Dimensions
Length: 225m
Beam: 24m
Draught: 8.2m
Displacement (long tons) 22,050 t
Crew Complement: 460
Performance
Speed: 38 knots
Range: 4000 nautical miles at 15 knots
Weapons
3 triple (3 X 3) 205mm/55 RF LY368 guns (12 rnds per gun per minute)
6 twin (6 X 2) 3-inch/50 Mk27/33 guns
16 x GWLS.35M2 4-cell VLS (cell dimensions: 0.7 × 0.7 × 9m^3)
1 x 8-cell Multirole torpedo launcher
2 x 21 cell RIM-116 RAM launchers
Armour
Belt: 150mm
Deck: 85mm
Turret: 200mm
Barbette: 150mm
CT: 150mm
Engines
Powerplant: 2 marine turbines; 4 boilers
Power: 90MW
Screws: 4
Shafts : 4
Endurance: 29 days
Aircraft:
One medium-lift helicopter, and hangar (retractable)
Countermeasures
2 x TKWA/MASS decoy launcher
UL 5000K ECM suite
Prairie-Masker system
Electronics
AN/MPQ – 77 Vigilant radar
AN/SPD – 83 Observant fire-finder radar
2 navigation radars
Cromwell II battlespace information warfare suite
MIRADOR electro-optical sensors
UL 5000 K ESM suite
Conceptualisation
The Battleaxe-class cruiser is the Lyran Protectorate's extant naval gunfire and amphibious operational support vessel. The class was designed to fulfil the army's requirement for a high fire-volume amphibious operation and marine assault firesupport platform, to facilitate assault operations through or over the littoral by the employment of high fire-rate, high precision, high lethality gunfire in conjunction with ground and air force action. Secondary to this is the ability to utilise currently available and projected weapons systems to affect its own local area defence, and thirdly to engage in ship-to-ship combat by a combination of direct and indirect-firing guns and anti-ship missiles. Designed by the Protectorate Research and Development Commission, Battleaxe-class vessels have operated within Lyran maritime units, and in non-Lyran forces in a wide number of conflicts, including the Mokan Civil War.
Background and Development
Lyran combat doctrine emphasises integration of combat elements, and the Battleaxe-class is indicative of this. Early Lyran projections of amphibious operations, or operations conducted within the littoral, showed clearly how high-volume conventional naval gunfire support could effect the battlespace. Well integrated use of Cromwell, it was estimated, would further increase the potency of a naval platform in this role, and from this starting point the Battleaxe was conceived.
Based in large part on the American Des Moines-class, the Battleaxe has both increased the gunnery capability by upwards movement of the RoF, and adding a suite of alternative long-to-extreme range armaments. The Battleaxe is a fire-support platform, par excellance, and using it in other roles, while possible, is a waste of its focus and specialty. Domination of the littoral, and suppression of emplaced or mobile ground forces within that area are its strength, and it is designed accordingly.
Use of fire finder radar in particular was emphasised, a means of ensuring rapid and effective neutralisation of hostile artillery which, in a situation such as an amphibious operation, represent perhaps the single greatest threat to landing forces. Battleaxe-class vessels, in turn, enable landing forces to systematically eliminate opposing indirect-fire elements without recourse to independent locating or command-tethered systems.
Networking, Sensory and Fire Control System
The Battleaxe-class, as with all existing and planned Lyran vehicles across all areas of the battlespace, uses the Cromwell II fire control and battlespace integration system as the basis of its electronic and information warfare suite. Like the Cromwell before it, the Cromwell II system inputs and actively seeks information from a wide variety of sensory sources, not limited to those on the ship itself.
Cromwell II system follows on from its Inter-Vehicular Information System (IVIS) conceptual ancestor, and is part of an integrated and adaptive battlespace network that maximises combat lethality, and enables command and control on an unprecedented scale. Information is sourced not only from multiple sources on the individual aircraft, ship, vehicle or soldier, but from every Cromwell II equipped friendly platform within the battlespace, which provides constant informational updates across a broad spectrum of sources, both known to the operators, and operating below their awareness.
The Cromwell II system utilises this information to compute firing solutions, based upon analysis of the target and selected weapon. This is achieved in less time than it would take the operator to depress the firing stud or authorise the missile launch. The firing solution that Cromwell II generates ensures a near-perfect hit percent at standard ranges, across all conditions.
At the most basic level, the Cromwell II system aims to accelerate engagement cycles and increase operational tempo at all levels of the warfighting system. This acceleration is acheived by providing a mechanism to rapidly gather and distribute targeting information, and rapidly issue directives. Cromwell II's ultra-high speed networking permits error-free, high integrity transmission in a bare fraction of the time required for voice-based transmission, and permits transfer of a wide range of data formats, from a multitude of compatible sources.
As well as radar, the fire control system on the Battleaxe-class also has an electro-optic channel with long-wave thermal imager and infrared direction finder, including digital signal processing and automatic target tracking.
