13-12-2003, 23:55
The Royal New Monmouth Navy today accepted into service the first aircraft carrier in our nation's short history, the C-class HMS Campbelltown (pennant number R01). The 28,000-tonne vessel today set sail with a full complement of 1,271 men and women aboard, to undertake a diplomatic tour of neighbouring regions and states.
While our design and engineering resources remain heavily invested in the long-term Fleet Carrier XX programme, the Intermediate Light Escort Carrier ("ILEC") class is intended to provide a low-cost, mass-produced interim solution to extending Royal New Monmouth's coastal air defence and anti-submarine defences. These ships are designed to act as a platform for a wide range of fixed-wing STOL and rotary-wing aircraft, while maintaining their own defence with minimal reliance on supporting battlegroups of the type commonly seen in other navies.
The ILEC, or C-class, is a modular design, based on proven hull structures, existing powerplant systems and commercial maritime technologies, in an attempt to reduce costs and reduce construction and deployment time. The first ILEC, HMS Campbelltown, entered service after a rapid programme of sea trials and the boarding of her Fleet Air Arm complement. The Campbelltown holds twenty-four Sea Lightning F.6 supersonic fighters, eight Sea Brigand GRS.4 turboprop fighter-bombers, four Cerberus AEW.2 turboprop early-warning pickets and eight Skua HM.3 multipurpose helicopters, fully loaded, with the pilots of 702, 712, 716 and 718 Naval Air Squadrons having received extensive training in blue-water operations over the last year.
For her self-defence, the Campbelltown is fitted with Monmouth Aerospace's newest Sampson electronics suite, as well as a formidable combination of Kukri short-range SAMs and a selection of point-defence and light anti-aircraft guns. The performance of these weapons has been the subject of much speculation in our illustrious media of late, and the Admiralty has no further comment on these areas. Similarly, the sea performance of Campbelltown will not currently be communicated, as a matter of national security.
Of the remaining four units planned in this class, HMS Chatham (R02) is currently undergoing initial seaworthiness trials, while HMS Cumberland (R03), HMS Culdrose (R04) and HMS Cassino (R05) are currently under construction at the RNAS St Nazaire dockyards. It is the Admiralty's aim that all four are in service prior to the introduction of any new carrier designs, so that we may learn from our experience with this class.
The acceptance into service of Campbelltown allows the Royal New Monmouth Navy to enter a new era. No longer are we reliant upon our friends and allies for early warning, and Her Majesty's citizens may rest easier knowing that the Navy's vigilance remains undiminished.
On behalf of Her Majesty Alexandra I Regina,
Admiral Alice Brooke-Burton CBE CGM
Royal New Monmouth Navy
While our design and engineering resources remain heavily invested in the long-term Fleet Carrier XX programme, the Intermediate Light Escort Carrier ("ILEC") class is intended to provide a low-cost, mass-produced interim solution to extending Royal New Monmouth's coastal air defence and anti-submarine defences. These ships are designed to act as a platform for a wide range of fixed-wing STOL and rotary-wing aircraft, while maintaining their own defence with minimal reliance on supporting battlegroups of the type commonly seen in other navies.
The ILEC, or C-class, is a modular design, based on proven hull structures, existing powerplant systems and commercial maritime technologies, in an attempt to reduce costs and reduce construction and deployment time. The first ILEC, HMS Campbelltown, entered service after a rapid programme of sea trials and the boarding of her Fleet Air Arm complement. The Campbelltown holds twenty-four Sea Lightning F.6 supersonic fighters, eight Sea Brigand GRS.4 turboprop fighter-bombers, four Cerberus AEW.2 turboprop early-warning pickets and eight Skua HM.3 multipurpose helicopters, fully loaded, with the pilots of 702, 712, 716 and 718 Naval Air Squadrons having received extensive training in blue-water operations over the last year.
For her self-defence, the Campbelltown is fitted with Monmouth Aerospace's newest Sampson electronics suite, as well as a formidable combination of Kukri short-range SAMs and a selection of point-defence and light anti-aircraft guns. The performance of these weapons has been the subject of much speculation in our illustrious media of late, and the Admiralty has no further comment on these areas. Similarly, the sea performance of Campbelltown will not currently be communicated, as a matter of national security.
Of the remaining four units planned in this class, HMS Chatham (R02) is currently undergoing initial seaworthiness trials, while HMS Cumberland (R03), HMS Culdrose (R04) and HMS Cassino (R05) are currently under construction at the RNAS St Nazaire dockyards. It is the Admiralty's aim that all four are in service prior to the introduction of any new carrier designs, so that we may learn from our experience with this class.
The acceptance into service of Campbelltown allows the Royal New Monmouth Navy to enter a new era. No longer are we reliant upon our friends and allies for early warning, and Her Majesty's citizens may rest easier knowing that the Navy's vigilance remains undiminished.
On behalf of Her Majesty Alexandra I Regina,
Admiral Alice Brooke-Burton CBE CGM
Royal New Monmouth Navy