Ra class, Patrol Corvette

Ra Class

Overview

The Ra class patrol corvette was envisioned first in 2004 as a replacement for the aging Cottish designed and built Leopard patrol corvettes. The Leopard was first demonstrated to the Empire in the early 1980s and adopted immediately with some minor modifications to standardize it to the Imperial Layartebian Military. The Empire purchased a total of fifty-eight vessels valued at $4.93 billion at the time and they served with distinction throughout their tenure. However, with the digital age and the 21st century upon the Empire, the Leopard, though still a formidable foe in its role, was no longer suitable to the needs of the Empire. Instead, a more modern and more capable corvette was needed. That was when the Ra class was first created. The first example set sail in 2006 and it was commissioned in 2007. The current contract to procure a total of fifty-eight vessels to replace the Leopard one-for-one is valued at over $16.5 billion. The Layartebian Defense Corporation has also received approval from the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs for foreign export of the Ra class with some modifications, only to be sold to cleared security partners.

Accomodations & Design

The Ra class is designed for speed, agility, and firepower. It is designed in an era when ship designing has never been more efficient. The use of streamlined and unconventional hulls allow ships to move at speeds never before thought possible. Advances in weaponry has allowed a single frigate or destroyer to be more powerful than a battleship could be fifty years earlier. The age of digital electronics also gives a ship the ability to operate entirely on its own, seeing as far as the horizon and further with the aide of over-the-horizon targeting aircraft, UAVs, or even satellites. With all of this in mind, the Ra was designed to perform at the edge of its design abilities and always deliver in the mission set fourth by its commanders.

The hull of the Ra class owes its development to two ship classes that are similar in mission and are advanced enough to be state-of-the-art. Those two are the Freedom class Littoral Combat Ship and the Visby class corvette. Like the Freedom class, the Ra is constructed on a semi-planing monohull that allows for high rates of speed and like the Visby class, the hull is made out of carbon fiber and Kevlar arranged in a sandwich design using a core of PVC. Like the Visby too the hull is slightly angular to deflect radar waves and reduce its radar cross section. Like the Visby, the Ra is designed to be as stealthy as possible.

Figure 1: Hull comparison in terms of maximum allowable speed.

The most important part of the Ra's hull is its very nature. A semi-planing monohull allows for a maximum amount of speed while still supporting the displacement of a vessel. By using a semi-planing monohull, a ship can use the same waterline length as that of a displacement hull, which is normally found on most naval combatants, with the a maximum speed approaching that of a planing hull. The benefit of this is most notably seen in corvettes or light frigates that can use powerful engines and high-speed water jets to reach maximum speed. The Freedom class makes excellent use of this hull type to great effect, able to reach speeds of 45 knots in a sea state of 3.

The remainder of the vessel is designed to be stealthy as well. The superstructure is constructed in an angular fashion to deflect radar waves and provide the vessel with a stealthy cross section even above the deck. The vessel's windows on the bridge are inlaid with gold-tint, which was first used on the canopy of the F-16C Fighting Falcon, lowering that aircraft's radar cross section over its predecessors and have since been used on all canopied aircraft since. Radar absorbing material is used in the construction of the vessel's structure and even on its weapon systems. The main gun of the vessel is designed in an angular fashion and like the Visby, its barrel can be stowed to prevent it from giving off any adverse radar signals. Behind the main gun is a vertical launch system. All above deck parts are constructed of carbon fiber like the hull and use radar absorbent materials. Open hatches are quickly closed to prevent their reflection on radar. Unlike traditional vertical launch systems where a single door covers the whole cell, this system uses bi-folding doors that use sharp edges to deflect radar, like those of the F-22 Raptor. The subsequent systems to the aft of the vessel, such as the quad-launchers and Rolling Airframe Missile launcher are constructed with a large amount of radar absorbent materials as well and are designed to be stowed into positions where they reflect the least amount of radar waves.

