Estia-class carrier

From IxWiki
Revision as of 19:15, 7 November 2023 by Kistan (talk | contribs) (For my fren Bourgonde :P)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Estia class
Estia undergoing crew transfer during Operation Kipling
Class overview
Name: Erenion-class aircraft carrier
Builders: PYC Limited
Operators:  Royal Navy
Preceded by: Faramount Class
Succeeded by: Isle Class
Built:
  • 1954–1966 (Flight 1)
  • 1965-1972 (Flight 2)
In service:
  • 1959–1999 (active)
  • 1999-present (inactive)
Planned: 11
Completed: 11
Laid up: 2
Lost: 0
Retired: 8
Preserved: 1
General characteristics
Class and type: Estia-class aircraft carrier
Displacement:
  • 36,800 long tons (37,400 t) standard (1954)
  • 43,060 long tons (43,750 t) standard (1965)
  • 54,100 long tons (55,000 t) standard (1975)
Length:
  • 803 ft (245 m)
  • 720 ft (220 m) p.p.
  • 720 ft (220 m) overall
Beam:
  • 112.8 ft (34.4 m) hull
  • 171 ft (52 m) overall width
Draft:
  • 33.25 ft (10.13 m)
  • 36 ft (11 m) (1964)
Propulsion:
  • 6 × O'Shea Quadruple-drum boilers
  • 4 x geared steam turbines
  • 4 × shafts
  • 280,000 shp (210 MW)
Speed: 32.1 kn (36.9 mph; 59.4 km/h)
Range: 5,200 nautical miles (9,300 km) at 25 knots
Complement: 2,230 (2,620 inc. air staff)
Sensors and
processing systems:
tbd
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
tbd
Armament:
  • 8× 50mm anti-aircraft guns
  • 4x defensive SAM launcher mounts (numerous configurations)
Armor: 3.5" waterline belt, 2" deck armor
Aircraft carried:
  • Up to 50 aircraft (1954)
  • Up to 40 aircraft (1975)
Aviation facilities: CATOBAR style flight deck
Notes: Equipped with 2 steam-powered catapults.

The Estia class is a class of aircraft carriers developed by Burgundie in the 1950s following the production of the Faramount class. Initially designed as a small fleet carrier, the class was constructed in two flights in the 1950s and 1960s, and constituted the primary naval aviation force of the Burgoignesc Security Forces for the majority of the Cold War. The award of the entire class's production to O’Shea Container Shipping was broadly considered the final blow to competition between O'Shea and rival corporation Lansing Lines for monopoly over the major shipbuilding industry in Burgundie.

Design and Construction

O'Brien Affair

In 1965, it was publicly revealed in the Levantine Times Union that the second hull of the second flight of the Estia class had been purchased by the Fhainnin Navy. Though at the time only beginning keel-laying, the revelation was a political scandal which saw dual citizen George O'Brien, who owned 3% of shares in O'Shea, lose his Burgoignesc citizenship and be forced to sell his holdings in the country. While Faneria and Fiannria would normalize relations before the hull was to have been completed, making the sale of the vessel technically legal through the voiding of the remaining stipulations of the Treaty of Loughlin, the government of Burgundie faced strong pressure from Urcea and to a lesser extent Fiannria to void the sale of the ship.

In response, O'Shea would change construction partway through, renegotiating to sell the hull to Puertego as the smaller unique carrier PGT Torres. Faneria subsequently contracted the four treaty-legal Barefield class.

Ships in Class

Operational History

The entire class went under refits from 1975 to 1985, including more extensive work on the Flight 1 carriers. This process generally homogenized the class's displacement and equipment characteristics.

See Also

Ships of comparable role and era: