Kingdom class heavy battleship
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| Profile (n/a) | |
| Kingdom-class | |
|---|---|
| Design details | |
| Type | Heavy battleship |
| Hull type | Narrow trimaran |
| Manufacturer | Royal Shipyards |
| Design No. | Type 12-BB |
| Unit cost | $88 billion |
| Service dates | 2006- |
| General characteristics | |
| Crew | 4284 |
| Length Waterline: Overall: |
541.86 m 562.71 m |
| Beam Waterline: Overall: |
104 m 126 m |
| Draught | 18.65 m |
| Displacement | 670,532.8 t |
| Propulsion | |
| Powerplant Main: Secondary: Auxiliary: |
CONAG-IFEP 4 × INNEC RA(PW)-9 4 × IMW MTG-12F 8 × IMW MGD-32 |
| Drive Internal: Azipod: |
20 propulsors 14 6 |
| Speed Cruise: Sustained: Burst: |
24 kt 31.2 kt 33 kt |
| Range | |
| Protection | |
| Main belt | 142 cm (max.) |
| Turrets | 142 cm (max.) |
| Deck | 92 cm (max.) |
| Bulkheads | |
| Armament | |
| Guns Main: DP: CIWS: MCM: |
4×3 610mm ETC 24 × 155mm ETC 64 × L41A3 30mm 18 × N45 30mm |
| Missiles AAW: DP: |
24 × GWLS.66M2, 24 × GWLS.68M3 104 × GWLS.35M3, 72 × GWLS.58M3, 16 × GWLS.76M2 |
| Torpedoes Deck: Submerged: |
12×3 324mm 6 × 660mm |
| Platform | |
| Flight decks | |
| Elevators | |
| Catapults | |
| Arrestor wires | |
| Operators | |
| UKIN | |
The Royal Isselmere-Nieland Navy contacted the Royal Shipyards (RSIN) with a request for a large combatant to serve as flagship in its surface battle groups (SBG). After several months, RSIN engineers came forward with the Type 12 Battleship: the Kingdom-class.
Unlike many vessels designed for the RINN and Isselmere-Nielander allies, the new class was the result of many compromises. Owing to the massive debt incurred by Isselmere-Nieland's involvement in the Czardaian conflict, the proposed vessel could not be too costly, yet still had to be capable of holding its own on the high seas. Sarzonia's decision to prefer the 635mm calibre for its major combatants and the 508mm calibre for its second line vessels tempted the RINN to follow the same route. In their turn, the ministers of Finance and of Defence as well as the RSIN engineers suggested the more economical 610mm calibre, the same calibre as that equipping the RINN's King Henry V- and King Robert VI-class battleships. Confronted by this intransigence and the realisation that the vessels they truly wanted were already serving as fleet group flagships (i.e., the Jimnam-class) and were far too expensive, the Admiralty reluctantly acquiesced in the decision.
Contents
Powerplant
The admirals are glad they did. Although much smaller than the Jimnam-class, the Kingdom-class marks a significant leap forward for the Royal Navy. Many of the ship's systems, from its armament to its electronics, are the same, ensuring interoperability within existing task forces. Instead, the key difference lay in the new battleship’s powerplant.
Whereas the Jimnam-class sported eight 300MWe pebble-bed fission reactors (PBRs) and the King Henry V-class four 250MW PBRs, the Kingdom-class uses a mere four 475 MWe supercritical-water-cooled reactors (SCWRs) that had been designed for the second batch (i.e. Tranche 2) of the Europa-class. The new RA(PW)-9 reactors use very high pressure pumps to maintain the supercriticality of the light water coolant (i.e. at conditions greater than 374-degrees Celsius [647.15K] and 22.1 MPa ) at 45 per cent greater efficiency than ordinary pressurised water reactors (PWRs) whilst retaining the improved safety of the PWRs in comparison to either hybrid or liquid metal cooled reactors (HNRs or LMCRs) – additional coolant may be added by the desalinisation system if the reactor has to be scrammed – and a reduced thermal signature in comparison to the 475 MWe RA(PB)-6 PBRs powering the Union-class trimaran heavy fleet carriers. Furthermore, the Canary uncrewed reactor maintenance robots (DMNC.2 in RINN) are more compatible with the new SCWRs than the PBRs, providing an added measure of safety to the dependable design.
