Length: 366.06 m.
Beam: 56 m (waterline) 101 m (flight deck).
Draft: 12.5 m.
Displacement: 122,000 t (full load).
Propulsion: 2 WA-IE NNP-4400 Nuclear Reactors (624 MW).
- 4 Pump-jet intakes.
- 2 Pump-jet exhausts.
Range: Theoretically unlimited, 200 days on supplies.
Complement: 5,000 - 6,000 depending on outfit.
- Ship Crew: 3,250.
- Air Wing: 2,560.
- 90 - 95 aircraft.
- Eisen-Schloss Combat Networking (MEER Command & Control).
- JSR-F-23 AESA (radar, 3D X-Band).
- AN/SPN-45B, AN/SPN-41B, SPN-43C/2, and SPN-46B (air traffic control and pilot assistance radar systems).
- JSS-TSA23 (towed array sonar).
- JTSS-52 Nodes (tactical sonar nodes).
- IFF ES/A/N/F (friend-or-foe/transponder system).
- NET System (CESM/COMINT).
- JSEW-4C Electronic Warfare Suite.
- JSTD-6 MIST (Torpedo decoy system).
- 192 Mk. 41 cells (96 per side).
- 4 Mk. 103/C Dual-Barreled 40 mm Automatic Cannons/CIWS' (2 per side).
- 4 Remote Missile Stations (21-15 missiles per mount, 2 per side).
- 2 Type 870 CIWS, 30mm gatling cannon & RMS (21-15 missiles, 2 on lower superstructure).
- 10 Rotating Vertical Countermeasure System (RVCS, 20 barrels).
- 2 RHIB launch points, 2 RHIB total.
- DMR-249A Steel construction.
- 1.5" thick KEVLAR plates over superstructure and additional 1" in vital areas.
- 0.5” thick KEVLAR plates in non vital areas.
Background
The Kaiser CVN (Emperor) is a class of advanced nuclear powered supercarriers (CVN) in service with the Imperial Navy of TECT. The first ship, the class leader, was christened the Imperial Naval Ship (INS) JC in honor of the current sitting Emperor of TECT; it first set sail officially with the Imperial Navy on February 28th, 2014. Named to honor the long line of prestigious Commoner Emperors/Empresses, Kaiser Class supercarriers embody the impactful cultural influence and extensive authority the line of monarchs have wielded throughout TECT history. Each Kaiser CVN in Commoner service is christened with the name of a previous reigning Emperor or Empress; among the current names used for active serving Kaiser CVNs are both Charles I and Charles II (grandfather and father to the current Emperor), Agathe the Faithful, Diederich the Great, and Emmerich the Last General. The Kaiser Class is arguably the largest class of warship serving in the TECT Imperial Navy; the Scimitar CVN could also classify as the largest vessel in Commoner service because it is the longest vessel in use, but most annalists will cite the Kaiser as the largest due to it's larger beam, draft, and displacement compared to the Scimitar.
In an effort to domesticate naval production, Emperor Charles II demanded that Wolf Armaments begin focusing on developing shipyard operations; he specifically wanted to domestically produce native designed warships and cut reliance on foreign companies. The Emperor convinced Congress to ease business regulations and he also approved many buyouts to boost Wolf Armament's push into the shipyard industry; these actions greatly assisted Wolf Armaments by creating less restrictions on purchasing property, acquiring materials, and acquiring research grants. Wolf Armaments boosted its development by taking over small shipyard companies and other marine manufacturing facilities - which helped it acquire shipyards to use and learn from as well as new employees with years of experience in the field of marine construction. At the same time, Colonial Shipyards Inc. agreed to a merger into Wolf Armaments - the deal brought the Empire's largest warship manufacturing company, which produced the vast majority of domestically constructed military vessels that licenses had been purchased from overseas companies, into the much larger Arms manufacturing corporation. This huge industry merger immediately made Wolf Armaments the number one company in the shipyard industry for military vessels, allowing it to finally begin work on designing native military vessels, naval warfare technology, and begin competing with similar shipyard businesses around the world.
The Emperor greatly wanted to replace Triumvirate Enterprises, a longtime supplier in to the Empire in naval vessels and technologies, as his country's supplier of naval ships and technology; his idea being that producing domestic vessels would eliminate dependency on foreign suppliers/designs, enrich naval and technological innovation, and secure manufacturing jobs for Commoners which before relied on the country paying license fees to build foreign designs - the benefit of exports in the naval sector would boost the country's GDP along with the combating of the Empire's unemployment rate. The country's military budget would also see savings due to the cheaper price tag of the ships and other expenses that had to be paid for construction and delivery. By 2004 Wolf Armaments was well established in ship manufacturing with shipyards, research facilities, and manufacturing plants around the country; it had taken over domestic production of military shipping and had even formed a powerful design committee for inventing new native warships. The same year Wolf Armament's Naval Design Committee began work on multiple designs. Two designs were focused on more-so then any other - the Haifisch, which was set to replace three classes already serving in the Imperial Navy, and the Garnele, which would replace existing amphibious assault ships (LHD), some light carriers already in use, and would fulfill a need that had existed in the navy for decades. Other warships like the Delphin would either be developed separately or after Wolf Armaments' first two major projects.
