Reathach-class carrier: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Aircraft carrier "Baku" in 1988 (3).jpeg| | {|{{Infobox ship begin <!-- warships except submarines --> | ||
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{{Infobox ship image | |||
|Ship image= [[File:Aircraft carrier "Baku" in 1988 (3).jpeg|300px]] | |||
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|Ship caption=''Meon'' in July, 1992 on patrol in [[Bah Lannan]] | |||
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{{Infobox ship class overview | |||
|Name=''Reathach'' class | |||
|Builders=[[O’Shea Container Shipping]], [[Sae Breach Lahan]] | |||
|Operators=[[Faneria]] | |||
|Class before= [[Iolair-class carrier|Iolair class]] | |||
|Class after= [[Penthebhra-class carrier|Penthebhra class]] | |||
|Subclasses= | |||
|Cost= | |||
|Built range=1978-1986 | |||
|In service range=1983-present | |||
|In commission range= | |||
|Total ships building= | |||
|Total ships planned= | |||
|Total ships completed=2 | |||
|Total ships cancelled= | |||
|Total ships active=1 | |||
|Total ships laid up= | |||
|Total ships lost= | |||
|Total ships retired=1 | |||
|Total ships preserved= | |||
}} | |||
{{Infobox ship characteristics | |||
|Hide header= | |||
|Header caption= | |||
|Ship type= [[Aircraft cruiser]]/[[Aircraft carrier]] | |||
|Ship displacement= 38,500–42,000 tons full load | |||
|Ship length= *{{convert|890|ft|m|abbr=on}} overall | |||
|Ship beam= *{{convert|170|ft|m|abbr=on}} overall | |||
* {{convert|100|ft|m|abbr=on}} at waterline | |||
|Ship draft= {{convert|32|ft|m|abbr=on}} | |||
|Ship propulsion= 8 turbopressurized boilers, 4 steam turbines ({{convert|240,000|shp|abbr=on}}), four shafts | |||
|Ship speed= {{convert|34|kn}} | |||
|Ship range= 8038 nmi (9250 mi) | |||
|Ship complement= 1,100 to 1,500 | |||
|Ship sensors= | |||
* 1x Navigational RADAR | |||
* 1x Primary Fire Control RADAR | |||
* 2x Secondary FCR | |||
* 1x SONAR pod | |||
|Ship EW= | |||
|Ship armament= | |||
* 6x CIWS | |||
* 12x ASHM | |||
* 2x 8" naval guns | |||
* 140x SAM | |||
* 6x torpedo tubes | |||
|Ship armor= | |||
|Ship aircraft= * 8× STO fighter aircraft | |||
* 12 × helicopters | |||
|Ship aircraft facilities=Abbreviated angled aft flight deck | |||
|Ship notes= | |||
}} | |||
|} | |||
The '''Reathach-class carrier''' (Aen. ''Modern'') | The '''Reathach-class carrier''' (Aen. ''Modern'') is a two-vessel class of warship produced for the [[Office of the National Army (Faneria)|Fhainnin Army Naval Forces]] in the 1980s. ''Reathach'' and its sister ship, ''Meon'' (Aen. ''Zeitgiest'', loosely). Designed as hybrid cruiser-carriers, the two vessels acted as twin flagships of the Fhainnin navy until the introduction of the [[Penthebhra-class carrier|Penthebhra class]] carriers. The most significant development from the commisioning of the class would be the initiation of a joint shipbuilding program with the [[Kiravian Federacy]] in 1985, formally named the Joint Carrier Development Program. The Federacy, having only reclaimed metropolitan [[Kiravia]] from a dying [[kiravian Union]] in [[Reunification of Kiravia|1984]], had served as the main offshore location for military research and development by the Fhainnin government in a number of areas banned under the [[Treaty of Loughlin]] until the [[Treaty of Normalization of Brotherly National Relations]] in 1967 terminated the nonterritorial conditions of the treaty. ''Meon'' in particular demonstrated native capital shipbuilding capabilities which were a prerequisite to the program, which had been discussed in increasingly serious terms since the 1970s as the possibility of a peaceful de-Socilization of Kiravia became stronger. | ||
==Design and Construction== | ==Design and Construction== | ||
The ''Reathach'' was the first post-[[Second Great War]] carrier built for [[Faneria]] other than the [[Barefield-class light carrier|Barefield]] class of helicopter carrier; as a result, it was constructed in two stages. Fhainnin naval industry had declined significantly since the wartime era, only picking up after the completion of the [[Grand Vandarch Canal]] and the expansion of cargo rail routes through the [[Croilaen Mountains|Croilaen Gap]] reinvigorated the economy. The class was intended to serve several purposes, one of which was to create an initial group of specialists with large warship-building experience, which would be employed to plan a class of cruiser for construction in the 1990s along with working out teething issues with the facilities needed to build and house such vessels. This meant that initially, the hull of ''Reathach'' was built by [[Burgundie|Burgundine]] firm [[O’Shea Container Shipping|O’Shea]], then | The ''Reathach'' was the first post-[[Second Great War]] carrier built for [[Faneria]] other than the [[Barefield-class light carrier|Barefield]] class of helicopter carrier; as a result, it was constructed in two stages. Fhainnin naval industry had declined significantly since the wartime era, only picking up after the completion of the [[Grand Vandarch Canal]] and the expansion of cargo rail routes through the [[Croilaen Mountains|Croilaen Gap]] reinvigorated the economy. The class was intended to serve several purposes, one of which was to create an initial group of specialists with large warship-building experience, which would be employed to plan a class of cruiser for construction in the 1990s along with working out teething issues with the facilities needed to build and house such vessels. This meant that initially, the hull of ''Reathach'' was built by [[Burgundie|Burgundine]] firm [[O’Shea Container Shipping|O’Shea]], then towed to [[Rihsport]] in Faneria, where the superstructure, armament, and most of the electronics were installed by [[Sae Breach Lahan]] prior to trials. ''Meon'' was then built in Rihsport's new facilities with oversight by an O'Shea engineering team. | ||
