Taerkasten
06-10-2007, 03:36
Duke Marshall class ACC-75 Aircraft Carrier
General Specifications
Type: Light Aircraft carrier
Length: 203 metres
Beam: 35 metres
Draught: 8 metres
Displacement: 20,000 tonnes
Armaments:
CIWS: 2x Phalanx CIWS
SAM: 1x TNAMRAAM launchers
Electronics: TNRS-12 3D air search radar system, TNLRRS-2 2D long-range air search radar system, 6x Type 1 target acquisition radars, 1x TNCFRS-1 air traffic control & landing aid radar, 1x Class 2 radars, 1x missile guidance radars
Countermeasures: TNECM-1 ‘Guardian’ electronic countermeasures suite
Power plant: 4x steam turbine generators = 65MW
Speed: 25 knots
Vehicles: 18 fixed-wing and rotary aircraft
Crew complement: 1,200 capacity plus aircrew
History
First laid down in 1962, the HMS Duke Marshall ACC-75 was at the time considered to be a revolutionary aircraft carrier. Prior to her introduction, no aircraft carrier had ever served in the Taerkasten Royal Navy, which was a severe shortcoming that the Admiralty wished to address. Although frought with design difficulties during its development, and construction was delayed by two years, the HMS Duke Marshall launched in 1967 and was commissioned the following year.
Originally configured for older generations of CTOL aircraft, as time progressed it soon became apparent that the carrier's flight deck was of insufficient length to support modern CTOL fighter craft. As Taerkasten was suffering from economic difficulties at the time, the government was unwilling to fund the development of a new class of carrier, and so instead a major refit of the existing Duke Marshall class was scheduled. By 1985 all of the carriers had been fitted with ski ramps, allowing them to use modern STOVL fighters. Additionally, old anti-air guns were removed and replaced with a SAM launcher, and modern CIWS systems were installed.
By the 1990s the carrier was beginning to show her age; only able to support eighteen modern fighter aircraft, compared to her original capacity of almost thirty, the ACC-75 was no longer able to match up to the larger carriers being fielded by other nations. To compensate, the Royal Defence Ministry doubled the size of all carrier groups, however the government was still unwilling to commit to a new carrier design until the late 90s, when at last, the Combined Arms Review was established and immediately identified a severe carrier shortcoming.
Most of the thirty-seven ACC-75 aircraft carriers are scheduled to be replaced by the newer, larger and more advanced Princess Laura class ACC-191. HMS Infallible ACC-79 will be berthed and turned into a museum ship, due to her illustrious service record. Seven of the ACC-75 carriers have been selected to be renovated and will remain in commission as helicopter carriers or amphibious assault platforms. For the remaining seaworthy vessels, the Taerkasten government determined that due to the high costs of purchasing and maintaining aircraft carriers, smaller, poorly-funded navies of developing nations may benefit from purchasing cheap, second-hand vessels such as these. As such, a further seven ACC-75s will be sold off as budget carriers to developing nations.
The remaining carriers are deemed to be too expensive to renovate, due to the level of repairs and upgrades required, and will be sold off as scrap.
Design
With a displacement of 20,000 tonnes, the ACC-75 is a light aircraft carrier by modern standards, featuring a small island and two small deck lifts. The carrier is purely designed to support STOVL type aircraft, utilising a ski ramp angled at ten degrees to aid with launching.
While the majority of the ACC-75 carriers are to be sold for scrap, fifteen of the carriers will remain active in one form or another - seven will be converted into helicopter and amphibious assault carriers for continued use with the Taerkasten Royal Navy, seven will be sold to smaller navies cheaply, and one (HMS Infallible ACC-79) will be berthed as a museum ship.
Power plant
Designed before the common use of nuclear reactors in naval vessels, the ACC-75 is powered by four steam turbine generators, producing roughly 65MW. While old, these generators have proven to be largely reliable and mechanically sound, and should remain serviceable for many more years.
Utilising these generators, the ACC-75's two propellers can move the ship at a sustained speed of 25 knots, and has a range of over 6,000 miles. Speeds of up to 27 knots have been reported, but never maintained nor substantiated.