Initially, Wolf Armaments set out to design replacements for already ailing classes and required warship types. Destroyers, cruisers, frigates, and a variable amount of other smaller ships were becoming obsolete or were not designed with TECT preferences in mind. The already outdated battleships and stale variety of warships were beginning to threaten Commoner naval supremacy; the few areas that didn't seem to be in danger were the country's aircraft carriers (domestically manufactured on license), submarines (which were foreign bought), and the Imperial Navy's aircraft (produced by Wolf Armaments). With the "Scimitar Replacement Program" now defunct, the TECT Armed Forces had to reevaluate their future plans to begin domestically acquiring supercarriers sooner rather than later, or face the threat of falling behind other aircraft carrier development programs around the world. The first decided project for the Committee was the modernization of the Imperial Navy's destroyer program, Garnele came second but was originally intended to be developed alongside together. Delphin came separately due to the urgency of updating the Empire's cruiser fleet. Finally came the Kaiser CVN in Wolf Armament's line of warship development; with its great importance and scale, Wolf Armaments wanted to have more shipbuilding experience under its belt and more developed technology to utilize before taking on such an enormous project - more than one major project would have also drawn focus away from the Kaiser's development, something the Committee didn't want.
Using the Garnele CVLN as a stepping stone, Wolf Armaments and the TECT Imperial Navy continued their development of aircraft carrier technology in order to domestically produce future classes of aircraft carriers; the short term goal (if you could call it that) was to develop a nuclear powered supercarrier by 2020. It has been the Imperial Navy's goal for several decades now to replace foreign designed warships in its arsenal with domestically designed warships; replacing the foreign designed/produced aircraft carriers would be a major milestone for the TECT Armed Forces. With the Garnele CVLN fulfilling various roles within the Imperial Navy and Royal Guard Marines, the focus shifted entirely onto the development of a supercarrier for the Imperial Navy. For many years now the Imperial Navy has relied on the Achilles Class, both purchased and domestically produced under license from Triumvirate Enterprises, to project the Empire's air power anywhere in the world. In more recent history, the Imperial Navy has utilized a considerable number of Scimitar CVNs purchased from Triumvirate to upgrade the Empire's arsenal of aircraft carriers. With the Imperial Navy's fleet of Achilles carriers aging and Triumvirate's unfortunate shutdown, the Imperial Navy and Wolf Armaments were forced to accelerate the development of a class of supercarriers that would replace both the Achilles and Scimitar in TECT use.
The next phase of development came with designing the Kaiser to fulfill the next fifty plus years of service the Imperial Navy would require of it - though planners wanted the Kaiser to serve much longer. In the end, the Committee made the decision to mimic many of the successful features the Scimitar proudly displayed; immediately noticeable are the wave-piercing bow hull that improves sea handling characteristics, overall radar signature reduction design, and a reduced RCS superstructure (island) with systems covered with RCS paneling or within the structure itself. This mimicry streamlined the initial design portion of the Kaiser's development, reduced project costs, and speed-up the development process by years. The Garnele also played a large role in Kaiser's development; readily available technology, experience gathered while developing and producing the earlier designed aircraft carrier, and the experiences from servicemen aboard Garnele played important roles in the Kaiser's development. Using the groundwork already in place, the Committee produced the first Kaiser Class CVN as a prototype vessel in 2012. The Imperial Navy and Wolf Armaments throughout the year conducted a series of tests out of Port Burkhart, Küst State, including aircraft operations, sea faring endeavors, and extensive testing of the ship's weapon systems and electronic equipment. Throughout the next year, the Kaiser underwent further testing and modifications based on input from sailors and shipbuilders aboard the ship. The Kaiser was approved for active duty and the first vessel made ready for sail quietly so it could undergo a secret mission to Insels State. On February 28th, the Kaiser CVN, as a birthday gift courtesy of the Imperial Navy, surprised the Emperor of TECT as he celebrated his birthday with family and friends; after being startled by the ship's 'surprise' (a combination of the ship's loud horn and a flyover by a squadron of Bartgeier-B fighters), the Emperor was gifted the opportunity to christen the ship himself with its predetermined name (INS JC) and tour the ship alongside his guests. Currently, Wolf Armaments is producing Kaiser CVNs at a steady rate for the Imperial Navy and announced its readiness to accept export contracts; the Imperial Navy predicts the Kaiser CVN will fully replace the Achilles CVN in Commoner use by the year 2019 - the Achilles will likely be retired by the late 2020's.