The Ra is 205.00 feet (62.48 m) long overall and 192.15 feet (58.57 m) long at the waterline. Its beam is 31.50 feet (9.60 m) and its draft is 10.00 feet (3.05 m). The vessel has a displacement of 625.00 long tons and its block coefficient is 0.339.

The Ra is designed to be operable in all environments and in all sea-states. Thus, its crew accommodations are made to be as comfortable as possible but also as rugged as possible. The standard crew for the Ra is up to 28 men, including 4 officers. An additional 8 men can be carried along, such as an SOF team. They can deploy from the vessel using inflatable rafts, of which enough are carried to evacuate the entire crew of the ship in the case of an emergency. The entire inside of the ship is NBC protected and fully heated and air-conditioned. However, like any ship, the inside is cramped, especially so because of the size of the vessel. Enough supplies can be carried for a 21-day cruise and the inside of the ship includes a variety of compartments that include the bridge, CIC, radio room, sleeping quarters, galley, a medical bay, and a small recreation room. Because of the small size of the vessel a gym was not included but area is available around the ship for deployment of a foldable treadmill or to do light workout routines such as jumping rope, jumping jacks, push-ups, sit-ups, or other similar exercises.

Propulsion & Performance

The propulsion of the Ra class is based on the COGAG principle, which stands for combined gas and gas. In a COGAG system, a ship uses two gas turbine engines to power each shaft. Gearboxes and clutches allowed either one or both turbines to power the shaft. Gas turbines, being most efficient near their maximum power setting, can be throttled variable in a COGAG system, allowing a ship a wide range of power options. Smaller turbines running at their near maximum setting are far more efficient than more powerful turbines running at half power. Because of this principle, the Ra class uses four, small, gas turbines that power three water jets. Water jets were chosen over propellers because of a number of advantages they offer. Water jets allow for high-speeds, high maneuverability, excellent shallow-water performance, and noise reduction over propellers, lowering their Sonar signature.

Figure 2: COGAG illustration.

The main propulsion of the Ra class is the Vericor TF60 gas turbine. It is an up-rated TF50A gas turbine, which powers the Visby class in a CODAG configuration. The TF60 gas turbine engine provides up to 5 megawatts (6,705 shp) of continuous power or up to 5.5 megawatts (7,375 shp) of boost power. Each engine weighs just 2,120.00 pounds (961.62 kg) and is just 62.00 inches (1.57 m) in length, 41.00 inches (1.04 m) in height, and 35.00 inches (88.90 cm) in width. They are made to operate on Marine diesel, kerosene, or jet fuel and their maximum output speed is 16,500 rpm. Compact, light, and powerful, each engine uses just 0.422 lb. of fuel per shp or 191.416 grams of fuel per kilowatt-hour, making them highly efficient, more than the TF50A.

Along with these gas turbine engines, Ra class also uses three very powerful water jets. The three water jets used are Rolls-Royce model S3-112 and can provide between 5,100 kW and 12,600 kW of power per water jet. The S3-112 is light and robust and provides very precise steering and maneuverability. Newly designed bearings allow for reduced wear and tear over previous variants and models and an optimized pump design gives 2 - 3% higher propulsive efficiency. They are particularly lightweight and constructed of stainless steel. They have a full range of motion and can provide full reverse capabilities and have a lower cavitation threshold than other models. They provide excellent agility and significantly increase the onset of speed before cavitation, thanks largely to increases in the internal pressure of the system. They are also much safer than propellers as they cannot become entangled to become a danger to swimmers or marine life, not that either would be a significant issue for the vessel. They provide superior shallow-water performance over propellers because only they need to be submerged and steer using simple thrust vectoring like that of a fighter. They provide a very low aural signature and make the Ra class stealthy to sonar just as its structure is stealthy to radar. Special filters installed on the system allows the water jet to maintain relatively seaweed free over a longer period of time than would otherwise be possible.

