Introduction
The Manta is the Royal Navy's new submarine patrol/fighter craft. Its introduction coincided with the London class submarine and uses many of the same design parameters.
Submarine fighters though have a much more varied role. from silent patrols, stationary intel gathering, to anti-piracy and heavy combat.
Noise is a submarines enemy. Even the slightest noise can be detected from many miles away. To combat this Mantas use wired and laser communications systems. Much of the submarine is covered in sound dampening materials. The outer hull is covered in a new concept of electro-adaptive graphene scales. These scales help to silence the hull in the water, reduce drag, and improve efficiency. Later versions also use the graphene scales to re-charge their battery packs.
The Manta excels in silently approaching a target, destroying it, and quietly slipping away again.
Accommodation
The crew of Mantas are a special breed. To spend weeks at a time in two small compartments. The two crew have a command room which is similar to a large aircraft cockpit with holographic, 360 degree, false colour view screens. Navigation, waypoints, contours, and all of the myriad of other information can be displayed on these screens.
The other compartment has a single bunk (the crew hot bunk), a small galley and bathroom.
Other Features
- Supercaviting bubble permits high-speed but noisy travel underwater