Penthebhra-class carrier
The Penthebhra-class carrier is a class of aircraft carrier operated by Faneria and Kiravia. The Kiravian Navy operates thirteen (?), while the Fanerian Navy operates two. The class is named for various territories in each nation with notable minorities related to the others' populations, as well as historic figures relevant to the relationship between the two countries. The class was the first fleet carrier built by Kiravia and the first built by Faneria since the Second Great War, and was born out of the Joint Carrier Development Program, which began the year after the Reunification of Kiravia.
Penthebhra
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Class overview | |
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Name: | Reathach class |
Builders: | Sae Breach Lahan, Kiravian Shipyard |
Operators: | Faneria, Kiravia |
Preceded by: | Reathach class |
Succeeded by: | Respoblachd class |
Subclasses: |
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Built: | 1992-2003 |
In service: | 1993-present |
Completed: | 15 |
Active: | 15 |
General characteristics | |
Type: | Aircraft carrier |
Displacement: | 45,800-51,000 tons full load |
Length: | 940 ft (290 m) overall |
Beam: |
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Draft: | 35 ft (11 m) |
Propulsion: | 8 turbopressurized boilers, 4 steam turbines (255,000 shp (190,000 kW)), four shafts |
Speed: | 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph) |
Range: | 13,700 nmi (15766 mi) at 25 knots |
Complement: | 1700-1960 personnel inc. flight crews |
Armament: |
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Aircraft carried: |
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Aviation facilities: |
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Design and Construction
Production of the class was planned in A and B subclasses. A-subclass largely featured a similar superstructure to the preceding Reathachs, with a redesigned hull centered on a full-length flight deck and a significantly larger internal storage bay. B subclass was intended to have a forward catapult launch system and no launch ramp, as well as be open to design modifications based off of early performance of the A subclass. In reality, the ramp was retained for several reasons, including seakeeping in the harsh Kilikas Storm Belt and interoperability with foreign fighters. Instead, the B class featured a slightly rearranged internal layout, improved RADAR positioning, and a catapult on the angled side deck. While a compromise, using the angled deck for catapult launches allowed for three aircraft to be staged at a time instead of two, except when landing operations were underway. Pilots in both militaries had already practiced STOL flights off the single angled deck of the Reathachs, which would go on to influence naval aviation doctrine and traditions in both navies.
Operational History
Faneria ordered the first-in-class, Penthebhra, as a type A configuration, with the later Bradacsiar being the second of the type Bs. Both were constructed by Sae Breach Lahan. Penthebhra was initially posted to Rihsport until the completion of sea trials by Bradacsiar, after which Penthebhra was retrofitted with a catapult system. After its refit, Penthebhra deployed to several najor naval exercises near the equator, sulminating with reassignment to Eilada; it was retired back to the Kilikas squadrons out of Kentyre after its replacement by Respoblachd in 2033.
Kiravia's type As of the class consisted of Scapa, Suderavia, X, and X.