The Cromwell II network coordinates the fire power of (utilising the greater computational power available to a warship, as opposed to the mobile, ground-based LY471 from which the system was derived) up to 80 other Cromwell-equipped vessels, spaced at distances of up to 900km. Any vessel can be the network master controller (although larger vessels with larger computational facilities, or dedicated task group command vessels, are of course more effective in this role) and the network can link with other command facilities, or even other networks, in real time, allowing for individual ships to control the anti-air coverage of taskgroups, and integrate the entirety into a cohesive whole, a system-of-systems approach, which has increasingly been prevalent globally.
The fully automatic real-time data exchange includes aerospace control data, weapon control orders and fire control orders, target identification data, individual system status and vehicle position, threat prioritisation and optimised weapon allocation, engagement status, weapon status and jammer triangulation data.
The system can also assign targets to other vehicles in the network that are operating with their radars in silent mode, maximising lethality while maintaining proportionally high levels of emission concealment. A network controller can also vector in extra weapons systems, in flight, if targets are missed or if the ships magazines have been depleted beyond its capacity to engage hostile force elements.
The Cromwell II links for the Battleaxes, like the Skyguard and Shepherd, use frequency-agile radios or direct laser LOS transfer, satellite assisted if required. Over 4,000 frequencies with 20kHz channel spacing are used in the frequency agile radio link. The system architecture provides full duplex data exchange and simultaneous half duplex voice communications.
The Battleaxe's anti-aircraft system is based on the AN/MPQ-77 Vigilant, a three-dimensional radar used to alert and queue Short-to-Medium Range Air Defense (STMRAD- pronounced “stem-rad”) weapons to the locations of hostile targets approaching front line forces. The Vigilant radar uses an X-band, range-gated, pulse-doppler system. The antennae use phase-frequency electronic scanning technology, forming sharp 3D pencil beams covering large surveillance and track volume. The radar automatically detects, tracks, classifies, identifies and reports targets, including cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, rotary and fixed-wing aircraft. It uses a high scan rate (40 RPM), is frequency agile, and operates at a range of 52 km.
Well implemented networking, using the Cromwell II system, can contribute to improved effectiveness in other ways as well. Rather than micromanage Cromwell-equipped platforms with close control via a command link tether (such as a radio), networked platforms are given significant autonomy, defined objectives, and allowed to take the initiative in how they meet these objectives. The size, integration and scope of the networked Cromwell II system enables all units across the battlespace to respond faster than their opposition, and this increased tempo generates increased lethality across all levels of the engagement spectrum.
The system, in its entirety, is fully insulated against electronic interference and data-hacking, and all communications and information exchange programs are 512-bit encrypted to ensure maximum network security.
Armament
LY398 L55/205mm RF guns, arrayed in three triple turrets. Each barrel having 12 rounds per minute, providing a total broadside RoF of 108 rounds per minute, out to a range of 60km.
For the GWLS.35M2 4-cell VLS, four weapon systems are available of compatible dimensions, namely the LY4031 (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php ... ostcount=1), LY4045 AShM, BGM-109 Tomahawk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BGM-109_Tomahawk) and LY589 Hellion (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=13525984).
When utilising the VLS in an anti-aircraft role, the Battleaxe-class operates the Lyran-standard LY4031. The LY4031 missile is a medium range, high-acceleration, endoatmospheric interceptor missile, capable against a wide range of targets. The LY4031 is more than able to engage aircraft and air-launched weapons at ranges in excess of 210 km. The missile is small - similar in size to the 9M96M missile of the S-400, on which the LY4031 is based, and uses a hit-to-kill attack profile. The missile is equipped with an active homing head and has an estimated single shot kill probability of 0.98 for manned aircraft and 0.92 for unmanned maneuvering aircraft. A gas-dynamic control system enables the LY4031 missile to maneuver at altitudes of up to 65 km at positive g forces over 30, which permits engagment of non-strategic ballistic missiles. The LY4031 (modified) has become the basic long-range weapon of Lyran Protectorate Air Force's combat aircraft, and the standardised missile for medium-to-long range air defense SAM systems, ship-launched air defense missile systems, and fighter aircraft.
VLS cells on the Battleaxe capable of firing the LY4031 are the same cells able to fire the LY589 Hellion, LY4045 AShM or BGM-109 Tomahawk, and exact loadout is variable. By convention, Lyran operational cruises detailing air defence as a given VLS's primary tasking will carry 32 LY4031 missiles in the section, and the ship will most likely operate where supplementary radar coverage is available, to push the engagement envelope further out.
Where the anti-ship or surface-to-surface role is more relevant than air defence, three similar missile systems may form the primary armament, again located in either fore or aft modular sections.
The first is the near ubiquitous BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missile, which itself needs little by the way of introduction. The only remaining Tomahawks in Lyran service are the Block Vs, however the VLS cells themselves are backwards compatible.