Because water jets alone are not optimal for high-speed steering, the Ra class includes two rudders that allow for high-speed and highly accurate maneuvers at maximum speed, allowing the Ra the ability to evade obstacles and perform exceptionally well in chase scenarios.

Because of this highly capable propulsion system and the design of the hull, the Ra can move as fast as 41.60 knots in a sea state of 3 or less and sustain a speed of 35.00 knots. It is considered tactically silent under 10.00 knots. Its total power output is 20.00 megawatts in normal conditions, which equals 26,820.00 shp. In boost power, the total output is 22.00 megawatts or 29,502.49 shp. Its maximum sustained speed is 35.00 knots and its maximum range at a cruise speed of 20.00 knots is 2,200.00 nm (4,074.40 km). Despite its range, the Ra is limited to a 21-day cruise because of the amount of supplies the ship can carry.

Sensors

The Ra class has as advanced a sensor package as any vessel constructed in the 21st century. Because the vessel is small and a mere corvette, its sensor package must be tailored for its size and for its mission. Its main sensor package is a derivative of the AN/SPY-4 Advanced Offensive and Defensive Shipborne Sensor Suite (AODSSS). It also features a derivative of the AN/SQS-57 Advanced SuRace SONAR Suite (ASRSS), although the vessel does not carry any standard anti-submarine weaponry. Instead, the Ra can be used to locate and track submarines and transmit this information to maritime patrol aircraft. For self-defense, the Ra uses a derivative of the AN/SLQ-51 Advanced Electronic Shipborne Self-Defense Suite (AESSDS). All of these systems include a variety of subsystems that function together to provide the Ra with a superior advantage over its enemies.

The main sensor package, the AN/SPY-4J AODSSS is a scaled down version of the AN/SPY-4F. It is also far more tailored than the "F" model as the "F" model is a system that is deployed on fleet auxiliaries with a focus on self-defense, against aircraft and small marine craft rather than larger threats. The "F" model is also very compact and so is the "J" model. The AN/SPY-4 is a three-dimensional radar system that, like the AN/SPY-1, uses a phased array system. Because a phased array radar's effectiveness is judged by the amount of power provided to it, systems like the AN/SPY-1, which use a significant amount of power can detect targets very far away and resist electronic jamming. The radar on the "J" model, because it is meant to be employed on small craft is not near as powerful and thus its performance is not akin to that of a destroyer. However, it can detect targets further away than a normal, conventional radar. In addition to being phased array, the AN/SPY-4 can also use synthetic aperture modes. The radar system on the "J" model uses a main phased array radar for detection and a smaller radar linked to the main AN/SPY-4 for engagement. This allows the Ra to track multiple targets, enough to fire all of its weapons simultaneously at individual targets, guiding each weapon separately.

The AN/SPY-4 is not only limited to aerial detection and it can detect surface targets, including stealthy ones at a rather large distance and engage them simultaneously with aerial targets. The AN/SPY-4 also maintains the ability to keep its emissions completely passive and, when emitting, to keep them at a low probability of intercept, much like the radar on a fighter plane. An IFF system is built into the system and a small, imaging infrared module is included for extremely passive, limited detection. An additional feature of the AN/SPY-4 is an uplink system that allows the Ra class to network into a wide network of Layartebian military machines all around the globe.

The AN/SQS-57G ASRSS is an advanced sonar suite that combines several sonar systems all networked together. Since the Ra does not carry any anti-submarine weaponry, the system is merely for detection and tracking rather than engagement. The "G" variant is specially tailored for use on small patrol corvettes and is meant to work with smaller arrays than would exist on a submarine or on a larger escort ship. The sonar arrays on the Ra class are multiple in nature and include a hull mounted array for primary detection, which allows for the use of a high frequency sonar for minesweeping operations, a towed array, and a variable depth sonar.

