NationStates Jolt Archive


Montana Shipping Company announces the launch of the Assurance Class Freighter

Mokastana
02-02-2008, 23:33
Image (http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff213/mokastana/image033.jpg?t=1201989569)

Montana Incorperated has long been worried about the safety of its numerous shipments in and out of Mokastana. Especially under the area of Pharmaceuticals and military shipments. With Piracy and hijackings on the rise
not only are have major shipments been given fast attack escorts but ideas were conjured up to give the Freighters themselves an ability to fight back. This was especailly important for the Pharmaceuticals, where one or two ships would be traveling alone and carrying billions of dollars worth of drugs and medicine.

While early experiments in this concept just involved bolting Phalanx guns to the deck of Freighters the Assurance Class is the first generation to integrate the weapons into the hull and maximize there use while minimizing cost. As a bonus, the Assurance class Freighter has been built to exact Pananamax standards to ensure its ability to transverse any canal or straight that may occur on any of the numerous shipping lanes around the world while allowing maximum cargo space. The Cargo hold have been cut into 5 separate sections , labeled A though E. In the even that the ship is taking on water each compartment can be sealed off from each other, manually at the four doors on each wall between compartments, or electronically on the Bridge or the weapons control center.

As for armaments, the Assurance class freighter has been given three Phalanx guns for both anti-ship missile attacks as well as give the captain the ability to stop boarding attempts. This is done via the rear control room where any weapon electronic weapon on board can be commanded manually to target any desired RADAR target. Thus allowing the Phalanx guns to pose as a threat against boarding parties, missiles, and low flying aircraft. With one main Phalanx in the rear above the control center and two closer to the front of the ship they can cover the maximum amount of area around the ship without interfering with cargo space. Each cargo hold has two pumps that can pump out up to 1,500 gallons of water per minute using engine power.

Placed above the Bridge and next to the weapons control room are the Piggyback 81mm Mortar/.50-cal Machine Guns (http://www.pcf45.com/misfire/81-50.html). These two weapons were added for the need of a Mortar as well as a secondary anti-boarding ability. The mortar allows for both illumination and close to land bombardment, but the latter will most likely never be use.

Then the final touch, a single Mark 12 5 inch gun, making any freighter captain feel like a real man. Mostly for show and for making the staff feel proud of their ship this gun has been place as far froward as possible to minimize space that it would take away from the cargo hold. The rapid fire cannon can be used against aerial targets and for bombardment of targets further out, or even inland in emergency situations.


Assurance Class Freighter

Type: Defensive Freighter
Manufacturer: Montana Shipping Company
Propulsion:
Length: 1050 ft. (320.04m)
Width: 110 ft (180ft)
Draft: 41 ft (12.5m)
Displacement: 98,600 tons (unloaded)
TEU: 5,000
Capacity: 63,000 tons
Propulsion and power:
4 × steam turbines
4 × shafts
260,000 shp
Range: 23,000 miles (37,000 km)
Speed:
-25 knots (empty)
-11 knots (full)
Armament:
3x Phalanx CIWS
2x Piggyback 81mm Mortar / .50-cal Machine Gun
1x Mark 12 Duel Purpose 5"/38 caliber gun
1x Seahawk Helicopter

Price: NS$20 Million
Mokastana
03-02-2008, 21:25
bump