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Intent: To create a new type of starship armor based on real life principles of armored vehicle armor and improve the survivability of starships.
Development Thread: Armored and Dangerous
Manufacturer: Ignus Industries
Model: Cellulitic Dispersion Armor (CDA)
Affiliation: Vessels Manufactured by Ignus Industries Only
Modularity: N/A
Production: Minor
Material: Alusteel, Neutronium, Ceramisteel, Aluminum, Thermal Gel, Myoflex
Strengths:
- Armor is capable of lessening the damage caused by incoming ion, laser, and kinetic fire (enemy weapon is 75% effective of the damage done normally)
- Armor is capable of lessening the damage caused by incoming missile and torpedo weapons (enemy weapon is 65% effective of the damage done normally)
- Armor is capable of lessening the damage caused by incoming mass driver type weapons (enemy weapon is 85% effective of the damage done normally)
- The armor is extremely heavy by comparison to normal plate armor, even with the use of high grade aluminum (-2 modifier to speed and maneuverability, but not less than 20)
- Repairs are not easy to do and often require docking at a repair yard. Sections must be cut out around damage and new sections made to fit in order to be installed where the old sections were.
- The armor, despite its density, is not capable of blocking scanners.
- Cannot be applied to vessels smaller than a corvette.
Description:
CDA is designed as a replacement for standard metal plate armor in an effort to improve the survivability of ships and their crew. To do this, the armor is comprised of a material sandwich. The outer layer is Alusteel that has been impregnated with Neutronium. This is an old technology, and is still in use as standard plate armor throughout the galaxy. The second layer is comprised of Ceramisteel plates laid out in a herringbone pattern in order to absorb kinetic shock and induce friction dampening of projectiles. The third layer is a thinner layer of starship quality Aluminum, bearing the same strength as standard steel. The fourth layer is as honeycomb crafted of Ceramisteel that's filled with Thermal Gel. The combination of the two provide shock absorption and the thermal gel protects from heat, and hardens upon kinetic impact. A few tests against mass driver weapons showed this section "catching" the projectile. The final layer is another layer of the starship quality aluminum. Between all of the layers is a thin layer of adhesive Myoflex, which provides further heat dispersion.
While the armor is more effective in its role than standard plate armor, it's not an effective countermeasure to scanning. In addition, it's heavy and greatly increases the cost of any ship that it is installed upon. Add in the necessary repair time for getting a damaged ship back to the front lines and it has some rather hefty drawbacks. But it sees benefits in keeping a ship functional for longer and protecting the crew in the heat of battle. The latter of which reduces overall military costs by reducing lives lost and decreasing the need for replacement crew, allowing newly trained individuals to be assigned to new ships, which is more cost effective.
Primary Source: This armor system is based off of the British created Chobham armor which is used as the primary armor of the British and American Main Battle Tanks even today. You can read more about it here.