The second is the LY4045 anti-ship cruise missile. Itself developed from the BGM-109, and remarkably similar superficially, the LY4045 has undergone a series of minor modifications to optimise its performance in the anti-ship role. Having seen action in numerous theatres since its inception, at the hands of both Lyran forces and allies and clients, the LY4045 is a rugged, destructive and relatively cheap system that is generally fired in relatively large numbers to ensure target destruction. To date, the LY4045 is responsible for more naval tonnage destroyed than all other forms of offensive firepower employed by the Lyran Protectorate combined.
The third system is the LY589 Hellion advanced cruise missile. The LY589 Hellion is a long-range, all-weather, multi-role, fourth generation subsonic cruise missile. Designed and built by Lyran Arms for a wide variety of roles, it was designed primarily as a medium- to extreme-range, low-altitude, surface-to-surface missile that could be launched from a variety of platforms against a variety of targets. During initial concept development, the missile changed from a fairly conventional (albeit advanced) cruise missile into arguably the most intelligent and technologically sophisticated multi-role guided munition in the world. Warheads available to the Hellion include (but are not limited to) high-explosive anti-ship, unitary HE, unitary fragmentation, bomblet dispersal, WAGAV and thermobaric. Where mission flexibility or simultaneous anti-ship/ship-to-shore operations are anticipated, Hellion is usually the weapon of choice. Hellion, by virtue of its adaptability and more modern design, is as capable as either of its two main surface-to-surface rivals in Lyran service; its flexibility does not come at the cost of mission success likelihood.
Armour and Protection
Battleaxe-class vessels are well armoured, with moderate to extensive armour protection on belt, barbette, turret, deck and control tower. In the absence of any appreciable signature reduction, the ships point defence and passive defence systems come to predominance. Active exhaust cooling and IR suppression also render the vessel harder to target or detect on infra-red than might otherwise have been thought, especially when operating in the littoral. Once its main guns begin firing, however, the IR-suppression is rendered moot by the gunfire, of course.
The NBC system follows Lyran standard, and features quite adequately as a climate control system, making for working temperatures easily adjustable to every national or personal need (operating temperature range -40C to 55C).
Two 21-cell RIM-116 rolling airframe missile launchers are carried for surface to air point defence. The RIM-116 RAM is a small, lightweight, IR-homing or HoJ surface-to-air missile designed as a point defence system for use against anti-ship cruise missiles. Aboard Lyran ships, and many others that utilise Lyran hardware, the system is integrated into the Cromwell II battlespace management suite. While designed primarily for the anti-missile and anti-aircraft defensive role, the weapon system can be employed against surface targets. The system uses a Mk49 launcher, with a total weight of 5.8 tons.
Designer: Raytheon, Diehl BGT Defence
Length: 2780 mm
Diameter: 127 mm
Fin span: 445 mm
Speed: Mach 2.0+
Warhead: 11.3 kg blast fragmentation
Launch Weight: 73.5 kg (162 lb)
Range: 7.5 km
Guidance System: tri-modal; Passive RF/IR, IR, or infrared dual mode enabled (radio frequency and infrared homing)
Propulsion and mobility
Two marine turbines, 4 boilers, granting 90 megawatts of power, and 29 days of cruising at 15 knots. Maximum speed is rated at 32knots, depending, of course, on sea state.
Manning
The Battleaxe as a highly automated vessel, requires a relatively low number of crew to operate it, when contrasted to vessels with a similar role elsewhere in the world. At full complement, the vessel will berth 460 personnel, of whom roughly 1 in 9 will be officers. The body of personnel enables combat redundancy, and allows the conduct of underway repairs, a situation more likely for a Battleaxe-class vessel than most, given that the standard tasking involves closing in to gunnery range. The detailed personnel requirements include flight crew and maintenance personnel, The class is able to berth substantially more personnel than listed, should exceptional or emergency situations require.
Export
Executive Command, as is standard, retains complete oversight over the distribution of the above system. Further to that, amongst those to whom the class is available, acquisition of the role-specific production rights to the LY589 Hellion cruise missile is restricted. Indeed, given the sensitive nature of the LY589, and its AI and guidance packages, it would be the exception, rather than the rule, that DPR to that weapon be granted alongside purchase of one or more Battleaxe-class vessels.
Upon purchase of one or more example of the class, the purchaser is, however, entitled to the following:
DPR to the LY4045 anti-ship cruise missile for use on-ship only
DPR to the LY4031 AA/ABM missiles for use on-ship only
DPR to the AN/MPQ-77 Vigilant radar system, for maintenance and repair only
DPR to the AN/SPD – 83 Observant fire-finder radar, for maintenance and repair only
Peacetime clearance to dock at Lyran or Lyran-held ports, subordinate to Lyran Executive Command revocation.
Battleaxe-class vessels sell at NS$4bn each, through Lyran Arms.