Design
Kaiser was designed for the sole purpose of projecting TECT naval power abroad, doing so by achieving air superiority with carrier launched aircraft and acting as the flagship for naval operations. Such a powerful asset would also integrate into a strategically important command apparatus for the TECT Armed Forces. TECT needed a suitable replacement for its aging fleet of Achilles Class supercarriers and a supplement for the Imperial Navy's supercarrier acquisition program's original design (the Scimitar CVN) to unexpected circumstances. The Imperial Navy required an aircraft carrier with a larger air wing, long range endurance, and a vessel outfitted with the latest technology available; a ship for the future, this new line of supercarriers also had to be easily renovated or modified when upgrades to the ship's technology became available. Enter the Kaiser CVN! A nuclear powered supercarrier with minimal refueling requirements, a ship larger than previous supercarriers in Commoner use (meaning more aircraft, supplies, and crew on board), and a vessel outfitted with the latest technology developed over the past two decades - all evaluated in the field by the Garnele CVLN and other Wolf Armaments warship designs that came before the Kaiser. As a ship surrounded by a group of ships escorting her, Kaiser acts as the command ship and provides air superiority to its escorts - its vastly better command center and staff are capable of managing entire operations for fleets. Kaiser CVNs are strategically important too, more so than previous Wolf Armaments warship designs like the Garnele; literally a mobile air base, Kasier CVNs are a regional asset with capabilities that allow it to manage an entire region's set of missions and operations - such a warship provides support assets (such as command and control) and air support for the region it sails in.
Starting with the most iconic feature of the Kaiser, the flight deck is three-hundred and fifty-five meters long and is angled at eight degrees. Four catapults (two on the bow and two outboard side opposite to the island) with three arrestor wires make up the flight deck's launch and recovery equipment; Kaiser's layout allows two catapults to launch at the same time, meaning one catapult per section can launch but the second catapult in either section cannot because that catapult's launch path conflicts with the first catapult currently launching an aircraft. As it stands, Kaiser can launch four planes in under ten or so seconds; forty-five seconds or longer is required for additional launches, a time delay to allow catapults time to recharge - this will be explained momentarily when discussing the Kaiser's catapult system. It is suggested that captains allow a five second window before launching planes in conflicting pathways or who've just launched planes. Kaiser utilizes EMALS catapults to launch aircraft, EMALS being short for Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System. This catapult system was originally developed by other countries for their nuclear powered aircraft carriers and have been used aboard Imperial Navy Scimitar CVNs for many years now. EMALS uses a linear motor drive instead of the conventional steam piston drive; the linear induction motor (LIM), which uses electric currents to generate magnetic fields, propel a carriage along a track that launch the aircraft. The linear induction motor consists of a row of stator coils that have the function of a conventional motor’s armature. When energized, the motor accelerates the carriage along the track. Only the section of the coils surrounding the carriage is energized at any given time, thereby minimizing reactive losses. EMALS is advantageous for both aircraft and aircraft carriers because the more graded acceleration is less stressful on air frames, heavier aircraft (those that are too lightweight to be accommodated as well) can be launched, and all while using the shorter length LIM to launch aircraft. The EMALS' ninety-one meter LIM will accelerate a forty-five thousand kilogram aircraft to two-hundred and forty kilometers an hour. To achieve this speed for such a heavy load requires a large electrical charge, EMALS achieves this charge by storing energy in a storage subsystem for each catapult system. Since the ship cannot produce a large enough quantity of energy immediately, EMALS draws power from the ship during its forty-five second recharge period and stores that energy kinetically using the rotors of four disk alternators; the system then releases that energy (up to four hundred and eighty-four megajoules) in two to three seconds. Each rotor delivers up to one hundred and twenty-one megajoules from six thousand four hundred rotations per minute and can be recharged within forty-five seconds of a launch; this is faster than steam catapults. A max launch using one hundred and twenty one megajoules of energy from each disk alternator slows the rotors from six thousand four hundred rpm to five thousand two hundred and five rpm. In addition, other advantages include lower system weight, lower cost and decreased maintenance requirements, requires far less fresh water (reducing the need for energy-intensive desalination), and more allocated deck space (smaller catapult size) for parking/maneuvering on.