The towed array of the Ra is streamed as far as 3,281.00 feet (1.00 km) behind the vessel, where engine and wake noise is minimal. It allows for full detection except in a 45° arc towards the ship, where wake and engine noise are present. It is the most capable of all of the arrays because it is streamed away from the actual vessel and thus it can be used at higher speeds than the other arrays. The towed array is limited to under 32.00 knots, which is its cruise speed; although, above 25.00 knots, it has limited effectiveness. The hull array is a highly sensitive array as well and is used to detect targets except as are in a 45° arc behind the vessel, where engine and wake noise are present. The array is also coupled to a high frequency sonar that has a short range and is used to generate highly precise pictures of underwater targets. Its best application is for minesweeping and detection of close, threatening objects. It is only useful within a 60° cone centered at the bow of the ship within just a few nautical miles. The hull array itself and even the towed array are useful at ranges up to and exceeding 20.00 nm (37.04 km), depending on the sea state. The final array is a variable depth sonar, which is useful only at speeds under 10.00 knots because of the stresses applied to it. The sonar array is suspended underneath the vessel, intending to penetrate the thermal layer, which masks the noise of deeply dived submarines from surface detection. Because this layer is at various depths around the world, the variable depth sonar is be deployed as far as 2,000.00 feet (609.60 m) beneath the ship. It is a sensitive array that has an even further range than other sensors because of its general nature of being deployed deep where surface noise cannot interfere with the sensor.

The third system is entirely for self-defense. The AN/SLQ-51L AESSDS is compact self-defense system that was specifically tailored for small patrol craft. Because it is employed in a scaled down fashion, the AESSDS in this particular application is not as capable or inclusive as its predecessor models. It is built around a multi-tiered system that is linked to the various sensor systems of the Ra. The main computer of the AESSDS processes threat information and classifies it according to the threat level. The system reacts accordingly when the various threats are within range of the vessel's weapons and self-defense systems. The only limit to range with this system is the actual limits to the various sensors of the ship and its weapons and self-defense systems. Against incoming missiles, the Ra can deploy counter-fire in the form of missiles such as the Rolling Airframe Missile or decoys such as chaff or infrared emitters. Against aircraft, the system can fire surface-to-air missiles or use the main gun. Against torpedoes the system can deploy a number of decoys which emit noise or create a false wake, depending on the type of torpedo, which can usually be determined through its cavitation noise. Against ships, the system can use missiles such as the AMESM or the main gun, depending on the threat presented. The AESSDS also has a powerful, electronic jamming component, which uses the actual radar to emit microwave energy towards a specific point in the sky. This process is called "zorching" and can be used to blind missile or aircraft electronics with a high degree of success. The AESSDS can also detect laser energy, which can be pinpointed and subsequently targeted. Since laser is a line-of-sight weapon, its employment must be down within the detection range of the actual AODSSS or AESSDS, which leaves it vulnerable for engagement.

Weapons

The Ra is a patrol corvette and thus is "lightly" armored. It is equipped with a powerful and very advanced main gun, surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and point defense systems. All of these weapons can be controlled manually by the crew or automatically by the various sensors of the ship. Ammunition is limited and the Ra carries enough ammunition to complete a 21-day cruise.

The main gun of the Ra class is a modification of the Bofors 57mm Mark 3. The Mark 3 is a 70-caliber weapon that is capable of firing up to 220 rounds per minute as far away as 9.18 nm (17.00 km). Lightweight, the Mark 3 is a stealthy design that incorporates angular design to dissipate rather than reflect radar waves. The weapon used on the Ra is designated as the M254 Mod 1 Advanced Gun System. The Advanced Gun System program is a Layartebian designation for a series of ETC guns that range from as small as 76mm to as large as 508mm. However, the M254 Mod 1 is a conventional gun rather than ETC. The Mod 2 is an ETC variant.

