Taerkasten
03-10-2007, 01:09
Princess Laura class ACC-191 Aircraft Carrier
General Specifications
Type: Aircraft carrier
Length: 301 metres
Beam:
Overall: 78 metres
Waterline: 41 metres
Draught: 11 metres
Displacement: 72,355 tonnes
Armaments:
CIWS: 4x Goalkeeper CIWS
SAM: 5x TNAMRAAM launchers
RAM: 2x 21-cell SeaRAM launchers
Electronics: TNPRS-01B phased air search radar system, TNLRRS-8 2D long-range air search radar system, 12x Type 3 target acquisition radars, 2x TNCFRS-1 air traffic control & landing aid radar, 3x Class 4 radars, 3x missile guidance radars
Countermeasures: TNECM-3 ‘Interceptor’ countermeasure suite,
Power plant: 5x Bossun E-120 solid oxide fuel cells, 2x gas turbine generators, 6x diesel generators = total 242MW
Speed: 30 knots
Vehicles: 45 fixed-wing and rotary aircraft
Crew complement: 1,500 capacity plus aircrew
History
A requirement for a newer, larger type of aircraft carrier was identified by Royal Navy Combined Arms Review three years ago, as a replacement for the aging Duke Marshall class (ACC-75). ACC-75 was first laid down in 1962 and was designed on a strict budget; only displacing 20,000 tonnes she was limited to an air wing of eighteen fixed-wing fighters and lacked range. The Combined Arms Review determined that with growing unrest in the world, increased reliance on air superiority, the inability of Taerkasten to project high levels of air coverage from naval-based platforms was a major shortcoming in the Royal Navy’s offensive and defensive capacity.
In 2003 the government invited ten companies to tender designs for the beginning phase of what became known as the Advanced Carrier Project; despite competitive bids from the three main naval manufacturing companies in Taerkasten, Morris & Son’s CATOBAR configuration was selected due to the increased range and payload capabilities afforded to the onboard air wing. In the meantime, orders were placed for several hundred navalised Swiftsure Mk1 fighter craft, the latest advanced multi-role fighter design expected to be in production before the completion of the first batch of carriers.
One design for a 110,000 tonne-plus supercarrier was put forward early on but rejected, quoted by Admiral Jameson – head of the ACP board – as being “overkill and overpriced”.
After further design refinement, the government approved the initial order of twenty-five ACC-191 carriers, and the Admiralty opted to name the lead ship of the class HMS Princess Laura, in honour of the King’s firstborn child and heir apparent (should Her Majesty take the throne during the projected service lifespan of the ACC-191, the name shall be changed accordingly). The existing thirty-seven ACC-75 carriers will remain in service until the last of this initial order is completed, when they will begin to be phased out and replaced by additional ACC-191 carriers one at a time. When this occurs, some ACC-75s will be decommissioned and sold for scrap, due to the enormous renovation and maintenance costs that would be required to maintain their operations. The HMS Infallible ACC-79, thanks to its illustrious record and its long-standing status as fleet flagship between 1976 and 1995, will remain on special commission and shall be berthed as a museum ship. Seven ACC-75s will remain in commission, and shall be reclassified as helicopter landing platforms, amphibious assault platforms, or anti-submarine warfare carriers depending on fleet requirements. Those remaining ACC-75s that require only moderate maintenance shall be sold off as budget second-hand carriers to foreign armed forces.
Design
Displacing at more than 72,000 tonnes each, the ACC-191 will become the largest warship ever to serve in the Royal Navy. She features two islands and two deck lifts, as well as an auxiliary lift supporting rotary craft. Utilising a catapult assisted take off but arrested recovery system and an angled flight deck the carrier is capable of launching and retrieving a wide number of varied CTOL aircraft, whilst affording her fighters with ample range and payload. With an air wing of forty-five fixed wing fighters, the ACC-191 will also be the most powerful surface combatant in the Royal Navy.
Due to the budgetary issues involved with designing and building a new carrier fleet, the ACC-191 has been designed to be easily maintained and upgraded, and is expected to have a lifespan of thirty to forty years. Future-proofing is of particular concern, and it is expected that the carrier will be able to accept a variety of future upgrades to her major systems, ranging from her power plants to her defences.
Power plant
Due to environmental and budgetary concerns the Royal Navy opted to develop a non-nuclear aircraft carrier, which is where the ACC-191 becomes revolutionary – roughly 100MW of its power requirements are satisfied by an array of five advanced solid oxide fuel cells manufactured by Bossun Electrics. The excess heat generated from these fuel cells is captured and used for a variety of purposes such as boiling water, and their off-gasses are used to fire the gas turbine generators. Remaining power requirements are provided by numerous conventional gas turbines and diesel generators, to develop a total combined power output of over 240MW of power. This reliance on fuel cells has reduced the weight of on-board fuel requirements by almost twenty percent, allowing for additional aircraft fuel to be stored instead.