The flight deck is constructed of a "non-skid" material that prevents aircraft from slipping or sliding on-deck, it also combats ice and water; it is made of a rough paint mixture on top of the DMR-249A Steel top hull - the mixture is made up of a rubber/gravel mix that is literally painted onto the deck. Underneath this material is a series of pipes that run throughout the deck underneath the paint mix in the steel hull - these pipes can pump coolant to help cool off the surface to reduce heat damage, or, pump a warming solution (exhaust from the engine room or other areas, for example) that heats the deck during arctic operations, helping to prevent ice from forming or snow from sticking on deck. This material offers extraordinary traction for aircraft but can hurt crew if they fall or slip on deck, possibly causing serious road-rash related injuries. The primary deck parking spaces include the right-hand side of the ship where planes not obstructing traffic or elevators can park, unused/safe places on the stern, and the right-hand side of the bow. Two aluminum elevators on both sides of the stern bring aircraft and other equipment on deck; the dual hydraulic lift system is powerful enough - and wide enough - to lift two fully equipped jets (and other equipment that may need transport onto deck) easily to the top at drastically quicker speeds then most similar hydraulic elevator systems. An additional two elevators for weapons (one for each half of the ship) give crews a speedier option when bringing weapons on and off the flight deck; normally these elevators are for emergency use only and would stop only at the hanger where weapons would normally be outfitted to planes before their ride to the flight deck - it is up to the officers in charge or the nation's navy to decide the proper protocols in the end. The flight deck is flanked by lower deck space on both starboard and port side of the ship - these are primarily set aside for close-in weapon systems', countermeasure systems, and vertical launch systems used in defense of this ship against enemy forces. Crew walkways along the ship's starboard and port side also allow for speedy travel to and from the deck. Inside the island superstructure are the ship's many work areas including the Bridge, Flight Deck Operations Center, and many other crew operated stations; the Bridge is where the majority of the command and control operations are conducted. Important equipment like radar and pilot assistance equipment are also found in the island - these systems will be explained later on under "Sensors & Guidance."
Bellow deck you have the aircraft hanger and machine shop, crew living spaces, support service facilities for crew (such as the barber station and the ship's cafeteria), and storage facilities located throughout the ship; after that you have the many ship workstations like the engine facility and ship's hospital. Directly underneath the flight deck is the aircraft hanger and machine shop; the hanger is made up of three bays (which posses large sliding blast doors similar to the ship's bulk heads and are integrated into the ship's damage control system), not including the machine shop (this also has its own set of blast doors), that store aircraft not in use until they are either needed or are parked on the flight deck. The machine shop is located at the back of the hanger (the bow side of the ship) and is responsible for the maintenance of aircraft among other basic equipment aboard the ship; damaged aircraft or those under maintenance are parked in the machine shop's area, for example, and can be taken apart during the repair process. Aircraft and other items can be transported to the flight deck using one of two elevators located at the stern of the ship. Weapons, for the ship and aircraft, are buried deep in the interior of the ship in two large magazines (ammunition/ordnance/explosive storage facility) connected to the hanger via a special elevator; the weapons magazines are protected by an additional layer of armor (double-walled steel that sandwiches an interior layer of Kevlar to catch spall) to protect from first and secondary damage caused by enemy weapon systems - automated sliding doors (similar to the system of bulk heads used to secure the ship) in the elevator shaft and staff entry points are integrated into the ship's damage control system, allowing said magazines to be secured to contain fires or prevent secondary explosive damage to the ship. While the elevators are intended to stop at the hanger, they can go all the way to the flight deck if required. This placement of facilities allows for the speedy transportation of weapons and supplies, efficient storage and repair facilities, and the ease of access to aircraft and transportation elevators. Fuel for aircraft is stored in three large tanks near the center of the ship where they are protected by additional armor and anti-fire systems (each tank is surrounded with fireproof material and use seals to lower the risk of fire outbreaks) - from there three main pipes lead to an additional set of pipes (all pipes are protected with armor and anti-fire material, similar to the fuel tanks) which connect to eight fueling ports on the flight deck and in the hanger, of which can be used to fuel aircraft or defuel them. Lower down are the many crew service areas such as living spaces, the ship's cafeteria, and other crew amenities. Adjacent are additional bays, which are essentially large multipurpose rooms used to store manpower or equipment; these bay areas can be used to add additional troop living spaces for an increased marine detachment, store marine or air equipment, and can be converted to crew work stations - the list of options is really limited to the navy using the ship. These bay areas are connected via stairways and three central elevator systems that take passengers to and from the hanger bay, superstructure, and flight deck.