The M254 Mod 1 AGS is a 57mm, 90-caliber weapon that can fire a 13.40 lb. (6.08 kg) HE or AP shell as far away as 13.50 nm (25.00 km) without rocket-assistance. An extended range, rocket-assisted projectile can be fired as far away as 16.20 nm (30.00 km) or beyond, depending on the actual round. The standard caliber is 57x438mm, the same used by the Bofors cannon. Firing out a 90-caliber barrel, a shell moves as fast as 4,320.00 fps (1.32 km/s). With rocket-assistance, a shell can reach a maximum velocity of 5,000.00 fps (1.52 km/s). The M254 Mod 1 weighs a total of 18,257.00 lb. (8,281.24 kg). The bore length of the actual cannon is 201.97 in. (5.13 m) and the total length of the gun barrel is 204.12 in. (5.18 m) without a flash suppressor and 215.93 in. (5.48 m) with the flash suppressor. Its rifling length is 179.33 in. (4.55 m) and the entire length of the gun overall is 225.07 in. (5.72 m). Like the Bofors cannon, the M254 Mod 1 has a cyclic rate of fire of 240 rounds per minute and the barrel has an approximate life of 5,500 rounds. The weapon is fully trainable through 360° at a rate of 60° per second and can elevate between -10° and +80° at a rate of 48° per second. The Ra carries a total of 120 rounds ready and up to 240 rounds stowed with the ability to change between various types of ammunition as each round is drawn from the magazine and into the weapon.

Figure 3: Bofors 57mm Mark 3 Stealth variant.

The Ra also has a pair of heavy machine guns for close-in defense, particularly against small craft. Mounted port and starboard, towards the aft of the vessel, these two M31A1 Heavy Machine Guns are mounted on a tripod that weighs 44.00 pounds (19.96 kg) that allows each machine gun to traverse a full circle and elevate between -10° and +80° and is moved manually. The M31A1 uses the powerful 15.5x115mm cartridge and can fire any number of bull types, the most common being an armor-piercing, incendiary round similar to the Raufoss .50BMG round. When not using this round, the operator will often be firing ball, AP, or even a Saboted Light Armor Penetrator (SLAP) round. The M31A1 is modeled after the failed BRG-15 and uses a dual-feed mechanism that draws ammunition from two 70-round boxes on either side of the weapon. It has a select-fire switch that allows the operator to fire in semi-automatic, five-round burst, or fully automatic fire. Burst fire is recommended. Some M31s can be fitted with a casing collection system that allows ejecting rounds to travel through a tube to a box for collection and this option can be carried on the ship at a minor increase in weight. This allows for safer operation and allows for the brass to be reused. The overall length of the weapon is 84.65 in. (2,150.11 mm) and its barrel length is 59.05 in. (1,499.87 mm). The weapon itself is 140.00 lb. (63.50 kg) and can fire at up to 600 rounds per minute with an effective range of 1,800.00 meters and a muzzle velocity of 1,372.00 m/s. Against aircraft, the weapon can be effective up to 6,000.00 ft. (1,829.00 m). Each weapon is loaded with 140 rounds at the ready in the two boxes and there are up to 840 rounds held in 12 boxes stowed per gun.

There is a small arms locker onboard for assault rifles, pistols, and even light, anti-tank, unguided rockets such as the M101A1 Collapsable Lightweight Attack Weapon (CLAW).

Aside from the guns, the other main weapon system of the Ra is a vertical launch system located behind the gun. Because the Ra is not a large vessel, even the compact Mark 48 VLS is too large to be fitted and thus weapons like the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) cannot be carried. Instead, designers modified the AIM-204B Escape missile to be ship-launched as a surface-to-air missile and designated it the RIM-204C, Escape being its name. The vertical launch system is a cold-launch system that contains six canisters, each one capable of holding up to five missiles. The total size of the system is 108.00 in (2.74 m) wide, 73.50 in. (1.87 m) deep, and 132.00 in. (3.35 m) in height. Each canister is 30.00 in. (76.20 cm) wide and 120.00 in. (3.05 m) in length. The weapon system is compact enough to be fitted onto small ships such as the Ra and offer a significant amount of firepower. Because the system is cold-launched, it does not require the additional piping or equipment to vent the hot gases of a hot-launch system. Additionally, the use of a cold-launch system is also safer. Should a missile engine fail, the system can safely eject the missile out of the cell where it cannot detonate. Because the tubes are not sustained to the high stresses of a launch, they have a considerably longer life and are cost-effective.

