatant. As the most common capital ship in the Varangian Guard fleet, the Snekkja has become somewhat of an icon of the company. Her design is simple, elegant, and deadly as hell, which has earned the respect of every enemy that has tangled with one to date.
The Snekkja is small for a destroyer, at least when compared to most nation’s and merc firm’s fleets. At only 330 meters (1,066’) in length the Snekkja is smaller than many frigates. This is by design, however, as the vessel was built from the ground-up for speed and maneuverability unmatched by most destroyer-class vessels. While her size is well below IATR classifications for a destroyer, her weapons systems, armour, and general combat capabilities put her firmly in that distinction. Unlike the fast-and-loose games played with classifications at the battlecruiser/battleship end of the scale, there is no need to “tweak” the specs on a destroyer.
Beginning with the bow and working back down the length of the ship, the Snekkja is blatantly a ship-killer with an excessive number of spinal mounts. In the bow, two heavy APPC spinals flank a heavy AP lancer, and built into each wing are another heavy APPC, and an unprecedented weapon on a mercenary warship of the size- a super-heavy AP lancer tucked in close to the hull to allow for the required reactors for such a potent weapon. Six dual heavy APPC turrets- three dorsal, three ventral- provide primary directional firepower, while six quad heavy AP lancer turrets add nasty long-range punch to the array.
Like most mercenary companies, Varangian Guard prefers to go heavy on the energy weapons and light on missiles and other ammunition-dependent systems, largely to save costs. While most of the larger merc firms have their own munitions factories and can burp out thousands of missiles from industrial nanovats by the hour, the nanites and programming matrices still cost a great deal. Åsa Larsdotter, CEO and Commander-in-Chief of Varangian Guard, is no fool, however, and knows full well to balance cost with battlefield adaptability. Thus, the Snekkja carries twelve adaptable modular missile bays capable of carrying anything from massive swarms of naval SRMs to twelve APMs (though they would never admit to possessing anti-planetary missiles).
As with all Varangian Guard vessels, the Snekkja is a flying brick, a solid block of armour with just enough space carved out for engines, weapons and crew quarters. While this description is often used in hyperbole to describe other vessels, it is quite literal truth in the case of the Snekkja. A cross section of the vessel would reveal solid armoured hull with a single crew deck deep in the core. This armour is a classified atomically-bonded carbon-turine hybrid battleplate that is reputed to have an energy shield laminate layer WITHIN the armour’s composite itself. This passive shielding is not emitted by shield generators, but is some form of EM field created by an interweave of unknown material within the armour itself. Dozens of industrial espionage specialists have met the business end of a pulse pistol trying to steal the secret to this new armour form.
As for the crew deck itself, while there aren’t many rooms- as the Snekkja is not a troop carrier, nor does it carry a fighter compliment of its own- the quarters are spacious and well-appointed. Ironically, the 24th century Snekkja actually has a smaller crew compliment than its Dark Age/Medieval namesake. The vessel uses multiple Class IV AIs under the direct control of a Class VI to create one of the most intense automations of a warship outside of the Teek. The Snekkja carries a compliment of five officers and twenty three crew, though there are enough troop bunks for counter-boarders to carry an additional 30 marines.


Copyright 2009-2011 Dark Nova Games
This artwork and any image based off of it is the exclusive property of Dark Nova Games. All rights reserved. Any other use of these artwork images, without the expressed written consent of Dark Nova Games, is strictly prohibited. This image is copyright protected by United States and International Law.
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Comments: 36

Carrier2 [2018-09-07 14:24:50 +0000 UTC]

Does she carry any smaller craft?

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Jepray In reply to Carrier2 [2018-09-30 14:48:12 +0000 UTC]

Not really, it's pretty much a purpose built attack craft....

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Breandan-OCiarrai [2011-08-04 08:49:41 +0000 UTC]

Yay! I procrastinated on the writeup for over six months! A new record!

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Jepray In reply to Breandan-OCiarrai [2011-08-04 08:54:09 +0000 UTC]

lol

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Mrkirby2 [2011-01-07 02:23:36 +0000 UTC]

Link to vette???