The soundness of the reactor may have been the primary concern for His Majesty’s Government and the Royal Navy, but volume was another. The more space required for the reactors, the greater the weight – and cost – would have to be devoted to their protection, and less room would be available for shells and charges for the main guns. Each RA(PW)-9 occupies less space than two 250MW RA(PB)-3 – the powerplant of the King Henry V-class – and the full complement of four 475MW reactors are far less volume-intensive than the seven 300MW RA(PB)-5 that would otherwise be required.[1]
Torpedo Countermeasures
In common with some of its contemporaries, the Kingdom-class possesses an anti-torpedo bulge. Unlike several foreign vessels, however, the bulge's primary function is not to cushion the blow from a torpedo impact, but to dissuade the device from striking the vessel at all. Consisting of many thousands of transducers that can be electronically steered against incoming torpedoes, the ULQ.305 torpedo countermeasure array produces a shock wave through the surrounding water that can reach velocities of up to 1500 m/s, damaging the devices' electronics, or at the very least their targeting solution. Needless to say, the system is equally effective against enemy frogmen.
The Kingdom-class has four arrays, one arranged along each of the outer side of the secondary hulls and on each side and part of the bottom of the primary hull. Great attention has been paid to minimising structural risk to the vessel itself. The ULQ.305 provides the last line of torpedo defence.
The first line of torpedo countermeasures begins with the GWS.63 Barracuda 324mm lightweight torpedo, an extremely agile performer capable of terminating either enemy submarines or their torpedoes, even ones the size of the GWS.87 Physeter 1m heavyweight torpedo. Should the Barracudas fail, the Kingdom-class can launch its GWS.60 Eel countermeasures, which are equally effective against submarines and possible underwater demolition teams (UDT).
A more extreme response comes in the guise of the GWS.89 Sailfish underwater missile that travels almost as fast as the pressure wave from the ULQ.305 to intercept and destroy enemy torpedoes.[2] The GWS.89 is typically launched from the Kingdom-class's 660mm torpedo tubes, though a vertical launched variant is under development.
Should all other hard-kill measures fail, the battleship can use its 30mm supercavitating autocannons within its retractable submerged turrets (RST) that could damage the torpedo's sonar array or even pre-detonate its warhead. For safety reasons, the RST should not be deployed at speeds greater than eight knots, although firing at speeds of twelve knots has been attempted during fleet exercises.
Weapons Systems
Guns
L41A3 (MCA.41GP): 30mm autocannon in an autonomous operation-capable/remote-capable mount. Fires AP, HEI, and other rounds
L72A2 (MCA.72AD): 35mm autocannon with radar and optronic targeting capable of autonomous operation. Fires AP, AHEAD, and HEI rounds
M71/62 (MGU.7E/62): 155mm 62-calibre electro-thermal chemical dual-purpose guns
M52/62 (MGO.12E/62): 610mm 62-calibre electro-thermal chemical guns
N45 (UCA.45S): 30mm supercavitating round-firing autocannon in single-mount retractable submerged turret
Missile Launchers and Combined Platforms
GWLS.35M3: Dual-length 8-cell vertical launch system for GWS.41M2 Loon anti-submarine missile, GWS.50M Pigeon ARM (4/cell), GWS.52M Pelican AShM, GWS.57M Erne medium range SAM, GWS.59M VLRS SSM (4/cell), GWS.60M Eel low-cost ASW missile (4/cell), GWS.65M Kite intermediate range SAM (4/cell), GWS.72M Heron AShM, GWS.76M Grand Kestrel SAM (4/cell), GWS.83M Archer SSM, RGM-109 Tomahawk VLS, RIM-66 Standard, etc.