Air wing
Although originally designed to cater for thirty aircraft, nowadays the ACC-75 is only able to support eighteen modern, STOVL-capable fighters. Alternatively, she is also capable of supporting rotary aircraft.
Electronics and defence
As standard the latest refit of the ACC-75 class carries two 20mm Phalanx close-in-weapons-systems and a single AMRAAM launcher. She carries moderately effective countermeasure systems, and in her last scheduled refit she was equipped with somewhat modernised radar and command and control systems. While not as advanced as modern carriers, she is still capable of taking the role of flagship in a battlegroup.
Cost
Twenty-two ACC-75s are to be sold off as scrap for a price of roughly $400,000 per carrier. Carriers designated as scrap will not be delivered under their own power, and will be stripped of all sensitive equipment beforehand. While it may be possible to refurbish them, estimates suggest that it would cost more than it would be worth to do so.
The following carriers are seaworthy, and are being sold off at low cost as functional carriers, to be recommissioned by small, developing foreign navies:
HMS Duke Marshall ACC-75 ($6,500,000 - NOTE: Phalanx CIWS replaced by Goalkeeper CIWS after Phalanxes were damaged during training mission, also equipped with two AMRAAM launchers)
HMS Gideon ACC-78 ($5,000,000 - NOTE: Slightly larger than the rest of the class, with a thirteen degree ski ramp)
HMS Turner ACC-81 ($4,500,000)
HMS Lord Admiral ACC-76 ($2,000,000 - NOTE: Engineering accident nine months ago has caused serious damage to two of the generators, and will require some repairs to be made seaworthy)
HMS Machin ACC-84 ($4,500,000)
HMS Sanchez ACC-86 ($4,000,000 - NOTE: Minor damage to one of the deck elevators, will need replacing)
HMS Undeniable ACC-88 ($5,000,000 - NOTE: Is equipped with two AMRAAM launchers)
Along with the carrier itself, buyers will receive ten years worth of replacement parts along with ten second-hand Harrier IIs. Support for the vessels will be discontinued after ten years, at which point any further replacement parts must be purchased normally (production rights for parts can be given on request at no extra charge, however).
General Specifications
Type: Light Aircraft carrier
Length: 203 metres
Beam: 35 metres
Draught: 8 metres
Displacement: 20,000 tonnes
Armaments:
CIWS: 2x Phalanx CIWS
SAM: 1x TNAMRAAM launchers
Electronics: TNRS-12 3D air search radar system, TNLRRS-2 2D long-range air search radar system, 6x Type 1 target acquisition radars, 1x TNCFRS-1 air traffic control & landing aid radar, 1x Class 2 radars, 1x missile guidance radars
Countermeasures: TNECM-1 ‘Guardian’ electronic countermeasures suite
Power plant: 4x steam turbine generators = 65MW
Speed: 25 knots
Vehicles: 18 fixed-wing and rotary aircraft
Crew complement: 1,200 capacity plus aircrew
History
First laid down in 1962, the HMS Duke Marshall ACC-75 was at the time considered to be a revolutionary aircraft carrier. Prior to her introduction, no aircraft carrier had ever served in the Taerkasten Royal Navy, which was a severe shortcoming that the Admiralty wished to address. Although frought with design difficulties during its development, and construction was delayed by two years, the HMS Duke Marshall launched in 1967 and was commissioned the following year.
Originally configured for older generations of CTOL aircraft, as time progressed it soon became apparent that the carrier's flight deck was of insufficient length to support modern CTOL fighter craft. As Taerkasten was suffering from economic difficulties at the time, the government was unwilling to fund the development of a new class of carrier, and so instead a major refit of the existing Duke Marshall class was scheduled. By 1985 all of the carriers had been fitted with ski ramps, allowing them to use modern STOVL fighters. Additionally, old anti-air guns were removed and replaced with a SAM launcher, and modern CIWS systems were installed.
By the 1990s the carrier was beginning to show her age; only able to support eighteen modern fighter aircraft, compared to her original capacity of almost thirty, the ACC-75 was no longer able to match up to the larger carriers being fielded by other nations. To compensate, the Royal Defence Ministry doubled the size of all carrier groups, however the government was still unwilling to commit to a new carrier design until the late 90s, when at last, the Combined Arms Review was established and immediately identified a severe carrier shortcoming.
