M Class Frigate (Prizyetsa)

Overview

The FFG-21 is a Vassian-built heavy multi-role guided missile frigate designed and built for the Vassian and Valyrian navies. The class is primarily designed for air-defense and anti-missile duties, however the FFG-21 is also equipped to perform conventional and anti-submarine duties. As such, the ship is built around the advanced MPTTR radar system developed by a joint venture between the Vassian Jager Wapentechniek AS and the Valyrian Imperial Arms. Linked to the central radar system, the ship has a variety of weapons at its disposal ranging from its gun to the helicopter it carries onboard. The first of the class, the ISS Nativity, is expected to be delivered to the Valyrian Marine by January. The FFG-21 class of frigates were designed to replace aging classes in both the Vassian and Valyrian navies and to cater to the changing strategies of both nations. Initial orders for the FFG-21 class are reported to be 12 units for the Valyrian Marine to be delivered over 5 years, and 6 units to be delivered to the Vassian Navy over the same timeframe.

Development

The Prizyetsi Admiralty had sought to design a new frigate to replace its aging fleet however did not have the technological means to make a competitive vessel that could effectively engage other contemporary military ships without taking unacceptable losses. It was for this reason that the Vassian Admiralty approached the Valyrian Marine, which was looking to modernize its fleet as well, and offered to go into a joint venture with Valyrian companies to help split the costs.

Construction

The FFG-21 class is built in a modular fashion, allowing the ships to be constructed quickly at multiple locations once the sections themselves are built. It was decided to use this method in order to meet the demands of both navies to produce 18 of the ships in just 5 years. Construction of the ships, as well as sea-trials and the initial training of the first Valyrian crew would all take place in Vassland, with the Linster scheepsbouwwerken and Emmafonteijn Shipworks winning contracts to build 11 units and 7 units respectively.

The FFG-21 is split into 7 sections, A through G, and are prefabricated in a separate hall on-site. Sections A and B are stretch from the bow to the beginning of the ship’s bridge-structure. C, D and E comprise of the ship’s main superstructure, including the gas turbines and diesel engines. Finally, sections F and G comprise of the ship’s hangar and helipad. All sensor equipment and weapon systems are added to the complete hulls after their initial and final sea trials respectively.

Characteristics

The FFG-21 is 124,6 meters long, with a beam of 17 meters and a draught of 4,3 meters, and increases to 5,2 meters with the ship’s bow sonar. Displacing 6,500 tonnes, the class is larger than most frigates and is closer to a destroyer in role. The ship’s hull was designed to minimize drag in the water making it fast for a ship its size, which is a testament to importance of using composite materials in its construction. Steering is controlled by 2 roll-stabilized rudders; the ships have a turning radius of 570 meters at combat-speed (32 knots). The frigates have a crew of 28 officers, 52 petty officers, and 120 enlisted sailors totaling at 200 sailors per ship. There are accommodations for an additional 15 sailors aboard the FFG-21 class vessels. Accommodations are present in the form of unisex crew quarters, although crew quarters are still divided in the Vassian and Valyrian navies. The ships can remain at sea for up to 25 days at a time with standard provisions.

Propulsion

The FFG-21 class is fitted with brand-new CODLAG (Combined Diesel-Electric and Gas) type propulsion system. This, an upgrade from the older “Combined Diesel and Gas” systems, contains the same basic elements but will not allow simultaneous use of the alternative drive sources.

The system incorporates 4 diesel engines and a gas turbine to run electric motors, which in turn run the propellor shafts through gear boxes. The ships are driven by 2 propellors. The diesel engines are intended for use during general cruising, and the gas turbine is intended for use during combat-maneuvers. A major advantage of this system is that electricity for the ship’s systems can be directly supplied by the engines meaning that there is no need for extra engines to power the ship. Another advantage of the diesel-electric transmission is that without the need of a mechanical connection, the diesel generators can be decoupled acoustically from the hull of the ship, making it less noisy. This adds to the class’ stealth and aids in their combating of submarines.

Sensor Equipment

The FFG-21 class is outfitted with the integrated MPTT (Multi-Purpose-Tracking-&-Targeting) radar system. The MPTT system is comprises of an AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array), a rotating antenna for 3D air search which operates on the L-Band, standard rotating long and medium range surface radars, infra-red electro-optical warning systems and radio-monitoring equipment. The ship’s systems have enough sensor power to actively track over 350 targets, and up to 450 targets passively.

Basically, the AESA system operates by connecting its antenna to a powerful radio transmitter which emits a short pulse of signal. The transmitter is then switched to a sensitive receiver which receives and amplifies any echoes from target objects. The time taken for the echoes to return determines the objects’ distance.

The MPTT’s L-Band air search radar is a rotating phased array antenna made up of 22 elements. While all are able to receive signals, 16 are used to create “virtual receiver” beams through digital beamforming. The beams’ elevation is automatically compensated for electronically for the ship’s movement with the aid of a gyroscope. The system has a maximum search range of 450km for patrol aircraft, and approximately 70km against stealthy missiles. The L-Band air search radar is also capable of tracking ballistic missiles up to a range of 170km.

Weapon Systems

The FFG-21 is the most well armed frigate in the Aurora region, sporting enough firepower and sensor capacity to fight a small battle on its own. The ship is equipped with a 48-cell VLS (Vertical Launch System) located fore of the bridge structure and a 76mm rapid fire deck gun located fore of the VLS. Above the ship’s midsection, there are 8 launchers for the SS-99 “Zee-Vos” surface-to-surface anti ship missile. The ship is armed with 2 CIWS (Close In Weapon System) for close in defense for missiles, should the medium-bracket missile defense system fail.

The weapon systems onboard the FFG-21 class are controlled from a centrally located armored control-center. The control-center also features duplicates of all bridge controls and radar system displays, as well as a database of charts and navigational aides.

Below is a list of weapon systems compatible with the MPTT radar system. Forward VLS (Mix of up to 48* missiles)

• SA-05 (Short Range Surface to Air Missile)
• SA-10 (Medium Range Surface to Air Missile)
• SA-30 (Long Range Surface to Air Missile)
• SA-31 (Surface to Air Anti-Ballistic Missile)
• The SA-05 is packed in the VLS in pods of 2.

Amidship Tube-Launchers (8 missiles)

• SS-99 (Medium Range Surface to Surface Anti-Ship Missile)

Guns

• 76mm rapid fire deck gun (Stealth Housing)**
• 2 x 30mm CIWS (The 76mm deck gun can also be electronically operated from the bridge, weapon control center, or manually.)

Other

• Helideck
• Hangar space for one helicopter***
• SDS (”Splash” Decoy System)
• TDDS (Torpedo Decoy Defense System)
• Various communication and jamming systems