SDI Gravelines Class Decoy Carrier
SDI Red Cliffs Class Decoy Carrier
Another of the SDI's Support class vessels, the Gravelines class decoy carriers were not as successful as their Hyperion class sister ships. Never less, the Gravelines class served a unique role in SDI's fleet: as a decoy.
Like the Hyperion class, the Gravelines class are built upon modified Thunderchild hulls, with a massively modified fore section. In the Gravelines case, the fore section was a series of large catapults and stowage for the cornerstone of its capabilities: the DSM-12 "fire ship"
Decoy Drone
The decoy concept was conceived as a way to counter the few detection systems that are less or unaffected by Electronic Warfare; namely visual detection and some infrared detection systems. the DSM -12 is basically a large unshielded reactor with a engine and some radios attached; once fired up, the large amount of radiation and heat produced is roughly similar to that of a larger Anzac or Thunderchild class vessel. with a large amount of radio traffic being pumped out to complete the illusion, an enemy could suddenly face several new contacts that can only be verified visually, a time consuming process which can take several precious seconds each, enough time for a ship to be knocked out.
Unfortunately, the concept, while good on paper (like many things) did not pan out so well in practice. the actual situations and conditions that the decoy system could be used successfully were very specific, and the opportunity to actually use them were rare (although when used properly they were quite successful; in one battle were drones were successfully deployed a small flight of SDI vessels managed to fend off a Martian task-force 3 times their size, including a Retribution class vessel).
With the limited supply of Thunderchild hulls to convert, a decision was made based on the lackluster performance to discontinue the Gravelines class and instead concentrate on the more useful Hyperion class. instead a new class was produced based on the Anzac class hull, the Red Cliffs class.
Despite the abysmal performance in their originally intended role, the Gravelines and Red Cliffs classes found new life in several more specialized roles. some were modified as launch platforms for defensive satellites in Earths orbit; others carried out deep space spy sat deployments. a few others would carry the DCM-12 combat drone, a modified fireboat armed with several small lasers and a single bomb pumped laser head. it is also beleaved that two vessels were requisitioned by SDI's intelligence wing; rumor has it they were modified to carry out dangerous atmospheric insertions of special operatives onto mars via special drop pods.