The Kaiser's hull is built primarily of DMR-249A Steel, a steel alloy that's lightweight but much stronger than the previously common aluminum hull material that was seen in most warship hulls until recently; it is strong against hostile weapon systems and is very capable at absorbing radar energy, enhancing the vessel's stealth design. For its safety, the Kaiser is constructed using a dual layer design scheme using thick plates of both DMR-249A Steel and Kevlar; first a layer of steel for the outer hull, a layer of Kevlar beneath that, another steel layer behind that Kevlar, and then another Kevlar layer to top it all off - these plates are several inches thick. The reactors, superstructure, weapons magazine, and other vital areas feature an additional layer of armor similar in design. Additionally, the outer hull is fully built with RS reduction tiles and is ice treated to improve survivability in arctic conditions.
Command, Control, Communications
Kaiser, as a pinnacle of naval warfare, focuses heavily on its ability to communicate, control, and manage the battlefield. Carriers have traditionally played the role of flagships - they provide support to the fleet and keeps them organized as their commanding vessel. Supercarriers like the Kaiser CVN inherently take on a larger strategic role in any region they are present, occupying an important role as command and control centers. The ability to absorb information and manage that data is important for a carrier flagship; commanding a fleet or theater requires strong communication and organization tools, making it a centerpiece to any fleet or operation. Throughout its recent history until it was absorbed by Wolf Armaments, Colonial Shipyards experimented with electronic equipment it had developed for the Imperial Navy after using foreign models as examples - this also includes weapons, combat systems, and other technology the company was developing prior to being bought by Wolf Armaments in 2004. Many of these systems got needed boosts or were totally reinvented to serve today's Imperial Navy; with earlier projects acting as a stepping stone, Kaiser's technology is among the most seasoned and advanced Wolf Armaments has ever developed. At the center of all this innovation was the MEER Command & Control System, which is named after the Commoner Angel of the Sea and is the naval version of the Eisen-Schloss Combat Networking System used by land and air forces of the TECT Armed Forces. MEER C&C focuses on complete connection and communication between crewman, equipment, and weapon systems around the warship, fleet, and the host navy's central command center. This unique system is paved with protection measures that ensure safety from EMP attacks, electronic warfare, and boosts security of the system's connection to other linked devices/vessels/vehicles; this includes a hull that resists such energy, shielded wiring and electronics, and protected back-up equipment if material is destroyed. Kaiser, using MEER, has boosted reaction times on remote controlled/automatic weapon systems, detection and countermeasure actions, and lightning speed data/information transfer/processing; this overall capability raises the Kaiser's survivability, reaction times, and crew/equipment performances. This fast management system ensures Kaiser supercarriers can quickly receive, transfer, and organize data from a wide array of support assets - this is needed for vessels that manage not only their extensive carrier operations but also needed for group and theater management. As the centerpiece of any group, Kaiser organizes this received data and distributes it among allied vessels, aircraft, and units outside its fleet; using this data, Kaiser supercarriers can organize and manage operations ranging from patrols, naval conflicts, and major theater operations.
MEER links detection and countermeasure systems to each other, which allows Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS) to track, path-find, and engage incoming threats much faster at an automatic rate; this connection also allows weapons to be assigned targets according to perceived danger in order of most dangerous to targets that can wait, lets weapons work together to protect the ship, and is capable of eliminating hostile targets above sea, on sea, or bellow the sea.This action process is completed using the ship's many sensors that gather information, track the situation, and engages actions to solve them; for example, an air threat is detected using the radar and is tracked while an air-to-air missile is launched - according to its own tracking capabilities, the missile can follow data being transmitted to it from the vessel or can pick up the threat on its own until impact, destroying the threat. If this was a standard missile attack and no airborne early warning system was in place (which is highly dangerous), a ship would likely have seconds to respond to an attack that's detected twenty-something kilometers from the ship using its radar; speed is key during such a situation. Another example would be a surface ship threat via a mass attack by smaller boats; in this situation, MEER targets all boats and ranks the threats and proceeds to eliminate them all in a speedy, yet controlled manner - although the rankings can change according to new threats (missile or rocket launches) or if a boat presents a newer threat level and is boosted on the list. The connection with the weapons systems allows MEER to take out threats with high accuracy and lighting fast speeds more so then crew can in certain high stress situations. MEER is able to track and engage over two-hundred targets ranging from submarines, small water craft, missiles or rockets, and fighter jets. Kaiser excels at sharing this data to allies, allow for speedy transfers of firing data, radar return signals, and a wide arrange of communications.