The actual role of the class, aside from jump-starting the Fhainnin military's naval reconstruction program and testing new technologies, was to act as a missile-cruiser/carrier hybrid. The ships were constructed similarly to small carriers with the bow ski jump replaced by conventional missile armaments, leaving reduced space for an air wing in exchange for allowing the ships to act as somewhat independent squadron leads. This mean that while the two ships would never be able to carry an equivalent air group to a proper carrier, they could act as long-range warships with a degree of | The actual role of the class, aside from jump-starting the Fhainnin military's naval reconstruction program and testing new technologies, was to act as a missile-cruiser/carrier hybrid. The ships were constructed similarly to small carriers with the bow ski jump replaced by conventional missile armaments, leaving reduced space for an air wing in exchange for allowing the ships to act as somewhat independent squadron leads. This mean that while the two ships would never be able to carry an equivalent air group to a proper carrier, they could act as long-range, largely independent warships with a degree of naval aviation capabilities, which had since the 1950s been nonexistent in the ANF. The limits of the Barefield class (particularly in terms of the severe cost-saving measures taken during construction) relegated them to a role as mobile helicopter bases, as well as limiting their ranges severely. In contrast, the ''Reathach'' and ''Meon'' were constructed to a competitive standard, as the two were expected to not be replaced until the 2010s. | ||
====Systems==== | |||
The class primarily functioned as an aircraft carrier, fielding up to twenty aircraft at a time, which could consist of up to sixteen fixed-wing fighters; however, both ships usually carried eight fighters. Originally, the design was intended to carry sixteen fighters and twelve helicopters, but instead internal hangar space was reduced to fit more powerful generators, a larger water filtration plant, and additional fuel and stores to extend their range and allow for greater independence of operation. Other armament consisted of twelve long-range, heavy anti-ship missiles and one-hundred and forty anti-air missiles, forty of which were stored for reloading the five launchers. Two eight-inch naval guns were added instead of extending the missile armament to sixteen ASHMs, with ''Meon'' seeing one turret removed and the originally planned count of heavy missiles restored in 2002. The ships bore navigational, combat control, and dedicated missile defense radars, as well as a bow SONAR pod. Both ships included a small rear well deck, allowing for ease of travel between ships via small craft. | |||
==Service Life== | ==Service Life== |
Latest revision as of 03:42, 3 April 2024
Meon in July, 1992 on patrol in Bah Lannan
| |
Class overview | |
---|---|
Name: | Reathach class |
Builders: | O’Shea Container Shipping, Sae Breach Lahan |
Operators: | Faneria |
Preceded by: | Iolair class |
Succeeded by: | Penthebhra class |
Built: | 1978-1986 |
In service: | 1983-present |
Completed: | 2 |
Active: | 1 |
Retired: | 1 |
General characteristics | |
Type: | Aircraft cruiser/Aircraft carrier |
Displacement: | 38,500–42,000 tons full load |
Length: | 890 ft (270 m) overall |
Beam: |
|
Draft: | 32 ft (9.8 m) |
Propulsion: | 8 turbopressurized boilers, 4 steam turbines (240,000 shp (180,000 kW)), four shafts |
Speed: | 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph) |
Range: | 8038 nmi (9250 mi) |
Complement: | 1,100 to 1,500 |
Sensors and processing systems: |
|
Armament: |
|
Aircraft carried: |
|
Aviation facilities: | Abbreviated angled aft flight deck |
The Reathach-class carrier (Aen. Modern) is a two-vessel class of warship produced for the Fhainnin Army Naval Forces in the 1980s. Reathach and its sister ship, Meon (Aen. Zeitgiest, loosely). Designed as hybrid cruiser-carriers, the two vessels acted as twin flagships of the Fhainnin navy until the introduction of the Penthebhra class carriers. The most significant development from the commisioning of the class would be the initiation of a joint shipbuilding program with the Kiravian Federacy in 1985, formally named the Joint Carrier Development Program. The Federacy, having only reclaimed metropolitan Kiravia from a dying kiravian Union in 1984, had served as the main offshore location for military research and development by the Fhainnin government in a number of areas banned under the Treaty of Loughlin until the Treaty of Normalization of Brotherly National Relations in 1967 terminated the nonterritorial conditions of the treaty. Meon in particular demonstrated native capital shipbuilding capabilities which were a prerequisite to the program, which had been discussed in increasingly serious terms since the 1970s as the possibility of a peaceful de-Socilization of Kiravia became stronger.
