NationStates Jolt Archive

Background With an eye toward appealing to new markets, the Portland Iron Works went to the drawing boards to design a class of warship that could serve as a flagship for small navies or for squadrons of destroyer-sized ships or smaller. The requirements for the ship were that it must have a main armament capable of engaging most any smaller threat and be able to survive hits from larger warships and live to fight another day. The result was a class of ship that defied convention. Instead of using misleading names of the past or old designations that have since been voted out of existence, the Portland Iron Works reached back into the past to draw upon an old name for a new purpose: The xebec.

The Mahan-class xebec, or destroyer leader, is designed with command and control capabilities that allow it to command squadrons of destroyers and frigates in a littoral warfare situation or serve as the flagship of coastal patrol squadrons. It is armed more heavily than many destroyers, carrying two triple turrets of 140 mm (5.5 inch) guns in A and Y positions. The designers elected not to install a third triple turret in the export version, choosing instead to equip it with an ASROC launcher to allow it to fire the massive Scourge or Scorcher missiles used by the Incorporated Sarzonian Navy. With 96 cells of the Mk 136 VLS launcher modified to launch the 'Hornet' SAM and four torpedo tubes capable of firing the enormous 'Bayonet' anti-ship and anti-submarine torpedo, the Mahan is a devastating surface warship in its own right.

Command and Control The Mahan was conceived to be a flagship of a small squadron of destroyers or frigates or a littoral warfare squadron, and thus, its command and control capabilities are based on a system developed for the Peligro-class amphibious assault ships designed for the Royal Armed Forces of Romandeos. With advanced tactical displays and electronics, the Mahan is an excellent choice as the linchpin of any developing navy.

Mahan-class xebec
Length: 171 m; Beam: 37 m; Draught: 7.9 m
Displacement: 15,970 tonnes full
Armament: 2 x 3 140 mm ETC guns (A & Y positions); 1 x ASROC launcher in B position; 2 x 48 cell Mk 136 VLS modified to launch 'Hornet' SAM; 4 x 650 mm TT; 12 x Rattlesnake CIWS
Protection: 127 mm-155 mm advanced armour composite (amorphous steel, aluminum, enhanced ERA, ballistic ceramics, titanium); double-bottomed, reinforced keel with void spaces. Hardened crossbeams installed across bulkheads with KERI foam installed in all void spaces.
Aircraft: Capable of launching and recovering five medium ASW helicopters.
Complement: 340
Propulsion: Two Pebblebed nuclear reactors; two internalised waterjets. 125,000 shp. 36 knots.
Electronics: Advanced Force Integration Command System capable of coordinating up to 1,500 troops or 30 warships; Sensors: AN/SPY-3B MFR multi-function radar; AN/SPS-64(V)10 navigational radar; AN/SQS-56 (K) hull mounted sonar; Towed array sonar
Electronics Warfare Suite: AN/SLY-2 (V) Advanced Integrated Electronic Warfare System (AIEWS)
Decoys: MK-53 Nulka DLS
Fleet Defence System: MK-200 mod 2 FDS
Fleet Defence Control: MK-201 FDC
Countermeasures: AN/SLQ-49; AN/SLQ-25 Nixie.
Price: $1.7 billion

*tag*

As Halberdgardian standard policy regarding observation of so-called "trouble spots" is often to dispatch a small group of destroyers to international waters around the region, we find the Mahan-class xebec to be excellent in filling a niche that we previously left unaddressed. Therefore, we would like to purchase one Mahan-class xebec for $1,700,000,000. Payment will be wired upon confirmation. We would also like to inquire on the range of missiles that can be fired from the ASROC and VLS launchers, as we have purchased production rights to all of the Imperial Praetonian Shipyards' missile designs, and would like to know if the IPS equivalents to your missiles can be fired from the Mahan's launchers.

To: Halberdgardia
From: Rear Admiral Barbara Tucker (ISN-Ret.)
Managing Director, Portland Iron Works
Subject: Confirmation of order

The Portland Iron Works is pleased to confirm your order for one Mahan-class xebec. Work wil begin immediately and we expect to have your order delivered to you within four NS years (4 RL days), following the completion of sea trials.

While the IPS-built weapons tend to be rather unique in comparison to other weapons systems we have encountered, our engineers are very familiar with their weapons systems and can easily modify our own to accept IPS weapons and our own standard weapons layout. Our companies have collaborated on several projects in the past and, as a result, we endeavour to ensure that our weapons systems remain compatible with IPS systems, as well as Royal Shipyards of Isselmere-Nieland weapons systems.

We thank you for contacting the Portland Iron Works for your naval needs and we hope to hear from you in the future!

