Well-Known Member
Image Source: Plasma Disruptor by Kwibl
Intent: To create a new form of shielding for ships that provides better protection and less conspicuousness than standard projector towers.
Development Thread: None
Manufacturer: Ignus Industries
Model: Overlapping Shield Platform (OSP)
Affiliation: Ignus Industries approved ship designs
Modularity: None
Production: Minor
Material: Shield projection components for Particle and Ray shields, various electrical parts, surface mounted detection systems
Strengths:
- Overlapping shield design leaves no gaps to exploit
- Internally mounted so not easily targeted
- Capable of detecting incoming fire and reacting accordingly
- Multiple projectors means that each shield segment has its own power, so if one segment is lost, the rest of the ship is still protected, rather than the entire shield going down if one or two projectors goes down
- Very expensive since numerous projectors are required throughout the ship
- Does less damage to craft, meaning it's possible for a craft to survive flying through the shield
- Recharge rate is slower than standard shields as remaining operational shields suck up power
- Non-projectable shield design. Shields cannot be extended to cover objects near the ship.
Description: The overlapping shield platform is designed in like to the shield systems used on numerous Mon Calamari war vessels. Because their oldest warships were converted freighters, shield projectors were mounted within the ship. These projectors were weaker, but their overlapping design and fast recharging made them exceptionally strong. Taking the number of projectors and combining it with the concept behind the planetary shield of Coruscant, which orchestrates overlapping shield segments in a hexagonal pattern around the planet, the OSP provides a superior form of shield in comparison to standard tower projectors such as is seen on most Star Destroyers. Internally mounted projectors keep them from being targetted, and surface mounted sensors are capable of detecting incoming fire to switch the shields off and on as needed, much like how Yuuzhan Vong craft are protected by their Dovin Basals. They are also capable of being directly turned on and left on in serious engagements at the command of the bridge crew.
Despite their advantages, the projectors create a costly system due to the number of them required to protect a ship. The larger the ship, the more costly the network of projectors. In addition, because of their design being smaller and overlapping each other, they do less damage to enemy craft that fly into them, meaning it's possible for a starfighter to fly through the shield instead of smashing against it. Additionally, because there are numerous of these throughout the ship, when they're all operational and one goes down, it takes longer to recharge the projector because of the amount of power still being used by the remaining projectors. While slightly weaker than conventional shields, it's optimization of localized projection creates a superior shield system to the standards of today.
Primary Source: None
[SIZE=12.2222px]Additional Links:[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=12.2222px]Mon Calamari Star Cruiser - Refer to the characteristics section regarding shields.[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=12.2222px]Planetary Shield - Refer to the section on shutter shields/overlapping shields.[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=12.2222px]Dovin Basals - Refer to their capability of turning off and on their gravitic anomalies.[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=12.2222px]Active Protection System - Real life example of detection systems for incoming fire.[/SIZE]