The RIM-204C Escape missile 9.63 feet (2.94 m) long, 6.00 inches (15.24 cm) in diameter, and has a 12.00 inches (30.48 cm) finspan. It carries a 25.00 pound (11.34 kg) blast-fragmentation warhead and it weighs 225.00 pounds (102.06 kg). It can fly as fast as Mach 3.50 and has a range envelope of between 0.20 miles (321.87 m) and 20.00 miles (32.19 km) with a ceiling limit of 60,000.00 feet (18,288.00 m). It has no minimum ceiling giving it the ability to engage sea-skimming missiles or aircraft. Powered by a gel-fueled rocket, the Escape utilizes thrust-vectoring, aerodynamic strakes, and skid-to-turn methods to make turns as sharp as 75Gs or 75°/second. The guidance for the missile is provided by an imaging infrared seeker coupled with a focal plane array that is capable of seeing as far as 135° to any direction from its center position that also includes a command guidance module to allow the ship to datalink to the missile and guide it to the target rather than let it track on its own. Because of its guidance system, the Escape will not be fooled by pyrotechnic flares like traditional, passive, infrared missiles. The Escape's flight profile saw it launch out of a shortened vertical launch system up to an altitude of approximately 100.00 feet (30.48 m) to 200.00 feet (60.96 m) and then the missile uses its thrust vectoring and other maneuvering systems to make a sharp turn towards the target. A standard load is thirty missiles.

For point-defense against missiles and even aircraft, the Ra is also equipped with a single Mark 49 Rolling Airframe Launcher, which carries 21 missiles. The launcher itself can traverse a full circle and elevate between -25° and +80° and it weighs a total of 11,431.00 pounds (5,185.01 kg) above deck and 2,068.00 lb. (938.03 kg) below deck, fully loaded. The current RAM missile is the RIM-116D Rolling Airframe Missile Block III. It is an improvement over the RIM-116C Block II missile, which was larger and better equipped than either the RIM-116A or RIM-116B variants. Each RIM-116D weighs in at 188.00 lb. (85.28 kg), which is 26.00 lb. (11.79 kg) heavier than the A and B versions and 18.00 lb. (8.16 kg) heavier than the C version. Each missile is 9.25 ft. (2.82 m) long, 5.75 in (146.05 mm) in diameter, and are equipped with the same 25.00 lb. (11.34 kg) warhead as its previous versions. The blast fragmentation warhead is the same used in the AIM-9X Sidewinder. Stabilized by rolling through the air, the RIM-116D is equipped with a gel-fueled rocket motor and sustainer with thrust-vectoring nozzles. Each RIM-116D is guided by a 105° imaging infrared seeker that is also equipped with a passive radio sensor, which can home in on the radar emissions of an enemy missile. Like the previous versions, there are various guidance modes. In the first, the IIR mode is only used against threats that do not emit detectable RF radiation whereas the passive radio is used if there is detectable RF radiation. There is a third mode that enables IIR guidance the entire way to the target. It also features the same IRDM (dual mode) guidance used on the previous versions, enabling launch in IIR guidance but switching over to passive radio when the RF emissions are detectable. The missile has a maximum speed of Mach 2.80 at sea level and can accelerate at +60G's. Its engagement envelop is between 0.25 miles (402.34 m) and 12.50 miles (20.12 km). Its maximum ceiling is 26,250 ft. (8,000 m) and has a pK against 0.965 against missiles and over 0.98 against aircraft. It offers 100% more range, a 26% heavier warhead, 128% more altitude, and slightly more speed than the SA-N-11 Grison missile used on the Kashtan. However, it is larger and nearly 50% heavier. A standard load is twenty-one missiles.