GWLS.58M3: Dual-length 4-cell vertical/angled launch system for GWS.58M Hurricane SSM, GWS.67M Lanneret THAAD, GWS.69M Orca heavy ASW missile, as well as the above-mentioned weapons
GWLS.66M2: Autonomous operation-capable 4-cell missile launcher. Fires GWS.66M Lark very short range SAM
GWLS.68M3: Gun-missile complex with 35mm autocannon (MCA.72) + 2 × 8-cell dual-length GWLS.65M Kite short range SAM launchers
GWLS.76M2: Dual-length 8-cell vertical launch system for GWS.50M Pigeon anti-radar missile, GWS.59M guided bombardment rocket (GBR), GWS.60M Eel anti-diver/-submarine/-torpedo countermeasures, and GWS.76M Grand Kestrel SAM
Characteristics
Planform: Narrow trimaran
Dimensions
- Length: 541.86 m (wl.), 562.71 m (oa.)
- Beam: 104 m (wl.), 126 m (oa.)
- Draught: 18.65 m (full load)
Displacement: 670,532.8 t
Compartmentalisation: Double-bottomed, reinforced displaced keel, internal structures and main bulkheads supported by hardened crossbeams. Eight longitudinal and 70 transverse bulkheads, 24 chemical-biological-radiological (CBR) environment citadels.
Protection: Europa Tranche 2 armour pattern [in process]
Europa-pattern: Main belt: 142 [[Wikipedia:Centimetre|cm]-112 cm; deck: 92 cm-63 mm; bulkheads (longitudinal): 86 cm-71 cm; bulkheads (transverse): 71 cm-66 cm; ; main turrets: 142 cm (glacis, fore-roof)-114 cm (roof, sides)-86 cm (rear); main barbettes: 114 cm; secondary turrets: 30.5 cm; secondary barbettes: 40.5 cm; missile magazines (main): 40.5cm; missile magazines (heavy): 40.5 cm (sides)-92 cm (launch doors); command information centre (CIC): 40.5 cm; conning tower: 142 cm; NBC citadels: 142 cm; engineering (reactors): 50.6 cm; engineering (engines): 31cm; engineering (turbines): 35 cm (mid-hull); hangar: 60.8 cm.
Complement: 4284 wartime (3927 peacetime) + 1572 ship's vehicles (boats, air wing, etc.) + 453 marines + 243 staff (can hold 500) = 6552 (7000 max.)
Endurance: Limited by supplies and crew fatigue
Propulsion: CONAG-IFEP; 4 × INNEC RA(PW)-9 475MW supercritical water cooled reactors (SCWR) + 4 × IMW MTG-12 50MW gas turbines + 8 × IMW MGD-32 5.12MW multi-fuel-electric generators = 1.9GW + 200MW + 40.96MW; nuclear refuelling every 7 years at 25 kts. sustained; 20 propulsors (14 internal (10 in primary hull, 2 in each outrigger), 6 in Azipods), with 10 bow thrusters for station-keeping and manoeuvring.
Speed: Cruise: 18-24 kts.; maximum sustained: 31.2+ kts.; burst: 33+ kts.
Crewed vehicles: Not included in price.
- Air: 4 Sea Fury FA.1, 2 Condor HC.1, 2 Cormorant HC.3, 3 Cormorant HEW.2, 6 Cormorant HM.1, 8 Sparrow HA.1
- Sea: 12 Salamander RHIB
Uncrewed vehicles: Not included in price.
- Air (UAVs): 2 Auk DHM.1, 4 Parrot DES.1, 2 Puffin DHEW.1, 4 Rook DRA.2, 4 Tern DA.2, 4 Thrush DFA.1
- Land (UGVs): 6 Ferret DLM.1
- Internal (UOVs): 24 Canary DMNC.1, 72 Dodo DMU.1
- Sea (USVs):
- Submersibles (UUVs): 4 Cuttlefish DSR.1, 15 Cuttlefish DSR.1A, 2 Seahorse DSA.1, 6 Squid DSM.1
Elevators:
Two 45m × 36m lifts rising from the hangar within the primary hull below the gun deck rising between the connectors and the primary hull, 120t capacity each
Weapons
- AAW: 24 × GWLS.66M2 close-in missile system, 24 × GWLS.68M3 (dual length) gun/missile complexes, 64 × L41A2 30mm autocannons
- ASuW: 12 (4×3) × 610mm ETC guns (A,B,X,Y), 24 × 155mm ETC guns (12 p/s-sec., 12 p/s-am.-pri.)