While the capability to accept nuclear generators in the future has been suggested, the Admiralty has categorically rejected the idea, stating that the projected range of 14,000 nautical miles is adequate for their needs.
With those generators fuelling two seven-metre propellers, the ACC-191 will have a relatively high top speed of 30 knots.
Air wing
The ACC-191 will be capable of supporting an air group of forty-five fixed wing fighters and helicopters, along with appropriate fuel, maintenance equipment and munitions. The standard complement is expected to focus two-thirds on fighter craft, and one-third on assorted rotary aircraft, reflecting the multi-role nature of the carrier. For the first ten to twenty years of her lifespan, the carrier will primarily field the new Swiftsure Mk1 multi-role CTOL strike fighter craft, although future proofing options are included to accommodate next-generation aircraft.
Electronics
With numerous surface-to-air missile launchers, close-in-weapons-systems, rolling airframe missiles and numerous electronic countermeasure suites the carrier is said to have adequate defences for a ship of her type, although as with all carriers she will rely primarily on her air wing and escorts for defence. Her true power lies in her capability as a command and control craft – with long-range visibility and numerous effective coordination systems the ACC-191 will be expected to take the flagship role of any fleet she is assigned to. The TNPRS-01B, TNLRRS-8 and other advanced radar systems allow her to scan thousands of targets at a range of several hundred miles, and she is fully capable of autonomous target acquisition. She also has advanced airborne surveillance and control facilities to aid her air wing’s deployment and recovery.
Cost
Each carrier purchased from Morris & Son Shipyards will cost His Majesty’s Royal Defence Forces $3,200,000,000. When the initial order of twenty-five units and the estimated second order of thirty-seven units has been concluded, and research and progressive development costs factored in, the entire Advanced Carrier Project will have consumed almost or $200,000,000,000.
This is in addition to the projected $256,000,000 annual operating costs of each carrier, a figure which has been achieved thanks to significant investment in the easy maintenance of the craft. Additionally, thanks to extensive automation in many of the carrier’s systems, it has been possible to significantly reduce the manpower requirement of the ACC-191, saving additional money.
Construction of each carrier, based at Morris & Son’s Keblos shipyards in New Anglesey, Jersey, and New La Duquesa, and their main Taerkast Proper shipyard in New Wolverhampton, takes roughly three years. Operating at full capacity, Morris & Son claim to be able support construction of up to ten ACC-191s at one time. The first batch should be completed in six years, with the HMS Princess Laura ACC-191 being officially commissioned the following year.
Morris & Son has been granted authorisation for foreign export of the carrier. No sales have yet been reported.
General Specifications
Type: Aircraft carrier
Length: 301 metres
Beam:
Overall: 78 metres
Waterline: 41 metres
Draught: 11 metres
Displacement: 72,355 tonnes
Armaments:
CIWS: 4x Goalkeeper CIWS
SAM: 5x TNAMRAAM launchers
RAM: 2x 21-cell SeaRAM launchers
Electronics: TNPRS-01B phased air search radar system, TNLRRS-8 2D long-range air search radar system, 12x Type 3 target acquisition radars, 2x TNCFRS-1 air traffic control & landing aid radar, 3x Class 4 radars, 3x missile guidance radars
Countermeasures: TNECM-3 ‘Interceptor’ countermeasure suite,
Power plant: 5x Bossun E-120 solid oxide fuel cells, 2x gas turbine generators, 6x diesel generators = total 242MW
Speed: 30 knots
Vehicles: 45 fixed-wing and rotary aircraft
Crew complement: 1,500 capacity plus aircrew
History
A requirement for a newer, larger type of aircraft carrier was identified by Royal Navy Combined Arms Review three years ago, as a replacement for the aging Duke Marshall class (ACC-75). ACC-75 was first laid down in 1962 and was designed on a strict budget; only displacing 20,000 tonnes she was limited to an air wing of eighteen fixed-wing fighters and lacked range. The Combined Arms Review determined that with growing unrest in the world, increased reliance on air superiority, the inability of Taerkasten to project high levels of air coverage from naval-based platforms was a major shortcoming in the Royal Navy’s offensive and defensive capacity.
In 2003 the government invited ten companies to tender designs for the beginning phase of what became known as the Advanced Carrier Project; despite competitive bids from the three main naval manufacturing companies in Taerkasten, Morris & Son’s CATOBAR configuration was selected due to the increased range and payload capabilities afforded to the onboard air wing. In the meantime, orders were placed for several hundred navalised Swiftsure Mk1 fighter craft, the latest advanced multi-role fighter design expected to be in production before the completion of the first batch of carriers.
One design for a 110,000 tonne-plus supercarrier was put forward early on but rejected, quoted by Admiral Jameson – head of the ACP board – as being “overkill and overpriced”.
