NationStates Jolt Archive


Centaur-X Guided Missile Destroyer

The Freethinkers
13-01-2005, 16:38
CENTAUR-X CLASS GUIDED MISSILE DESTROYER

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v195/The...rs/CentaurX.gif (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v195/The_Freethinkers/CentaurX.gif)

Design

The Centaur-X class are sleek, moderately stealthy trimirans based roughly on work done for the Royal Navy’s FSC. 265 metres in length, a beam of 64 metres and with a draft of 10.5m at the extremes, the Centaur-X is considerably larger than her contemporaries, displacing roughly 45,000 tons fully loaded. Construction method is a full keel-down construction, rather than modular, in order to ensure superior strength in the hull and less chance of hull failure around the welded joints. The hull is guaranteed for all known water temperature ranges and is hardened against extreme temperature and weather fatigue.

The Centaur-X is protected by an armour scheme comprising of low-visibility NERA, multiple layers of amorphous steel interlaced with layers of ballistic ceramic, and mounted an a FDI-patented honeycomb framework in addition to the traditional bulkhead reinforcement. Additional armour panelling and Kevlar shrapnel sheets are mounted in the interior for improved protection for internal spaces against high-penetration weapons, and the ship’s natural design also offers considerable protection for her onboard systems and crew. As with most FDI designs, she is built to survive multiple impacts from a range of surface weaponry, including standard supersonic SSMs and ASCMs, and still also retain at least some combat effectiveness.

The ships are outfitted for a crew of 350, with a minimum optimal crew of 235. There are berths for an additional 114 overflow personnel and accommodation and equipment storage for up to 96 embarked Marines or Soldiers.

Aviation

The ship has an extensive helicopter deck, covering roughly 800 square metres. The landing area has one dedicated landing spots, with a CAE ‘Beartrap’ helicopter recovery system to assist landings in bad weather.

One large hangar is provided, capable of housing three large helicopters with full maintenance, arming and refuelling systems provided. The magazine for light torpedo and depth charge weapons are shared with the ships own light torpedo launchers.

Guns

The ship carries two Ballistics International Mk.5 Dual 155mm/64 ETC Naval Gun systems, one mounted far forward and the other mounted aft. These guns can fire a 35kg shell to 50km without assistance and up to 80km with specialist ER shells. The guns have a combined 90 RPM firing rate.

Four Oto Melara 76mm/62 Super Rapid Guns are installed in pairs on either side of the superstructure. These guns can fire at up to 150RPM at targets up to 12km.

The Centaur-X also carries six Falltech/Ballistics International Mk.3 JOCIWS systems, carried in pairs above the bridge, atop the helicopter hangar, and on the rear deck. These units support both four independently fed 40mm cannons for a maximum firing rate of 3,600 RPM out to a distance of 5km. Up to 18 Short-Range SAM weapons can mounted in the two 3x3 boxes mounted on the unit.

The Centaur-X also carries six Ballistics International 25mm GP Cannons, three on either side of the superstructure. These guns can fire up to 6km at up to 400 RPM, and can be either manually or automatically aimed.

Missiles

The main missile launching system is the Falltech Mk.72 Multirole VLS in both its tactical and strategic length.

Two 144-Cell (12x12) Single Strategic-length VLS are mounted forward of the bridge. These are generally equipped with a mixture of Cruise missiles and Anti-Shipping missiles, depending on the mission profile. A large number of tactical weapons can also be multi-packed into the tubes.

Four 72-Cell (6x12) Dual Tactical-length are also installed, one set atop either secondary hull and the other two set into the superstructure flanks. These are generally used to house Surface to Air missiles and Anti-Submarine weapons. These tubes are actually dual length, with a second tube fitted beneath the primary VLS units. Using a dissolvable plastic shield between the two tubes, it is possible to stack considerably more missiles into the same deck area. A total of 288 Strategic and 576 Tactical weapons can be carried. It is generally expected that the Centaur-X class will not require rearming for considerable amounts of time in combat.

Underwater Weaponry

For defence against torpedoes and mines the Centaur-X carries two main weapon systems. She carries four Falltech Mk.2 Unguided ASW Mortars. These fire a variety of warheads against nearby submarine targets. Reload is manual. These weapons have successfully engaged and destroyed incoming torpedoes.

The other major defence system is the four new Ballistics International 50mm Under-Water Super-Cavitating Railgun. These brand new weapons fire solid steel slugs at incoming torpedoes and mines up to a range of fifty metres.

Both heavyweight and lightweight are carried and are launched through two pairs of 533mm Torpedo Catapults mounted in between the hulls to provide a sheltered launch. Up to 16 heavyweight torpedoes and 60 lightweight weapons (including depth charges and mines) can be carried.

Countermeasures

The ship carries six Mk.5 Decoy Launchers from Falltech. These units can fire a mixture of flares and chaff decoys, both mobile and floating, in order to confess and redirect multiple threats. Launchers for the modern SRBOC decoy system are also carried. For use against torpedo threats, a ‘Nixie’ towed decoy system is also carried.

The Falltech Mk.603 Intercept/Jamming system is also installed. The latest in a series of highly effective ECM/ESM equipment, the 603 provides unparalleled support and jamming capabilities for the host warship.

Sensors

The principle surface and aerial detection system is the Falltech APAR-12D I-band LPI radar system. Two sets of four panels are mounted on the forward Mack, and provide continuous all-weather tracking and targeting of aerial and surface contacts. The system can simultaneously track and engage up to 684 independent contacts up to a range of 396 miles (where the horizon allows), and new software enhancements and ECM support provide excellent counter ability against targets deploying decoys.

The new E-band Falltech AS-35 Long Range Air/search Array is installed atop the first Mack. This provides long range tracking of airborne targets and provides an excellent early warning, tracking and targeting system against high flying bombers, ballistic projectile weapons and orbital strikes.

Two new Surface Effect Radars are also carried, which can provide over the horizon tracking by utilising the Surface effect and by adapting super-directional arrays to detection and tracking. The Falltech IRIS (mod 1) is installed on the aft mack, and provides early warning capability for a distance of up to sixty miles. Limited targeting ability against surface opponents is incorporated in the system. The latest product, however, is the new Falltech ‘Zeus’ OTH Array. Comprised of three super-directional arrays placed across the superstructure, this system can theoretically provide for the tracking of surface and airborne targets up to a distance of 150 miles along with some targeting ability against larger contacts.

Other systems include two Falltech Mk.1 LIDAR arrays mounted on the fore and aft superstructure; these provide multispectrum tracking and targeting of airborne and surface targets in the systems line of sight. Four Falltech AS-20 Short-Range LPI Radar systems are installed for fire direction duties.

Sonar is the standard SS-24 bow-mounted array and the SS-30A multiple-line towed array, both from Falltech.

Propulsion

The Centaur-X is powered by two Thompson Engineering R-25 Pebblebed Reactors (license produced Scandavian models) for a combined power out of 296MW.

The ship has full Integrated Electrical Systems, with power for four electric turbines which in turn supply roughly 290,000 SHP for the two shafts and four water jets carried. Range is limited only by crew requirements and expected refuelling takes place every ten-fifteen years. Maximum speed is estimated at 40kts+. Four bow thrusters are also installed for close in manoeuvring.

Export

The Centaur-X design is offered for export to some nations, although sales will be restricted to all but the most trustworthy allies of The Freethinker Commonwealth. The total cost of each ship is estimated at roughly US$4,000,000,000.


Go here to purchase. Orders will be screened however. http://s7.invisionfree.com/FDI/index.php?showtopic=46