- ASW: 12 × 324mm triple surface torpedo tubes (3STT), 6 × 660mm submerged TT
- GP: 104 × GWLS.35M3 (dual-length; 4 × 128-cell (f/a-pri. & p/s-sec.), 96-cell (fc.), 2 × 48-cell (a-B, f-X), 4 × 32-cell (p/s)), 72 × GWLS.58M3 (dual-length; 7 × 32-cell (fc., a-B, f-X, f/a-sec.), 64-cell (am.)), 16 × GWLS.76M2 (dual-length; p/s)
- MCM: 18 × N45 30mm supercavitating round-firing guns in retractable submerged turrets (RST)
Electronics
- Computer complexes: MEI.5 Muninn (Integrated Shipboard Operating Management System); MEI.6 ODIN (Operational Deployment Integration Network)
- Threat management systems: MEQ.181 NAIADS (anti-air), MEQ.185 SELKIE (anti-torpedo), MEX.193 MITRE (target recognition), MDQ.261 (signature self-detection)
- Radars: MRU.262 Hydra (multifunction), MRS.118 Kafka (fore and aft, air volume search), 3 × MRN.116 Beluga (navigation), MRS.164 Hofvarpnir (surface search), 12 × MRG.182 Balmung (secondary gun fire control), 4 × MRG.265 Mjollnir (gunnery fire control)
- Optronics: 2 × MSU.124 Adder (long range search and tracking), 4 × MSS.127 Owl (surface surveillance)
- Combination radar/optronics: 2 × MSP.131 Friday (automatic carrier landing system), 24 × MSG.183 Gjallar (close-range fire direction)
- Sonars: MQU.264 Tanngnost (keel-mounted, low frequency), MQR.266 Tanngrisni (variable depth)
- ECM/ESM: MLR.165(V)2 (radar/signals emissions receiver and direction finder, complete system), MPR.184(V)2 Nott (laser warning receiver and direction finder, complete system), MLQ.188(V)2 Valtarn (radar/signals emissions processor and retransmitter, complete system), MLQ.189(V)2 (jammer, complete system), 10 × MRD.199 (signals direction finder, complete system), 4 × ULQ.305 active torpedo countermeasure transducer array
- Communications: JSC.117(V)2 Godi (Link 17.2; secure datalink), 8 × JSC.196C (encrypted burst communications transceiver, command version), 10 × MPC.190C (laser communications transceiver, command version), MRC.178 (secure communications system), 12 × MSP.123(V)2 Gna (Link 17.2D; secure drone control datalink), 6 × MSW.125(V)2 Ran (Link 17.2G; secure missile guidance datalink), 4 × MSY.121 Alvis (secure satellite communications system), 12 × NQC.128(V)2 Dvalin (Link 17.2U; encrypted acoustic modem)
Expendable countermeasures: 4 × MDQ.302 Kelpie surface decoy davits, 24 × 16-cell MLE.140 MUSE multi-spectral decoy launchers, 4 lines for MLQ.135 Mackerel torpedo decoys, 4 × ULQ.136 Remora anti-torpedo decoy davits
Cost: $88,000 million
Average annual maintenance cost: $5,280 million
Production time: 10 years
Weapons Payload
ASW Weapons: 104 × GWS.41M2, 128 × GWS.60Ma, 64 × GWS.60Mb, 64 × GWS.60Mc, 96 × GWS.63M, 48 × GWS.64M2, 72 × GWS.69M, 36 × GWS.79U, 24 × GWS.89M
SAMs: 728 × GWS.57M, 768 × GWS.65M, 72 × GWS.67M, 416 × GWS.76M, 96 × GWS.66M
SSMs: 312 × GWS.52M, 432 × GWS.58M, 52 × GWS.72Ma, 78 × GWS.83Ma, 78 × GWS.83Mb
Main guns: 1200 × 610mm AP, 600 × 610mm ERGM, 1200 × 610mm HC
Secondary guns: 6750 × 155mm AP, 2250 × 155mm DP-ICM, 3375 × 155mm ERGM, 4500 × HC, 1125 × 155mm HEI
CIWS: 192 × 35mm magazines
Light guns: 320 × 30mm magazines
RSTs: 18000 × 30mm supercavitating rounds
Notes
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