I wonder about equipping an ISD with slightly different weapon systems. I am proposing that in lieu of the heavy turbo laser batteries, it will be equipped with something like HALO's MAC gun. I'm thinking either two or four (depending on what we have enough juice for) cyclotron-like guns firing 16000 kg iron spheres at near the speed of light. These guns would be compact, as the projectile would be accelerated around a circular path, and then ejected in line with the enemy. They would exist in a ball turret configuration, so the accelerator could be angled toward the target. I would of course, test this before attempting to use it in combat for real! If it turns out not to be feasible, I'm afraid I'd have to bite the big iron bullet and submit to arming it with four big turbo-laser turrets. BTW, does anybody know if other metals besides iron would make for a better bullet at near relativistic speeds. I'm using it because it's common, and magnetic, hence I would assume easier to use a magnetic accelerator on. I suppose something like tungsten or depleted uranium would be denser, and so concentrate the force of impact on a smaller area, penetrating deeper into the target, but sacrificing the potential for making a bigger hole in terms of diameter. Also, I am aware that the KE is less for such a projectile than the energy carried by a TL bolt, but I was hoping to offset this through its much greater momentum as a physical projectile. As I said, if it wouldn't work, this would be discovered in the testing ground, not in actual combat.
As for light and medium guns, I would have them arranged to pretty much cover the entire arc of the starship. I would, however, move internal components around quite a bit. For example, the main reactor would be divided into at least four smaller reactors, all of which are protected by armored bulkheads in the event of penetration. The force of any resulting explosion would be vented to space, in the manner of the blow-off panels on the turret of a real-world Abrams tank. So while the ship would lose some power, it would be able to continue the fight.
Better shields are always a must.
As for armor structure, I would altered the ship slightly. I would eliminate the flat edges between the two major armor decks, as I intend for this ship to advance straight into battle, without angling its nose slightly downward to protect the reactor, as the older ships did. I would seal the armor decks, so the ship would have a sharp, dagger like edge. This would give it the full benefit of sloped armor for protection, thus diverting anything that manages to penetrate the shields away from the core of the ship.
A slight rearrangement too. I like the bridge tower, so I'm going to keep it, but it will not be the bridge. The bridge will be placed in a better protected location, namely the second tier leading up to the bridge tower. The old superstructure will be the new flight deck, where all her fighters are stored. The central bulb on the lower side of the ship, which used to house the reactor, will stay too, but it will no longer be a reactor (hell it could be cyclotron / uber turbolaser #5).
I am open to suggestions on this one, should the ship have missile launch capability? I'm only thinking a dozen or so proton torpedo launchers. Open to ideas.
I might cut back the fighter complement to say 12 TIE defenders, 12 TIE bombers, and 12 Missile Boats. It's a small complement of craft, but I'm building this as more of a fighting ship. Heavy automation will reduce the size of the crew, and it will not carry a complement of stormtroopers for planetary invasions. It must sacrifice its status as a troop carrier for the sake of being a super battleship.
And then my old favorite, armor. I am pretty sure the old Star Destroyer's armor is supposed to be 75cm thick (but correct me if I'm wrong). My model will feature at least 2 meters of armor, however it will be built differently. The outer layer will be a steel or titanium alloy which, if pitted, by something peentrating the shield, is no harm no foul, easy to replace, nothing big or too terribly expensive. It will feature a thick layer of ceramic right underneath (same kind used in stormtrooper armor), and then a layer of depleted uranium impregnated with neutronium. It will be backed by another layer of ceramic, and then a thicker layer of steel or titanium. Keep arranging the layers until your heart's content, but there will be a layer of ceramic between each layer of metal. So in a sense, it's a composite armor. Areas where crew quarters are closest to the outer hull will be protected by at least three meters of armor, and the bridge will be protected by a total of five. Killing the command crew will literally blow the brains out of the starship. These officers have faithfully served the Empire / New Republic for many years, we should take every effort to protect them and their years of experience. The tiers will no longer have the flat, exposed face on the front, either. it will be a sloped armor plate to provide a glancing surface for any incoming attack. While we're at it, I think we should install additional shielding around some of the ship's electronic systems to protect it in the event of shield penetration by ion cannon bolts. That does represent a very anticlimatic ending to an otherwise flawless frontal assault, to have your ship suddenly disabled by an ion bolt.
Oh yes, don't forget fire controls. I'll need to get rid of those big sensor domes atop the superstructure-cum-hangar, and replace them with more arrays scattered about the ship to reduce the chances of it being blinded by a single lucky hit. Whatever the best fire controls are that money can buy in SW, I want 'em for my wanked out Star Destroyer, because we all know that if the most powerful weapon in the universe completely misses its target, it does zero damage.
Oh yes, and the ship's library will be stocked with all the latest porno flicks, in addition to some good books and some less perverted electronic media. The ship's bar will include a wide selection of drinks for off-duty crew members. Hey, creature comforts are important for a crew of living, breathing creatures.
What do you guys think? Feasible? possible? Or should I stop wanking before I hurt myself?