Design and Construction
The Reathach was the first post-Second Great War carrier built for Faneria other than the Barefield class of helicopter carrier; as a result, it was constructed in two stages. Fhainnin naval industry had declined significantly since the wartime era, only picking up after the completion of the Grand Vandarch Canal and the expansion of cargo rail routes through the Croilaen Gap reinvigorated the economy. The class was intended to serve several purposes, one of which was to create an initial group of specialists with large warship-building experience, which would be employed to plan a class of cruiser for construction in the 1990s along with working out teething issues with the facilities needed to build and house such vessels. This meant that initially, the hull of Reathach was built by Burgundine firm O’Shea, then towed to Rihsport in Faneria, where the superstructure, armament, and most of the electronics were installed by Sae Breach Lahan prior to trials. Meon was then built in Rihsport's new facilities with oversight by an O'Shea engineering team.
The actual role of the class, aside from jump-starting the Fhainnin military's naval reconstruction program and testing new technologies, was to act as a missile-cruiser/carrier hybrid. The ships were constructed similarly to small carriers with the bow ski jump replaced by conventional missile armaments, leaving reduced space for an air wing in exchange for allowing the ships to act as somewhat independent squadron leads. This mean that while the two ships would never be able to carry an equivalent air group to a proper carrier, they could act as long-range, largely independent warships with a degree of naval aviation capabilities, which had since the 1950s been nonexistent in the ANF. The limits of the Barefield class (particularly in terms of the severe cost-saving measures taken during construction) relegated them to a role as mobile helicopter bases, as well as limiting their ranges severely. In contrast, the Reathach and Meon were constructed to a competitive standard, as the two were expected to not be replaced until the 2010s.
Systems
The class primarily functioned as an aircraft carrier, fielding up to twenty aircraft at a time, which could consist of up to sixteen fixed-wing fighters; however, both ships usually carried eight fighters. Originally, the design was intended to carry sixteen fighters and twelve helicopters, but instead internal hangar space was reduced to fit more powerful generators, a larger water filtration plant, and additional fuel and stores to extend their range and allow for greater independence of operation. Other armament consisted of twelve long-range, heavy anti-ship missiles and one-hundred and forty anti-air missiles, forty of which were stored for reloading the five launchers. Two eight-inch naval guns were added instead of extending the missile armament to sixteen ASHMs, with Meon seeing one turret removed and the originally planned count of heavy missiles restored in 2002. The ships bore navigational, combat control, and dedicated missile defense radars, as well as a bow SONAR pod. Both ships included a small rear well deck, allowing for ease of travel between ships via small craft.
Service Life
Reathach was first laid down in 1978, commissioned in 1983, and suffered from several mechanical issues during its service period, requiring it to undergo an early refit in 1987 to replace several systems including the fighter recovery cables on its launch deck and the water filtration system. The vessel served afterwards in the Kilikas Sea, acting as the flagship of the Kilikas Fleet and frequently harassing Caeric patrols in the area and acting as a poster-ship for military propaganda.Meon received most of the debugged systems during its finishing and trial phases, being laid in 1982 and commissioned in 1989. It was then based out of Barwell, Lorea Province for several years until the Vandarch Canal Crisis in 1992, during which its air group flew over two hundred sorties against Culriochan insurgents. After the Crisis, Meon was based directly out of Rihsport. Reathach was mothballed in 2008 due to the expanding fleet carrier and cruiser programs rendering it obsolete, while Meon was kept as a naval aviation trainer ship and to run out the remaining service life of its sustainment facilities as well as cannibalize machinery from its sibling ship as it did so.