After further design refinement, the government approved the initial order of twenty-five ACC-191 carriers, and the Admiralty opted to name the lead ship of the class HMS Princess Laura, in honour of the King’s firstborn child and heir apparent (should Her Majesty take the throne during the projected service lifespan of the ACC-191, the name shall be changed accordingly). The existing thirty-seven ACC-75 carriers will remain in service until the last of this initial order is completed, when they will begin to be phased out and replaced by additional ACC-191 carriers one at a time. When this occurs, some ACC-75s will be decommissioned and sold for scrap, due to the enormous renovation and maintenance costs that would be required to maintain their operations. The HMS Infallible ACC-79, thanks to its illustrious record and its long-standing status as fleet flagship between 1976 and 1995, will remain on special commission and shall be berthed as a museum ship. Seven ACC-75s will remain in commission, and shall be reclassified as helicopter landing platforms, amphibious assault platforms, or anti-submarine warfare carriers depending on fleet requirements. Those remaining ACC-75s that require only moderate maintenance shall be sold off as budget second-hand carriers to foreign armed forces.
Design
Displacing at more than 72,000 tonnes each, the ACC-191 will become the largest warship ever to serve in the Royal Navy. She features two islands and two deck lifts, as well as an auxiliary lift supporting rotary craft. Utilising a catapult assisted take off but arrested recovery system and an angled flight deck the carrier is capable of launching and retrieving a wide number of varied CTOL aircraft, whilst affording her fighters with ample range and payload. With an air wing of forty-five fixed wing fighters, the ACC-191 will also be the most powerful surface combatant in the Royal Navy.
Due to the budgetary issues involved with designing and building a new carrier fleet, the ACC-191 has been designed to be easily maintained and upgraded, and is expected to have a lifespan of thirty to forty years. Future-proofing is of particular concern, and it is expected that the carrier will be able to accept a variety of future upgrades to her major systems, ranging from her power plants to her defences.
Power plant
Due to environmental and budgetary concerns the Royal Navy opted to develop a non-nuclear aircraft carrier, which is where the ACC-191 becomes revolutionary – roughly 100MW of its power requirements are satisfied by an array of five advanced solid oxide fuel cells manufactured by Bossun Electrics. The excess heat generated from these fuel cells is captured and used for a variety of purposes such as boiling water, and their off-gasses are used to fire the gas turbine generators. Remaining power requirements are provided by numerous conventional gas turbines and diesel generators, to develop a total combined power output of over 240MW of power. This reliance on fuel cells has reduced the weight of on-board fuel requirements by almost twenty percent, allowing for additional aircraft fuel to be stored instead.
While the capability to accept nuclear generators in the future has been suggested, the Admiralty has categorically rejected the idea, stating that the projected range of 14,000 nautical miles is adequate for their needs.
With those generators fuelling two seven-metre propellers, the ACC-191 will have a relatively high top speed of 30 knots.
Air wing
The ACC-191 will be capable of supporting an air group of forty-five fixed wing fighters and helicopters, along with appropriate fuel, maintenance equipment and munitions. The standard complement is expected to focus two-thirds on fighter craft, and one-third on assorted rotary aircraft, reflecting the multi-role nature of the carrier. For the first ten to twenty years of her lifespan, the carrier will primarily field the new Swiftsure Mk1 multi-role CTOL strike fighter craft, although future proofing options are included to accommodate next-generation aircraft.
Electronics
With numerous surface-to-air missile launchers, close-in-weapons-systems, rolling airframe missiles and numerous electronic countermeasure suites the carrier is said to have adequate defences for a ship of her type, although as with all carriers she will rely primarily on her air wing and escorts for defence. Her true power lies in her capability as a command and control craft – with long-range visibility and numerous effective coordination systems the ACC-191 will be expected to take the flagship role of any fleet she is assigned to. The TNPRS-01B, TNLRRS-8 and other advanced radar systems allow her to scan thousands of targets at a range of several hundred miles, and she is fully capable of autonomous target acquisition. She also has advanced airborne surveillance and control facilities to aid her air wing’s deployment and recovery.
Cost
Each carrier purchased from Morris & Son Shipyards will cost His Majesty’s Royal Defence Forces $3,200,000,000. When the initial order of twenty-five units and the estimated second order of thirty-seven units has been concluded, and research and progressive development costs factored in, the entire Advanced Carrier Project will have consumed almost or $200,000,000,000.
This is in addition to the projected $256,000,000 annual operating costs of each carrier, a figure which has been achieved thanks to significant investment in the easy maintenance of the craft. Additionally, thanks to extensive automation in many of the carrier’s systems, it has been possible to significantly reduce the manpower requirement of the ACC-191, saving additional money.
Construction of each carrier, based at Morris & Son’s Keblos shipyards in New Anglesey, Jersey, and New La Duquesa, and their main Taerkast Proper shipyard in New Wolverhampton, takes roughly three years. Operating at full capacity, Morris & Son claim to be able support construction of up to ten ACC-191s at one time. The first batch should be completed in six years, with the HMS Princess Laura ACC-191 being officially commissioned the following year.
Morris & Son has been granted authorisation for foreign export of the carrier. No sales have yet been reported.