Endeavour 3D Sketches
mattm's picture
Posted on:
Monday, January 28, 2019 - 12:50

   The first 3D models of Endeavour have been released, providing a new perspective on the proposed design. While these are only basic 3D ‘sketches’ they provide a good perspective on the proportions and fundamental layout of the hull and superstructure.

To provide a sense of scale, Endeavour will have overall length of just under 300 metres and a mast-to-mast height of 150 metres. Only the core hull will be habitable (the dark areas on the model excluding the drive cowling), providing room for 8-10 decks. The superstructure is largely uninhabitable, providing space for sensor/electronic warfare equipment, sensor drones and probe support, and other ancillaries.

As with earlier design iterations, the design has been optimised to reduce its active sensor profile and target cross section forward and aft as well as from above and below. As such only lateral profiles (port and starboard) present significant targets to potential threats. This configuration is optimised for long range combat where the crew will have much greater control over the orientation of the vessel relative to other combatants. In light of this and so the hull's armouring scheme has been optimised to provide maximum protection across the vessel's frontal arc.

A heavily-armoured ‘citadel’ in the centre of the vessel will contain those systems critical to survivability and the ability to fight the ship. Less critical areas including labs, crew habitation, and storage will be located forward with minimal armour. Fuel bunkerage and drives are located aft and outside the vessel's main hull, minimising damage to the ship as a whole in the event of a direct hit and detonation. These components are protected by armour flares and plating above.

This approach significantly reduces the mass of the vessel, improving speed and maneuverability. Under alert conditions most crew will be located in the citadel and will be expected to drill to reach their stations quickly in the event of an attack. Heavy compartmentalisation is expected to limit the effect of damage in less critical areas.

These 3D sketches will be used by designers to refine superstructure and equipment placement as well as provide guidance for deck layouts. As these designs are finalised, more detailed models will be released.

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NeerajA's picture

I know some helm sims have been going on recently (and I'm looking forward to doing a few myself). Have these given any indication of how difficult it might be to keep a threat contact bearing ahead, as the vessel design seems to assume?

Current EMDAR sims have us starting to track contacts at about 2-3000 GUs (6-9 million KMs) which seems to give good maneuvering room but we still don't have a good idea of optimal torp range (which could be smaller).

Chief_Sonya's picture

It'll probably take a few more sims to tell! It's fairly easy to maneuver so as to keep a contact ahead, so long as you're not trying to do anything else (like reach a particular destination).

Against guided weapons like torpedoes it may not be all that important until the final stage of a torp's run, when you'd want to turn stern away from the incoming torp so that there's some armour between it and you. I assume by the time a torp has an active lock on you, minimising your sensor profile no longer matters?

Against beam weapons which probably use some kind of active targeting tech it would be more critical - less target to lock onto and hit?