Command and Control is not all about the control portion, especially for carriers. The Command side of things is operated out of a designated crew space on the Bridge (visibly near windows although not directly adjacent to them); this space holds the many equipment management controls and spaces where human operators can manage or control their assigned external partner (radar, for example). In the event this area is damaged or destroyed in enemy action, systems can be rerouted to a secondary area within the vessel (such as the lower section of the island structure). This command center is made up of multi-function consoles capable of displaying functions such as sensor references, electronic chart displays, and information systems as well as their designated purpose; should a console be damaged, a neighboring console can access the previous consoles functions and perform them to a limited degree until a new console can be fitted. Replacement consoles are stored on board, up to twenty of them, and can be installed on hardpoints were former consoles stood or in new hardpoint positions. For flight deck tracking and operations, Kaiser use two large tables mounted to hardpoints like consoles. Labeled the STDS, or Smart Table Display System, STDS' are similar multi-function display units that are used to track aircraft on the flight deck; they display a model of the ship, aircraft positions with their information, and track what equipment and supplies are on deck - they can be interfaced with using both controls and the screen (the entire surface is touch-enabled). A second table is used for physical pieces that represent the same information; physical representations are used in case of digital failures, although the table can be used for other purposes and the digital aspects as the other table. The Bridge is a wide open room design much like other bridges designed by Wolf Armaments' Naval Committee; it differs in size as the space is larger and has easier access to the Flight Deck Operations Center (lower structure of the island, which typically controls all flight/deck operations using the STDS'). This room design allows for free traffic between stations and quicker access to different organs of the ship, literally being steps away from each station and other major ship operation centers; this room is essentially a large room with modular paneling that separates sections for privacy or noise reduction, and a wide array of hardpoints for consoles to be placed on. Crews can rearrange the setup at any time to whatever sort of room layout they wish or need to have. The Bridge houses other management stations needed by sea faring vessels such as meteorological equipment, steering and control equipment, ring-laser based Marine Inertial Navigation System, GPS equipment, and data distribution units. Steering systems on the Kaiser are typically controlled from the Helm Room, a multi-purpose room located on the bow of the ship (located in the lower hull area towards the front of the ship with windows); while steering and normal ship functions are carried out here, the Bridge can easily take on those roles as it has traditionally done in the past. Weapon systems are also linked to the Bridge, including the CIWS', missile systems, and various other weapon command stations. Consoles are linked with a redundant Ethernet system that interconnects the multifunction consoles and sensors for internal use - this connection then leads to the radio over fiber system that leads to the Sensor Mast above the ship as well as to other areas on the vessel. In the event that the bridge is destroyed or made inoperable, the lower part of the island structure can be converted for bridge operations as well as other multifunction rooms aboard the ship.
Developed by Wolf Armaments as an augmented reality enhancement package for future bridges/CICs, Kaiser is the first Wolf Armaments warship to come pre-installed with an augmented reality system built into the windows of the Flight Deck Operations Center and Bridge. Windows for the system can be installed onto the walls too, thereby not limiting the system to actual windows peering outside. The system provides the crew with detailed visual and database information during normal operations of the ship (an example that's very common is displaying aircraft ID profiles, their status & loadout, and crew status - simply tapping on the profile would provide that user with more information); ARS is touch-enabled (finger or stylus) and comes programed with interface tools for crew interaction (writing temporary notes on the window for example, where a stylus replaces a typical erasable marker), similar to the STDS. ARS' primary function, however, is for providing visual assistance to crew members during operation - it's not intended solely for doodling or playing on apps. In severe weather when the shutters need to be fully extended, the system draws a 3D image of the ship's immediate area, displaying a generated image of the world around the island. A 2D map is also constructed with the information gathered for crew positioning reference. These two tools coupled together provide a ship's crew with life-like images representing friendly ships, aircraft, and other distinguishing objects in the ship's immediate area; presents maps displaying positioning information such as the ship's location and the position of both friend or foe in high detail (with height maps and distance tracking, for example) alongside highlighted image feeds for reference; and provides mapping of weather conditions/forecasts, state provided traffic control information, and various other assets that may be of use by crew members. It was originally considered that crews would be outfitted with headsets that used a version of the Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) system in order to present information each crew member would individually need, but the impracticality of such a system was deemed unusable and quickly replaced with the more versatile window information system as detailed above; in the event the windows are damaged by enemy action, an accident, or severe weather, the Kaiser has twenty headsets stored away for emergency use - ten for the Bridge and the other ten for the FDOCB. ARS is protected from Electromagnetic Pulses (or EMP) threats, like other parts of the ship, using a layer of electro-absorbant mesh woven onto the window's exterior; this is similar to mesh that is used to protect the entirety of the hull from EMP strikes, woven into vital areas of the ship needing a safeguard (any windows/doors that are regularly sealed, and the walls themselves use the special mesh) such as the Bridge and Reactor Room, and woven into the material that shields wiring and other fiber lines running throughout the ship. Kaiser has been proven remarkably durable against EMP attacks when undergoing tests; a first, second, and third round of EMP testing failed to harm the Kaiser's most basic operating systems, proving Kaiser CVNs are capable of surviving unscathed from EMP based attacks. It is heavily recommended that should a Kaiser be subjected to such an attack that it be withdrawn from the front line immediately as there is no guarantee that the mesh would survive further strikes, regardless of previous test results, or that her aircraft would remain unaffected.