*bump*

Tag, with a view to buying. We have thinking about buying a first navy to protect Manhattan Prime, and this ship and a few destroyers should fit the bill nicely. Could you recommend a class of destroyer that would complement the Mahan class?

To: Portland Iron Works, Sarzonia
From: Kazakh War Systems Centre, Admiral Gelavcik
Fw: Kazah Provinces Military HQ, Field Marshal Shavic
Subject: Leading Destroyers

Kazakh Provicnes Navy is looking to purchase two Mahan Class Xebec's for her Navy. We of course agree to international arms convention and will pay for the goods in full. We enquire if Sarzonia is capable of providing these ships, and if they can be delivered to our port of Balak.

The required funds will be transferred in full upon construction.

[OOC: Damn! This is quite similar to a project I am working on - although mine has a displacement around 4 1/2 tonnes less than this. Anyway, nice job with this.]

To: Kazakh War Systems Centre, Admiral Gelavcik
From: Rear Admiral Barbara Tucker (ISN-Ret.)
Managing Director, Portland Iron Works
Subject: Confirmation of order

The Portland Iron Works is pleased to confirm this order for two Mahan-class xebecs at a cost of $3.4 billion. Since we have a fairly large order in the works at the moment, we estimate that it will take us approximately six NS years (6 RL days) to complete this order and deliver it to Balak after we finish sea trials. Rest assured that we will endeavour to complete your order with the high-quality of workmanship our customers have come to expect from the Portland Iron Works.

We thank you for contacting the Portland Iron Works for your naval needs and we hope to hear from you again in the future!

To: Halberdgardia
From: Rear Admiral Barbara Tucker (ISN-Ret.)
Managing Director, Portland Iron Works
Subject: Confirmation of order

The Portland Iron Works is pleased to confirm your order for one Mahan-class xebec. Work wil begin immediately and we expect to have your order delivered to you within four NS years (4 RL days), following the completion of sea trials.

While the IPS-built weapons tend to be rather unique in comparison to other weapons systems we have encountered, our engineers are very familiar with their weapons systems and can easily modify our own to accept IPS weapons and our own standard weapons layout. Our companies have collaborated on several projects in the past and, as a result, we endeavour to ensure that our weapons systems remain compatible with IPS systems, as well as Royal Shipyards of Isselmere-Nieland weapons systems.

We thank you for contacting the Portland Iron Works for your naval needs and we hope to hear from you in the future!

The payment has been wired, and we greatly appreciate your modifications to the weapons systems. We look forward to doing business with you in the future.

To: Rear Admiral Barbara Tucker (ISN-Ret.)
Managing Director, Portland Iron Works
From: President Jason Garner, Silver Sky Naval Headquarters
Subject: Leading Destroyers

The Silver Sky is greatly impressed by PIW's most recent creation.
We have long been in need of a Destroyer that could also function as a command ship as our IPS cruiser fleet is stretched thin when ever we try to send our independent destroyer and frigate TFs (We use Cruiser as command ships), your Mahan-class xebec fits that role perfectly, we would like to order 32 Mahan-class xebecs for $54.4 Billion USD, we also request limited production rights for a price to be determined by you, these production rights would only be used to replace lost ships and you will be notified when we do.
We hope you confirm our order.

Thank you,
[Signed]
President Jason Garner
The Armed Republic of The Silver Sky

To: Rear Admiral Barbara Tucker (ISN-Ret.)
Managing Director, Portland Iron Works
Sender: Berto Renaldo
RE: Mahan purchase

As a nation seeking to finally establish herself as one of note, Guadalombia is heavily interested in acquiring the latest in cost-efficient military technologies and equipment for the purpose of defending her borders and shores. As an island, Guadalombia is concerned with the creation and maintenance of a strong navy, and has found this latest creation of the PIW to be perfectly suited to her needs. The Guadalombian government would be interested in purchasing three of the Mahan class xebecs to serve as the foundation for our growing navy. The final sum of 5.1 billion dollars will be wired upon confirmation of the order.

Berto Renaldo,
Special Advisor to President General Emilio Diez Calvo

To: Rear Admiral Barbara Tucker (ISN-Ret.)
Managing Director, Portland Iron Works
From: Foriegn Defense Procurement Directorate, Ministry of Defense
Subject: Order of the Mahan-class xebec


"The Navy of the Armed Republic [NAR] has been searching for such a vessel for some time. Due to the nature of our Navy, this vessel would fit perfectly as a command vessel for a number of our naval groups, such as our amphibious assault groups and expeditionary fleets [the primary component of our Navy]. Unfortunately, we do not have the allocated funds necessary [due to reductions in the Navy procurement budget] to purchase a vessel for each of our seven dedicated amphibious assault groups and twenty-three expeditionary fleets, however, we do wish to order a total of twelve Mahan-class xebecs for implementation into each amphibious assault fleet as well as a number of our expeditionary fleets, primarily those not tasked with ground support operations or national defense.

