Something about ISDs I've always wondered about

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2003-06-30 02:49am

http://www.cloudster.com/Sets&Vehicles/ ... yer046.jpg

There are many "frills". What I mean are the edges of those platform like things, where it's not solid but has these things sticking out of it and all.

Do those irregular ends need to be there? If they're sensor arrays, isn't it more sensible to stick them under the hull's surface instead of putting them all outside? Doesn't the design also make the hull more suceptible to damage?

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2003-06-30 02:59am

Yes. Say it with me: its only a movie. Its supposed to look cool.

If we really want to go with an in-universe explaination (although I don't see why this needs explaining at all), consider that thick armor plating must be both massive and probably fairly costly. Areas that are less suceptable to heavy fire would presumably not get armored in order to save on production costs. Thus, what we are seeing is essentially the naked ISD inside a colorful candy shell of armor.

These areas could also serve as heat radiators, although their design is somewhat odd for that.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-06-30 03:16am

Probably vast fuckloads of sensor, comm., fire control and shielding gear. Look how much crap the Russian threw on the superstructures and masts of their 60's and 70's destroyers, cruisers and carriers.

SPOOFE · Post by **SPOOFE** » 2003-06-30 04:29am

Do they NEED to be there? No.

Do they need to NOT be there? No.

The latter question is the more important one when discussing design.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-06-30 11:01am

For all we know they could be a bunch of ports for UNREP and crew transfer.

Robert Treder · Post by **Robert Treder** » 2003-06-30 07:54pm

Also, these seemingly delicate frills are in "reality" several meters in scale. I'm sure they have a purpose.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-07-01 12:39am

having having parts exposed like that is an unnecessary vulnerability.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-07-01 01:12am

kojikun wrote:having having parts exposed like that is an unnecessary vulnerability.

Unless their sensor, communications, fire control and shielding gear which would all need to be exposed and spread out. Notice how on a modern warship the first three might be spread out and exposed. The shield emitter would also logically need to be exposed, though the generators might be buried deep within the hull.

Just take a look at this Kiev profile

As you can see the superstructure is rather cluttered as well

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2003-07-01 01:42am

Could be as simple as they need light armor to allow the comscan gear (as SeaSkimmer said) to be exposed to operate and the large plate armor on the other surfaces is the main armor belt.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-07-01 03:20am

Knife wrote:Could be as simple as they need light armor to allow the comscan gear (as SeaSkimmer said) to be exposed to operate and the large plate armor on the other surfaces is the main armor belt.

I suspect there main armor and the main hull are completely internal in the built up superstructure area. Heck likely across the entire ship. That way you wouldn't have to punch nearly as many holes through them for power lines and the like since you could run them under light armoring outside of it. This outer skin of sorts could also provide standoff protection against missiles. Without all the stuff throw on the hull is probably much smoother with the core of the superstructure built up in a couple rounded off rectangles. There's probably an armored core running up the neck of the bridge as well.