Phlegethon-class frigate

Phlegethon-class guided missile frigate (click to enlarge).

The Phlegethon-class guided missile frigate is a prolific example of one of the older pre-Ondeugd class ships that has been constantly refitted and improved to remain at the core of the Marine of the Knootian Defence Force. These Phlegethon-class vessels play a pivotal role in the protection of Knootian coastal waters, and also undertake ASW roles in Knootian territorial waters and in large maritime battlegroups.

Like the De Ruyter-class Battlecruiser, the Phlegethon recieved initial gate planning shortly before the first Vogels administration, but the design itself only began in production in the second year of this administration. The lassaiz-faire government sought to replace a large number of old and increasingly outdated coastal patrol vessels and escorts as cheaply and as quickly as possible. The Marine therefore opted for the proposed Phlegethon design as it represented the best balance of capability and cost that would be allowed, and could be easily retrofitted and refitted with new systems and weapons, should the situation change in the future unexpectedly.

The design itself was relatively simple. An all-steel monohull design with a double bottom and twelve water-tight compartments was divided into five 'super-segments' which could be built simultaneously to reduce construction time and save money and then welded together in a dry dock before fitting out. The modular design of this nature allowed far quicker installation of the larger machinery within the ship (such as the engines and gearboxes) within a shorter time period, and would in the future also allow far more efficient retrofitting of the ship's internal systems. Armour was removed to reduce cost, but a complete damage control and NBC protection system was installed, along with anti-spall liners and a hardened keel. The modular nature of the design allowed heavily damaged sections to be replaced entirely, whilst the thin steel hull could be easily repaired even at sea in the event of an attack.

Armament and Sensors were kept to a minimum, and the lack of committed funding meant very often that ships going out to sea were fitted with different outfits of weapons and electronics. The baseline weapon fit included a 76mm (3 inch) OTO Melara Gun, 2 20mm Phalanx CIWS, an 8 Cell Self Defence Mk.41 VLS, 2 20mm cannons and 2 dual 324mm Torpedo Launchers. Sensors included a decent 2D air/search system, and a hull mounted active and a towed passive sonar array for detecting and engaging submarines. A hanger and pad for a helicopter were fitted aft, able to launch, maintain and recover a variety of helicopters, but only on ranged deployments were helicopters carried as matter of course.

As subsequent events proved, an underfunded, undergunned Marine couldn't

Here, the basic design

Statistics

(Statistics are for complete, refitted models within special adaption or modification)

Armament

Main Guns

One (1) Single OTO Melara 127mm/52 D/P Gun

Missiles

One (1) 16-Cell Sub Length Mk.41 VLS (VLA, ESSM, SM-2), Two (2) Quad Launchers for Boeing 'Harpoon' Block II SSM

Self Defence

Two (2) Thales Naval Goalkeeper 30mm CIWS, Two (2) Oerlikon 20mm Cannons

ASW

Two (2) Twin Eurotorp 324mm SD Torpedo Tubes

Electronics

Radar systems

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

Sonar

Thales PHS-36 Bow-mounted Active Search, housing for towed array.

Command/Control

Thales M40A Combat Management System as standard. 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

Falltech Mk603 ECM Suite, One (1)AN/SLQ-25A 'Nixie' Towed Decoy, Four (4) 16-Cell Decoy Launchers (Flares/Chaff)

Propulsion

Engines

Combined Diesel And Gas Turbine arrangement, Two Diesel turbines for main drive, One Gas turbine for high speed running. Total of 44,000 SHP driving two five-blade, variable-pitch propellors

Performance

Top Speed: 28 kts

Cruising Speed: 16 kts

Maximum Range: 5,500 km @ 16 kts

Armour

Basic Composition

Originally only fitted with steel spall liners. Retrofitted with light steel and composite armour schemes for vital areas and new structural bracing.

Naming practices

In Greek mythology, the river Phlegethon ("[river of] fire") was one of the five rivers of the underworld. It flowed with fire that burned but did not consume fuel. In the Divine Comedy the river is made of boiling blood and is part of the seventh circle of hell, containing the shades of tyrants, murderers, robbers and those guilty of sins involving violence against others.