Most of the thirty-seven ACC-75 aircraft carriers are scheduled to be replaced by the newer, larger and more advanced Princess Laura class ACC-191. HMS Infallible ACC-79 will be berthed and turned into a museum ship, due to her illustrious service record. Seven of the ACC-75 carriers have been selected to be renovated and will remain in commission as helicopter carriers or amphibious assault platforms. For the remaining seaworthy vessels, the Taerkasten government determined that due to the high costs of purchasing and maintaining aircraft carriers, smaller, poorly-funded navies of developing nations may benefit from purchasing cheap, second-hand vessels such as these. As such, a further seven ACC-75s will be sold off as budget carriers to developing nations.
The remaining carriers are deemed to be too expensive to renovate, due to the level of repairs and upgrades required, and will be sold off as scrap.
Design
With a displacement of 20,000 tonnes, the ACC-75 is a light aircraft carrier by modern standards, featuring a small island and two small deck lifts. The carrier is purely designed to support STOVL type aircraft, utilising a ski ramp angled at ten degrees to aid with launching.
While the majority of the ACC-75 carriers are to be sold for scrap, fifteen of the carriers will remain active in one form or another - seven will be converted into helicopter and amphibious assault carriers for continued use with the Taerkasten Royal Navy, seven will be sold to smaller navies cheaply, and one (HMS Infallible ACC-79) will be berthed as a museum ship.
Power plant
Designed before the common use of nuclear reactors in naval vessels, the ACC-75 is powered by four steam turbine generators, producing roughly 65MW. While old, these generators have proven to be largely reliable and mechanically sound, and should remain serviceable for many more years.
Utilising these generators, the ACC-75's two propellers can move the ship at a sustained speed of 25 knots, and has a range of over 6,000 miles. Speeds of up to 27 knots have been reported, but never maintained nor substantiated.
Air wing
Although originally designed to cater for thirty aircraft, nowadays the ACC-75 is only able to support eighteen modern, STOVL-capable fighters. Alternatively, she is also capable of supporting rotary aircraft.
Electronics and defence
As standard the latest refit of the ACC-75 class carries two 20mm Phalanx close-in-weapons-systems and a single AMRAAM launcher. She carries moderately effective countermeasure systems, and in her last scheduled refit she was equipped with somewhat modernised radar and command and control systems. While not as advanced as modern carriers, she is still capable of taking the role of flagship in a battlegroup.
Cost
Twenty-two ACC-75s are to be sold off as scrap for a price of roughly $400,000 per carrier. Carriers designated as scrap will not be delivered under their own power, and will be stripped of all sensitive equipment beforehand. While it may be possible to refurbish them, estimates suggest that it would cost more than it would be worth to do so.
The following carriers are seaworthy, and are being sold off at low cost as functional carriers, to be recommissioned by small, developing foreign navies:
HMS Duke Marshall ACC-75 ($6,500,000 - NOTE: Phalanx CIWS replaced by Goalkeeper CIWS after Phalanxes were damaged during training mission, also equipped with two AMRAAM launchers)
HMS Gideon ACC-78 ($5,000,000 - NOTE: Slightly larger than the rest of the class, with a thirteen degree ski ramp)
HMS Turner ACC-81 ($4,500,000)
HMS Lord Admiral ACC-76 ($2,000,000 - NOTE: Engineering accident nine months ago has caused serious damage to two of the generators, and will require some repairs to be made seaworthy)
HMS Machin ACC-84 ($4,500,000)
HMS Sanchez ACC-86 ($4,000,000 - NOTE: Minor damage to one of the deck elevators, will need replacing)
HMS Undeniable ACC-88 ($5,000,000 - NOTE: Is equipped with two AMRAAM launchers)
Along with the carrier itself, buyers will receive ten years worth of replacement parts along with ten second-hand Harrier IIs. Support for the vessels will be discontinued after ten years, at which point any further replacement parts must be purchased normally (production rights for parts can be given on request at no extra charge, however).