For surface targets that are out of range of the main gun, the Ra carries two Mark 141 Quadruple Missile Launchers that hold a total of 8 missiles. Situated to the rear of the vessel, they are angled at 60° when launching and can be stowed lower to limit their radar reflection, a feature that is unique to just the Ra class. The main missile is the RGM-205B Advanced Multi-Environment Strike Missile (AMESM). It is only 14.00 feet (4.27 m) in length with a diameter of just 14.00 inches (35.56 cm) and a wingspan of 5.65 feet (1.60 m). It is equipped with a wingless, 1.12 foot (34.14 cm) booster that provides it with the initial momentum past subsonic flight and to its cruise speed of Mach 1.25. The missile itself weighs 1,600.00 pounds (725.75 kg) while the booster adds an additional 100.00 pounds (45.36 kg). It uses a 350.00 pound (158.76 kg) blast-fragmentation, penetrating warhead. The AMESM has a minimum range of 10.00 miles (16.09 km) and a maximum range of 195.00 miles (313.82 km). The missile can sea-skim and conduct a terminal pop-up maneuver to fly at a pre-programmed flight altitude and it has a CEP of approximately 2.50 meters. Its guidance is made up of an IIR seeker with a target database as well as a GPS subset and a datalink system. A standard load is eight missiles.

For additional defense, the Ra class is equipped with two missile launchers for MANPAD missiles. The main model is the FIM-186A, which uses a launch unit that weighed 15.00 pounds (6.80 kg) unloaded. The Wizard missile is 5.25 feet (1.60 m) long and has a diameter of 3.50 inches (8.89 cm). It has pop-out fins like the Stinger than give it a span of 4.50 inches (11.43 cm). The missile itself weighs just 30.00 pounds (13.61 kg) and round-up, the whole system weighs 45.00 pounds (20.41 kg). The missile is equipped with a small, 8.00 pound (3.63 kg) blast-fragmentation warhead that has a lethal radius of some 10.00 feet (3.05 m). A single-stage missile, the Wizard is capable of speeds up to Mach 2.5 and has an engagement envelope that is between 105.60 feet (32.19 m) and 5.00 miles (8.05 km). It can engage targets up to 26,000.00 feet (7,924.80 m). Powered by a gel-fueled, boost/sustain rocket like the Stinger, the Wizard is also equipped with a thrust-vectoring system and is capable of high agility against aircraft and helicopters. It has limited capabilities against other missiles. Guidance is provided by a 105° imaging infrared seeker that is more or less a further development of the seeker used on the Stinger-RMP Block II. There are a total of twenty missiles stored for use on the two launchers and are kept in the small arms locker inside of the ship.

Variants

The Ra class is available in two variants. The primary variant is detailed above and costs $290,000,000.00 per hull. An export variant that is listed as $365,000,000.00 is identical except for two areas. The export variant does not include the sensor systems listed with the main class but does include similar systems that including a tracking and engagement radar, sonar arrays including a towed array, and a fully integrated uplink and self-defense system. The other area is the full weaponry. The export variant does not include the same weaponry, instead opting for the Bofors 57mm Mark 3 in place of the main gun, two M2HB Heavy Machine Guns in place of the M31s, the IRIS-T SL in place of the RIM-204C, the RIM-116B Rolling Airframe Missile in place of the RIM-116D, the RGM-84 Harpoon in place of the RGM-205, and the FIM-92 Stinger in place of the FIM-186 Wizard.

