The Hermes was originally designed in the early 21st century as a significant upgrade over the small German diesel/electrics exported to small nations, incorporating hydrojets and an advanced underwater hydrodynamics. However, the Manaclypse in 2007, along with the fall of many national governments over the next decade, killed the project for nearly twenty years. In late 2026, the new corporation AltusMare Watercraft Inc. acquired computer files from several now-defunct companies; included in these files were blueprints for the Hermes.
Since technology had barely advanced over the previous two decades due to social upheaval, the Hermes was ahead of the aging diesel/electric boats still in use. While many had been refitted with powercells (one of the few significant technological advances), most of the designs were still over 30 years old. AltusMare began construction in 2027 and the first Hermes was launched at the end of the year. It took very few demonstrations to pull in buyers. By 2048, over 150 boats have been built and a similar number have been license-built in other countries (including China, who wanted to flex her muscles in Asia, and the US, who no longer had an effective submarine force by 2020).
The Hermes-class boats are used for a variety of purposes. Primarily, they are used to guard the coasts from pirates and smugglers (this somewhat explains their guna/missile armament) in conjunction with hovercraft and helicopters. Some nations use them to harass commercial shipping outside of the owner's territorial waters (or to hunt such predatory subs). One other purpose which the Hermes was designed for was to insert (or recover) a four-man special forces unit, which requires hot bunking on the crew's part for a few days. The dry dock was intended to house a four man minisub (such a sub, the Lemures, has been in production for several years) or personal underwater delivery vehicles for the soldiers. However, the basic Hermes is not quite stealthy enough for this task in many cases. The Hermes, later officially named the S-225 (Submarine, 225 tons displacement), largely has been superseded by the larger S-900 submarine for serious SSK operations, leaving the Hermes to it's role as a submersible patrol boat for most users (which it performs rather well).
The Hermes has two pop-up turrets (very unusual for a submarine, which reinforce it's role as a patrol boat) primarily for use against aircraft and light shipping. There are eight torpedos (or missiles) which can be fired from four tubes. The submarine carries enough fuel for 120 hours of operations and the power cells can last for 12 hours at cruising speed (more if the submarine drops down to a modest 5 mph or so for patrols). The submarine is also equipped with a snorkel for operations close to surface, though this generates a rather noticable IR signature (this is less of a problem on patrols than offensive operations). The cargo hold is rather small, but the dry dock can be used if not carrying a mini-sub.
Note: A stealthier boat is also available; increase stealth, sound baffling and IR cloaking to radical, add M$7.5 to the submarine's cost and add 4 tons to loaded weight. Crush depth was based on suggested errata in GURPS Atlantis. The advanced submarine hull is also in GURPS Atlantis
Subassemblies: Body +6, two full rotation Turrets +2
P&P: 2000 kW turbo ceramic w/2x875 kW hydrojets, 24,000
kW-hours rechargable power cells
Fuel: 7200 gallons diesel (fire chance: 7) in eight 900 gallon
self-sealing tanks, range 2115 miles (submerged) or 1325 miles (surfaced)
at 60% top speed; 120 hours diesel, 12 hours power cells
Occ: 10 NCS (captain, helmsman, navigator, sensor/comm operator,
3 gunners, 3 technicians)
Cargo: 100 cf plus 600 cf dry dock
| Armor | F | R/L | B | T | U |
| Body/Bridge | 4/400 C | 4/400 C | 4/400 C | 4/400 C | 4/400 C |
| Turrets | 4/300 C | 4/300 C | 4/300 C | 4/300 C | 0/0 |
Weaponry
4.5" missile launcher [Tur1:F] (20 HEDP + like number as cargo)
30mmC chaingun [Tur2:F] (700 APDS, 700 HEPF + like number as cargo)
4 * 324mm torpedo tubes [Body:F] (8 torpedos or SeaScorpion missiles)
Equipment
All Turrets: 5 mile laser rangefinder, 10 mile thermograph (Scan
17), HUDWAC, full stabilization (turret #2 also has a univeral mount)
Hull: hardened microframe, hardened miniframe, 3 dedicated hardened
small computers (damage control, computer navigation, C2 targeting), 15
terminals, 2 IFF, military GPS, precision navigation instruments, 2 inertial
navigation system, 2 scrambled long range radios, scrambled VLF radio,
100 mile AESA (Scan 23 in search radar mode), 50 mile thermograph (Scan
21), 30' sensor periscope (AESA/thermograph), 20 mile active/passive sonar
(Scan 19 active, Scan 21 passive), 20 mile towed sonar (Scan 19), 60 mile
MAD (Scan 21), advanced laser/radar detector, 8 chaff discharger, 8 blackout
gas discharger, 10 sonar decoy dischargers, full fire suppression, 504
man/days rations, 10 bunks, 14 man/days limited life system, 14 man full
life system, two-man airlock, 2 ESU, 600 cf drydock (300 cf craft)
Statistics
| Size: 10'x15'x70' | Payload: approx. 56,700 lbs | Lwt: 461,155 lbs (230.6 tons) |
| Volume: 8000 cf (Size Mod: +6) | Maint.: 7.3 hours | Price: $8,741,000 |
HT: 11
HP: 14,400
| wSpeed: 18 | wAccel: 1.5 | wDecel: 2 | wMR: 0.25 | wSR: 4 | Draft: 10.3' |
| uSpeed: 29 | uAccel: 1.5 | uDecel: 2 | uMR: 0.25 | uSR: 4 | Draft: 25.8' |
Design Notes
Frame is very cheap, very heavy for 8000 cf body and two 25 cf turrets.
Surface features include sealed, submarine hull, total compartmentalization,
basic stealth, basic sound baffling and basic IR cloaking. The boat has
advanced submarine hydrodynamic lines.
New Weapons
324mm torpedo: 6dx2834 HEC, Max 15,500 yds (8.8 miles), ASH,
skill 19, Speed 25 yds/sec; 1000 lbs, $542,000 each
[There are more basic versions with a less accurate guidance package
and longer range]
324mm SeaScorpion anti-ship missile: 6dx65 (5) HEDP, Max 216,500 yds (123 miles), BALH, skill 17, Speed 350 yds/sec; 1000 lbs, $563,000 each
324mm torpedo launcher: slow autoloader, SS 25, ROF 1/8, 2000 lbs
30mmC chaingun: See 30mm chaingun, TL7, p.VE43 for basic stats.
Weight is reduced 40%, Malf is unchanged,
APDS: 6dx6(2), +50% range; SAPHE: 7dx3 (0.5) + 5d[2d]
4.5" missile: 114.3mm normal warhead, 6dx93[10d] HE or 6dx30(10) HEAT or 98 yrd radius CHEM, 1/2 Dam 2000, Max 4400, Acc n/a, SS 20, PRH homing (skill 14); missiles are $6000 (HEAT) and 40 lbs