Communications are coupled with a high capacity digital communication switchboard, which interconnects the voice and data communication channels providing a high level of international communications from room-to-room or an open conference line for ship-wide broadcasts; this ease of communication can be received via text, sound, video, or all the above, making international communications better if not improved. External communication takes the form of various radio, short-wave channels, and land-based networks. Standard packages include link 11, link 16, link 22, Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS), and JSAT tactical data links, allowing full interoperability throughout the fleet the vessel is with as well as any allied forces in the area. Internet and intranet ports are available in each of the crew members quarters and other relaxation areas and work areas, which operate separately to the closed-circuit consoles to ensure on-board systems are not compromised by an internet connection. Download speed is rated at 40 mbps, although this rate can drop in rougher seas or if the connection and/or internet dish is damaged. MEER uses Cloud computing concepts to pool the resources between friendly vessels when engaging the enemy, which allows multiple friendly vessels to operate as a single entity in the identification and destruction of inbound enemy threats - this further enhances the vessel's survivability by working with other warships to protect itself and allied ships. This link also transmits tactical data between allied vessels so that tactical maps and data can be displayed, Area of Operation maps can be shared, and critical communication can be made; this is a strong point for carriers, which allows ship commanders to coordinate live using a 2D or 3D map surfaces like the STDS. The importance of Kaiser's ability to communicate with allies and outside forces cannot be stressed more, which is why planning and communication staff areas are critical to the ship's daily functions.
Housed in the Sensor Mast, the majority of the communications equipment (the IFF system, antennas, and radio tools for example) is also accompanied by the NET System and the JSEW-4C Electronic Warfare Suite (an upgraded and larger suite of the Garnele's JSEW-4B system). The IFF system is a dual identification and interrogator device that is both a transponder and interrogator; this device works with an associated antenna and displays the vessel in multiple modes as its international identification credentials - this includes the ship's name, class type, nation of origin, and other source identification information. As an interrogator the IFF uses the vessel's radar to seek out transponder information on various modes that ships/aircraft use; usually, if the transponder is switched on, the ship will see transponder data associated with the radar return - if the transponder is switched off, however, only the radar return information will be received if at all. Hostile ships or aircraft may turn off their transponders so that they will go unnoticed and will not be able to be tracked easily by long range and medium ranged radars, which is usually outside the ranges of most warships or airborne radars - or the vessel in question is jamming the radar signal using an electronic warfare device, skirting the identification and possibly the radar return. Or in the most likely scenario, the IFF system of the enemy ship is set to a mode that ignores foreign interrogator systems, meaning their own systems will respond to allied ships, but not systems belonging to outsiders, or they're incapable of responding to a foreign interrogator system; most IFF systems have this type of setting if they're multifunctioning, or the vehicle in question has two types of IFFs onboard - an IFF system for international traffic (a civilian model) and one for their military traffic (used to identify allies/friendlies). Also resting in the Sensor Mast is the NET System. NET, named after fishing nets, is a communications electronic surveillance measuring (ESM) device that serves as part of the Kaiser's electronic warfare suite. ESM systems essentially listen and/or probe for all forms of communications, intercepting said transmissions for intelligence gathering. NET is made up of devices that link to a single antenna - its function is to gather COMINT (SIGINT) and CESM data, radar transferred signals, and other data interceptions which are recorded and analyzed by Bridge crewmen. The NET system has powerful passive audio monitoring that is capable of tracking such data far beyond the ship's radar range; NET is capable of hopping frequencies easily as well as filtering said frequencies in order to analyze intercepted data in real time. In addition to the communications surveillance abilities of the Kaiser, the vessel possesses the latest electronic warfare suite developed by Wolf Armaments for warships - the JSEW-4C Electronic Warfare Suite. This electronic warfare module is made up of multiple devices that warn the ship if it is being targeted and jams enemy borne systems. Included are radar tracking warnings, usually based from aircraft or ships, active radar homing from anti-ship missiles, and the ability to jam radar and radio signals in a moderately wide area.
