De Ruyter-class Battlecruiser

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DeRuytersmall.PNG
De Ruyter-class Battlecruiser (click to enlarge).

The de Ruyter class Battlecruiser is an example of one of the older pre-Ondeugd class ships that still makes up the mainstay of the heavy firepower of the Marine of the Knootian Defence Forcea. With a displacements of 45 thousand tons and a length of 230 metres the ship is 32 metres wide and has a draft of about 11 metres. After decades of service, the de Ruyters are slowly being reassigned to secondary roles as G/P Escort and Patrol/Station boat assigned to Knootian Colombia, Ale-Yarok and (during Operation Tempo Doeloe) Tanah Burung where they serve in larger battlegroups. Additionally, they may be deployed in Land Attack roles.

The de Ruyter was designed shortly before the first Vogels administration, and it served as Knootoss' 'poor mans battleship' in that era. With budget cuts mounting, they were nearly mothballed to be taken out of service in favour of real battleships such as the KDF Sirithil nos Feanör – but they were saved this fateo when defence spending increased from the second van der Laan administration on, and since then they have recieved many refits to make them suitable for the modern era: VLS was upgraded from tactical to strike distance, the gunnery recieved upgraded housing, a new radar system was backfitted and the armor on the majority of ships was refitted with reactive armour panels

Its European build with two citadels, two masts, and a lower-than-average profile give the ship its distinctive appearance. While the class may lack in fancy weaponry, it is still able to perform decently for her assigned roles and the ships can accompany the Knootian Defence Force in expeditionary missions if supported by auxiliaries. While they generally have a few rusty spots here and there, they are still capable of taking on modern fleets when functioning inside a modern Knootian battlegroup.

Statistics

Armament

Main Guns

Three (3) Triple 405mm Main Guns, Eight (8) Single OTO Melara 127mm/52 D/P Guns

Missiles

One (1) 64-Cell Strike Length Mk.41 VLS (VLA, Tactom, TLAM, ESSM, SM-2), Four (4) Quad Launchers for Boeing 'Harpoon' Block II SSM

Self Defence

Four (4) Thales Naval Goalkeeper 30mm CIWS, Four (4) Oerlikon 20mm Cannons

ASW

Two (2) Quadruple Eurotorp 324mm SD Torpedo Tubes

Electronics

Radar systems

Thales SMART-L 3D air/surface search, SPS-49(V)6 2-D air search, Two (2) Mk. 99 SAM control FCS

Sonar

Thales PHS-36 Bow-mounted Active Search (retrofitted, can only be used at low speeds >10kts)

Command/Control

Thales M43 Combat Management System. Command and Control is also to be enhanced by a follow-up to the old CAESAR system developed by Caesar SuperComputer Inc The software for the CAESAR 2.0 computer system is to feature revolutionary new capabilities.

Electronic Warfare

One (1)AN/SLQ-25A 'Nixie' Towed Decoy, Four (4) 16-Cell Decoy Launchers (Flares/Chaff)

Propulsion

Engines

Combined Gas turbine And Gas arrangement, 4 Gas turbines, two for main drive, additional for high speed running. Total of 122,000 SHP driving four four-blade, variable-pitch propellors.

Performance

Top Speed: 29.5 kts Cruising Speed: 15 kts Maximum Range: 13,500 km @ 15 kts

Armour

Basic Composition

Originally fitted with high-strength reinforced Steel as principle armour, has been retrofitted with passive, low profile NeRA for enhanced defence against shell fire. Internal shrapnel sheets, originally composed of thing Steel, have been replaced by a Nylon-based heast resistent composite. In subsequent refits masts and radar environment domes have been fitted with RCS-reducing Perspex screens to reduce overall RCS.

Armour Thickness (RHA equivelant @ HE Munitions)

Turrets: 200-300mm (300-450mm) Barbettes: 150-300mm (225-450mm) Side Belt: 100-350mm (150-525mm) Main Deck: 50-100mm (75-150mm) Superstructure: 50-200mm (75-300mm) Bridge: 150-250mm (225-375mm)

Naming practices

<Knootian Admirals story>

External links

  • [LINK WILL GO HERE Forum announcement]