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Jepray In reply to Mrkirby2 [2011-01-07 03:31:39 +0000 UTC]

[link]
there you go

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DireWolf2K [2011-01-05 02:53:27 +0000 UTC]

Wow.
Don't want to go face to face with that monster.

Oversized cannons FTW

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Jepray In reply to DireWolf2K [2011-01-05 04:59:28 +0000 UTC]

gotta love over gunned vessels

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Hellstorm888 [2011-01-04 20:50:38 +0000 UTC]

Ahh, this sure looks good

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Jepray In reply to Hellstorm888 [2011-01-05 04:59:39 +0000 UTC]

Thanks

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Hellstorm888 In reply to Jepray [2011-01-05 05:48:51 +0000 UTC]

Well hey, I like to see things I helped out on. Makes me feel a little warm inside, though the fuzzy seems to get reserved for when its all me. Damn greedy teddy bears

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failurecrusade [2011-01-03 20:07:12 +0000 UTC]

really like the shape/look of the design and the turrets.

only one thing bugs me, the placement of the turrets in the wings and the two center most on the dorsal leaves them with a very limited field of fire and leaves the overall fire-coverage with some pretty massive blindspots. i know its not something you can really 'fix' on a drawing, but something to consider for next time. if you moved the turrets on the wings forward and placed the center dorsal turrets on a platform (to move all 4 turrets into a place where the engines would be blocking their field of fire less) you would end up with a much better coverage at very little change in overall design aesthetic. also maybe place turrets on the outer sides of the engines.

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Jepray In reply to failurecrusade [2011-01-03 20:16:56 +0000 UTC]

hey, nice catch on the blind spots... That was something i put into the ship... the three main turrets have just enough clearance to fire broad side if need be, the smaller turrets are almost a purely defensive unit to striking down larger fighters and missiles... Although i guess i should add one to the outside of the engines... there is a natural blind spot directly behind the engines for the main turrets, but it was never designed for a prolonged ship to ship engagement. its more a slash fighter, swoop in hit the target and zoom out and repeat... its real power is in frontal assaults... or to run down and kill things...due to these values i figured it needed a few built in problems...
If it were in a fleet action, these ships would need to depend on protective fire from other ships to cover blind spots. The Flag C3 hub would of course take into account the ships down sides and move supporting ships into proper place till theses hunter/killers can sortie...

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failurecrusade In reply to Jepray [2011-01-04 23:28:19 +0000 UTC]

If its intentional (especially for balance reasons) then it fits. still think adding one on the outside of the engines is a good idea (perhaps as a retrofit or upgrade to the standard), they would fit with the forward focused fire and would offer some coverage to the sides and rear.

Flag C3 Hub?

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Jepray In reply to failurecrusade [2011-01-05 04:57:39 +0000 UTC]

yeah, most likely it will get point defense turrets bonded to the outside of the armor at some space dock as an off the books upgrade. it then, it would sit happy in the loving arms of the fleet C3 net... most likely sticking close to the battle cruiser till it finds something tasty to hunt down...

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GermanPete In reply to Jepray [2011-01-04 05:55:17 +0000 UTC]

While placing turrets on the outside of the engine casings might be the obvious solution to cover that blind spot there's a thing that's in the way:
the engines. In most cases the casing will be filled to the brim with not enough room to spare for a turret mount of any decent size. Perhaps a small defense laser, but everything bigger than that will most likely need to have the engine casing enlarged to make room for the components.
It'd be much easier to mount the central turret on some kind of platform to give it a wider field of fire and since it's most likely a corporate built ship I bet that's what the design-department will do...
It is a nice ship, despite it's weaknesses, I think.

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Jepray In reply to GermanPete [2011-01-04 06:24:45 +0000 UTC]

Thanks, I can't go and make all the ships perfect... it would be no fun at all...

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GermanPete In reply to Jepray [2011-01-04 06:31:55 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, and who'd need customer support when every product was perfect?
Your ships have a feel like they've really been "produced" and grown through several variants before one hit the market because it was either fit for sale or the development budget ran out...

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Jepray In reply to GermanPete [2011-01-04 06:59:12 +0000 UTC]

hehe, ok, so i follow standard US military equipment procurement steps... did you happen to see the growth of my Arbalast? [link] and its last generation E model [link] and a pirated version [link]

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GermanPete In reply to Jepray [2011-01-04 12:56:02 +0000 UTC]

Nice, I hadn't noticed that one.
The background you create is really ... well, it feels real.
I can well imagine some board members discussing the "new super thing" and the massive amount of headshaking that results in the field...

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Jepray In reply to GermanPete [2011-01-04 15:56:15 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

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High-Guard [2011-01-03 16:34:33 +0000 UTC]

I like the design, and the massive cannons integrated into the "wings"!

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Jepray In reply to High-Guard [2011-01-03 17:13:02 +0000 UTC]

thanks, that was the fun part

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High-Guard In reply to Jepray [2011-01-03 22:58:45 +0000 UTC]

I can see this thing dancing around, constantly on the move, in a space engagement.

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Jepray In reply to High-Guard [2011-01-03 23:01:22 +0000 UTC]

yeah, its more like a Giant fighter or Vette then a destroyer... like getting slapped up side the head by a gorilla that moves like a lemur...

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High-Guard In reply to Jepray [2011-01-03 23:03:33 +0000 UTC]

Yeppers. I like ships that move like that, instead of just sit there and take the punishment, instead of trying to actively avoid some of it... But I guess moving a mountain of metal and missile launchers requires a propulsion system that's rather crazy overpowered. I like to think my design of a Hellfire battlecruiser can dance like a destroyer, but there's a difference in their size, lol.

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Breandan-OCiarrai [2011-01-03 15:09:12 +0000 UTC]

we loves it, precious, it brings the hurting

loving the new turret designs, too

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Jepray In reply to Breandan-OCiarrai [2011-01-03 15:59:46 +0000 UTC]

thought you might like that now for that space Tug/rig...

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zilekondic [2011-01-03 13:43:06 +0000 UTC]

Perspective on the wings is a little off, but nevermind, we get the idea, that is important Nice and crude look, I like those, and I like traditional concepts, good job, keep practicing

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Jepray In reply to zilekondic [2011-01-03 15:56:47 +0000 UTC]

well yeah, I know there are a few places where i kinda went "off" but i tired to save it... i can see it too, but thats the hazards between pencil and inking...things get tweaked...
Thanks, i may redo this one...

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zilekondic In reply to Jepray [2011-01-03 16:04:18 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, I know, I had the same problem, then I started using a ruler to help me out xD But in situations like this when the VP is way out of the page, your eye and hand are your only tools Just practice makes perfect. Of course, you can just get another pad of paper, and glue or duct-tape it to the drawing, and get your vanishing point on that other page, and then you can use the ruler precisely.

Try and get your hands on Scott Robertson's Basic Perspective Drawing or other instructional videos, he gives excellent tips on construction and measurement in perspective, and he works traditionally on most of them.

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Jepray In reply to zilekondic [2011-01-03 17:10:31 +0000 UTC]

i have my view points in my minds eye, these renders are all done that way, i just don't have time to walk around with a huge hunk of bristol board to lay out far off view points... its just more pronounced with this one i think cause i was working on it at three different times... i really need to smash it thru the first time, and its less of a problem... I actually have a basics of perspective, from Art center when i went... and Drafting class from college or highschool, thanks.. im on the go a lot and at work, i dont have room for the large Layout boards i would normally use for a true vp work... for free eyeballing it, i am stil damn good, but every now and them... i get lazy or sick, and it never comes out right... but it gets the point across...
Thanks again for the tip, will look it up for a refresher...

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DeltaEchelon [2011-01-03 10:55:12 +0000 UTC]

Looks great, one of your best designs.

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Jepray In reply to DeltaEchelon [2011-01-03 15:56:58 +0000 UTC]

thanks

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MidNight-Vixen [2011-01-03 10:23:42 +0000 UTC]

dude awesome!! X3

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Jepray In reply to MidNight-Vixen [2011-01-03 15:58:12 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

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