In advance, we wish to thank the Portland Iron Works for considering our order. If confirmed, the $20.4 billion USD for twelve of these warships will be transferred immediately."

Fortin Komroskiy
-Director, Foreign Procurement Directorate
Ministry of Defense of the Armed Republic [MoDAR]

To: President Jason Garner
The Silver Sky
From: Rear Admiral Barbara Tucker (ISN-Ret.)
Managing Director, Portland Iron Works
Subject: Confirmation of order

The Portland Iron Works is delighted to hear of this great interest in the Mahan-class xebec from our friends in The Silver Sky. Since you have purchased from us in the past, we would be delighted to offer you a 2.5% discount on your purchase, making the amount $53.04 billion.

We would be willing to offer you the domestic production rights to the xebec, which would include any upgrades made to the ship and any future versions of the same class. The amount we would charge for the production rights would be the amount we would charge for 100 units at their regular price; in other words, $170 billion, for a contract that extends for 50 years. The contract allows you to produce units for your navy only, and does not allow for distribution to other countries.

We expect the ships to be delivered to you within 15 NS years [15 RL days], but we offer you the option of securing the production rights in lieu of waiting for us to manufacture the ships ourselves. We await word of your response to this offer.

We thank you for contacting the Portland Iron Works once again for your naval needs and we hope to hear from you again in the future!

------

To: Berto Renaldo,
Special Advisor to the President, Guadalombia
From: Rear Admiral Barbara Tucker (ISN-Ret.)
Managing Director, Portland Iron Works
Subject: Confirmation of order

The Portland Iron Works is pleased to confirm this order from the glorious nation of Guadalombia. Three Mahan-class xebecs will be prepared for you and we anticipate delivery within six NS years [6 RL days], following the completion of sea trials. We hope these ships serve your evolving navy well and we thank you for choosing the Portland Iron Works for your naval needs!

------

To: Fortin Komroskiy
Director, Foreign Procurement Directorate
From: Rear Admiral Barbara Tucker (ISN-Ret.)
Managing Director, Portland Iron Works
Subject: Confirmation of order

The Portland Iron Works is elated to see our friends from Soviet Bloc return to an Incorporated Defence Company and we are delighted to confirm this order for 12 Mahan-class xebecs. We expect to have your order completed within seven NS years [7 RL days], as we have just secured an agreement with the Portsmouth Munitions Corporation to use their shipyards to aid in our construction efforts. Rest assured that we will strive to ensure top quality in this ship class as we do with all our ship classes.

We thank you for contacting the Portland Iron Works for your naval needs and we hope to see your indefatigable country return to us in the future!

To: President Jason Garner
The Silver Sky
From: Rear Admiral Barbara Tucker (ISN-Ret.)
Managing Director, Portland Iron Works
Subject: Confirmation of order

The Portland Iron Works is delighted to hear of this great interest in the Mahan-class xebec from our friends in The Silver Sky. Since you have purchased from us in the past, we would be delighted to offer you a 2.5% discount on your purchase, making the amount $53.04 billion.

We would be willing to offer you the domestic production rights to the xebec, which would include any upgrades made to the ship and any future versions of the same class. The amount we would charge for the production rights would be the amount we would charge for 100 units at their regular price; in other words, $170 billion, for a contract that extends for 50 years. The contract allows you to produce units for your navy only, and does not allow for distribution to other countries.

We expect the ships to be delivered to you within 15 NS years [15 RL days], but we offer you the option of securing the production rights in lieu of waiting for us to manufacture the ships ourselves. We await word of your response to this offer.

We thank you for contacting the Portland Iron Works once again for your naval needs and we hope to hear from you again in the future!
To: Rear Admiral Barbara Tucker (ISN-Ret.)
Managing Director, Portland Iron Works
From: President Jason Garner, Silver Sky Naval Headquarters
Subject: Leading Destroyers

We find the offer of domestic production rights to be most agreeable, we always like it better when we can produce ordered products ourselves, the $170 Billion USD has been wired, we just await the arrival of the blueprints and plans to begin consruction of these fine ships.

Thank you,
[Signed]
President Jason Garner
The Armed Republic of The Silver Sky

OOC: Just a note to everyone that the Mahan is now available (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=404832) at the Portland Iron Works.

*bump*

OOC:Sarz, get on AIM.

*bump*