Specifications

Status: In-development [Flight I]
Role: Patrol Corvette
Classification: PC
Length Overall: 205.00 ft.
Length at Waterline: 192.15 ft.
Beam: 31.50 ft.
Draft: 10.00 ft.
Displacement: 625.00 tons
Block Coefficient: 0.339
Hull Quantity: 1 semi-planing monohull
Maximum Sprint Speed: 41.60 knots
Maximum Sustained Speed: 35.00 knots
Tactical Silent Speed: 10.00 knots
Powerplant: Four Vericor TF60 5MW gas turbine engines, 20MW total, COGAG
Power Output: 26,820 shp
Shafts: 3 Rolls-Royce S3-112 water jets, 2 rudders
Endurance: 2,200nm @ 20 knots
Main Gun: 1 M254 57mm/90 caliber Advanced Gun System with 120 rounds ready and 240 rounds stowed
Small Arms: 2 M31A1 15.5MM Heavy Machine Guns with 140 rounds loaded and 840 rounds stowed per gun (1 port, 1 starboard)
VLS Missiles: 1 Vertical Launch System with 6 cells for 30 RIM-204 Escape missiles (108" wide x 73.5" deep x 132" high)
Other Missiles: 2 Mark 141 Quad Launchers with 8 RGM-205 AMESM missiles
CIWS: 1 Mark 43 RAM Launcher with 21 RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles ready (1 aft)
MANPADS: 2 FIM-186A Wizard launchers with 1 round ready and 9 rounds stowed per launcher
Crew: 4 officers, 24 enlisted, 8 SOF
Combat Systems: AN/SPY-4J AODSSS, AN/SQS-57G ASRSS
Countermeasures: AN/SLQ-51L AESSDS
Unit Cost: $290,000,000.00

This post has been edited by layarteb on Nov 23 2008, 09:14 PM

METRIC!!!!!

OMFG you stupid ass read the fucking post there's metric all over it.

Care to explain how THAT is metric?

Pwnt.

Metric or gtfo.

only uncivilised savages use decimal systems eh wot

Care to explain how THAT is metric?

He restates all the stats in the write-up, posting the metric measurements in parenthesis. So they are there, you just need to dig for them. TBH Lay, it'd be easier to read if you'd include the metric stats in with the stat block.

Care to explain how THAT is metric?

He restates all the stats in the write-up, posting the metric measurements in parenthesis. So they are there, you just need to dig for them. TBH Lay, it'd be easier to read if you'd include the metric stats in with the stat block.

How about I remove the stat-block all together and the write-up that took 4+ hours to work on is actually read and critiqued instead of whining about a measurement system?

sounds good to me.
anyone else agree?

ps don't let it get to you, if they aren't "whining" about anything else its most likely a very good design.

also whats the point in

There on a battle cruiser/frigate not a cruise they shouldn't have the free time needed to "enjoy" these.

do you mean armed since its under the weapon heading?

Always downtime to be had. What if they make a port call? They have to have something.

Yeap that would be a typo.

There on a battle cruiser/frigate not a cruise they shouldn't have the free time needed to "enjoy" these.

Actually, most real world navies, and pretty much every single navy that is even half-way competent have training requirements and a fairly stringent training regime aboard their ships to ensure that their sailors won't turn into chubby lazy bastards after one month of service, let alone twelve. IIRC, the requirements from the US Navy was a minimum of one to two hours of PT (physical training) per day. The Norwegian Navy requirements are somewhere in that vicinity as well. Trust me. A Navy training regime isn't enjoyed like you imply that it is. It's hated thoroughly and intensely, which in the military is a sign that they're doing something right.

Quite so. You have to stay in shape on a ship especially because of the amount of maneuvering the human body has to do to move around the thing!

ah ok, thats a very good thing to know so thanks

Before I do anything, I want to know what the picture is actually of. It's awesome! Concept? In-production? Someone's fantasy?

Northrop Grumman Enforcer class. Very little info about it on the internet but they had some base specifications for it at Euronaval 2008. One of the members there posted it and I ran with it.