The Automated Damage Control System (ADCS) is an automatic damage management system designed for use on most warships in the Imperial Navy. Seeing as future conflicts are unavoidable and damage to warships via enemy action may also be unavoidable, Wolf Armaments came up with an automated damage control system that responds to damage the ship may receive. The system is linked to the ship's cameras, thermal and chemical sensors, smoke detectors, and water sensors to maximize detection of damages. This system is coupled with air/water tight bulkhead doors, foam sprays, and CO2 scrubbers that close off and tackle fires, smoke or other dangerous chemicals, or flooding. Damage status can be viewed live from the Bridge or other command station currently being used. ADCS can also be set to automatically distributed damage information and ship status to allied ships nearby and to the central command point the ship is based from, alerting allies that the ship may need immediate assistance or crew rescue. Although this alert is sent through chosen secured lines, it can also be set to distributed to civilian channels shared by both military and civilian shipping, allowing good willed civilian vessels or foreign military assets to come to the aid of the ship; this option, however, presents a risk making the ship a target to pirates, hostile nations, and anyone else wishing to destroy or pillage the ship in a state of weakness. Caution is advised before selecting that specific setting.
Sensors and Guidance (Other Electronics Included)
As previously mentioned, Kaiser CVNs were designed for the seas of tomorrow and the design was envisioned to have advanced sensor and guidance systems on board; this, coupled with advanced management and communication equipment, put the Kaiser in a strong position for commanding and organizing groups of ships, ground troops, and entire regional operations. At the forefront of the Kaiser's sensor equipment is the JSR-F-23 AESA, an active electronically scanned array radar system, and JSS-TSA23, which is a towed array sonar system. These two sensor tools give the Kaiser a sharp perception over all things on the sea, above it, or bellow it; this capability to detect objects/threats and track them gives the Kaiser a powerful means of sensing and evaluating the situation around it. In addition, Kaiser has six JTSS-52 Nodes, which are tactical sonar nodes that give sonar coverage directly bellow the vessel; these nodes have a dual purpose of eliminating frogmen who attempt to swim close or under the ship, the sonar waves being so strong that people swimming too close will be killed.
The JSR-F-23 AESA is the vessels primary means of detecting and targeting threats on the sea or above it, among other phenomenon within range of detection. The JSR-F-23 is an X-Band 3D active phased array radar system (APAR), which is a type of phased array radar whose transmitter and receiver (transceiver) functions are composed of numerous small solid-state transmit/receive modules (TRMs); these modules can be seen on the faces of each of the front superstructure's sides. AESA radars aim their 'beam' by emitting separate radio waves from each module that interfere constructively at certain angles in front of the antenna. The multiprupose benefits of having AESA radar is the elimination of numerous other radar equipment needed for various tasks, such as weather tracking, environment evaluations, and weapon guidance. Unlike passive electronically scanned arrays (PESA), AESA radars are much more reliable, highly resistant to jamming, and have a very low chance of being intercepted by radar warning receivers or RWR's. AESA has a number of other basic advantages that reduce the needed equipment on-board a warship like the Kaiser; this includes being able to transmit data similar to wifi, environment mapping and 3D tracking of the environment and incoming targets, tracking slow to fast moving targets on or above the surface, lightning fast data transferring and downloading, gun control and assistance, high speed update capability and the ability to predict incoming threats, radar link to missiles or other munitions, and robust tracking of littoral targets. The full multi-beam search ability gives the JSR-F-23 an astounding ability to detect and track targets in a 360 degree angle at a maximum range of around four-hundred kilometers. Kaiser utilizes an additional four radar systems for air traffic control and pilot assistance: their small radar dishes are located on the roof of the superstructure near the Sensor Mast in RCS reduction cones. AN/SPN-45B, AN/SPN-41B, SPN-43C/2, and SPN-46B are all previously used air traffic control/pilot assistance radar systems upgraded by Wolf Armaments for modern use - their mechanical structures are modernized, tracking abilities improved, and have a larger power output (allowing the maximum supported aircraft to increase).
JSS-TSA23, the Kaiser's towed sonar array, is a towed array multi-function sonar. It is a system of hydrophones towed behind the ship on a cable (in the Kaiser's case, a cubby station is located near the waterline to the rear of the vessel where the cable station and tow are located). Trailing the hydrophones behind the vessel, on a cable that can be kilometers long, towed arrays keep the array's sensors away from their own-ship's-noise sources, greatly improving its signal-to-noise ratio, and hence the effectiveness of detecting and tracking faint contacts, such as a quiet, low noise-emitting, submarine threats. A towed array offers superior resolution and range compared to hull mounted sonar. It also covers the baffles, the blind spot of hull mounted sonar. Kaiser utilize this type of sonar over hull mounted versions for superior tracking and detecting of submarine threats that may avoid hull-mounted sonar systems; the absence of a propeller also makes the handling of such cables safer. In the same station is the vessel's torpedo decoy launcher, which will be discussed later on. It is also worth noting that CVNs like the Kaiser produce so much noise that using a hull mounted sonar system (which is close to noise polluting from the ship) would prove ineffective because of interference produced by the ship itself.