Length: 258 m.
Width: 45 m.
Draft: 11 meters with Bulbous bow (9 meters without).
Displacement: 29,137 t.
Propulsion: 2 WA-IE NNP-3300 Nuclear Reactors (200 MW).
- 4 Pump-jet intakes.
- 2 Pump-jet exhausts.
Range: Theoretically unlimited, 120 days on supplies.
Complement: Depending on outfit.
- Ship Crew: 464.
- Landing Force: Up to 1,100 personnel.
- Vehicles: Up to 30 Schildkröte AAVs; or 6 Wolverine ATTs, 18 Schildkröte AAVs, 12 Ente-A; or 12 Schildkröte AAVs, 12 Schwert LBTs and 8 Ente-A; or two LCACs; or 4 LCU.
- Aircraft: Up to six helicopters with room to store four total.
- 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).
- JSMF-HMSS-42 (hull mounted sonar system).
- 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-4B Electronic Warfare Suite.
- JSTD-6 MIST (Torpedo decoy system).
- 1 Mk. 80T Dual-Barreled 80mm Naval Turret (or other LANZ Module).
- 48 Mk. 41 cells.
- 8 Mk. 103/C Dual-Barreled 40 mm Automatic Cannons/CIWS' (4 per side).
- 3 Remote Missile Stations (21-15 missiles per mount, 2 per side in the front and one near the top-center of the ship).
- 1 Type 870 CIWS, 30mm gatling cannon & RMS (21-15 missiles, rear of the Aircraft Observation Deck and above the Hanger).
- 12 Rotating Vertical Countermeasure System (RVCS, 20 barrels).
- 2 RHIB launch points, 4 RHIB total.
- DMR-249A Steel construction.
- 1.8" thick KEVLAR plates over superstructure and additional 1" in vital areas.
- 1” thick KEVLAR plates in non vital areas.
Background
The Nilpferd LPD (Hippo) is a class of advanced nuclear powered amphibious transport docks, also called landing platform docks (LPD), which first set sail on March 2nd, 2015. Designed by Wolf Armaments for the TECT Imperial Navy, Nilpferd was to replace the more recent Hermes Class and the relic Austin Class as the Imperial Navy's soul class of amphibious transport docks. Class leader INS Luitpold was named in honor of Rear Admiral Luitpold Holzer, a retired Rear Admiral (Upper), former Senator of the State of New Bay, and adviser to two presidential administrations and the previous Emperor of TECT. Named after the "hippo" or hippopotamus, hippos are large, mostly herbivorous, semiaquatic mammals known for their large size and powerful jaw strength. Although cute in appearance, hippos are very aggressive and known to charge at or attack people, other animals, and boats - their unpredictability has lead to them being known as one of the world's most dangerous animals. Hippopotamus once largely populated the mainland of TECT in the Theodoar River System and the Theodoar Inland Sea until their population was greatly reduced by human activity; hunting throughout the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries has all but nearly wiped out the dozens of species found in the TECT mainland.
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 Armaments' 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 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. 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.
Nilpferd would become the final ship class designed by the Naval Design Committee during its initial rush to design domestic warships. Even as it bought new warships, the Imperial Navy was beginning an age of revitalization and modernization, introducing the Haifisch in 2008, the Garnele CVLN in 2009 and Delphin CGN the following year, the Barrakuda FS in 2011, the Kaiser CVN in 2014, and now the Nilpferd in 2015. The Committee had been experimenting with the Garnele CVLN design ever since it had been introduced in 2009 in order to produce a ship class that could compliment it in the Imperial Navy's fleet of amphibious warfare ships. This warship had to be capable of storing and launching amphibious vehicles from a well dock, have facilities for helicopters, including a landing pad for them, be able to travel long distances for long periods of time, and finally, carry a battalion, along with their equipment, into battle. The Garnele's hull would be a valuable starting point, but major changes were required to meet specifications outlined in the design's requirements. First, the hull needed to support the larger superstructure and a well dock; this required altering the bow into a configuration that produced less resistance in water (which led to the hull being shrunk in width and length, and the bow redesigned), redesigning the stern to include a two-door well dock, and constructing the bedrock for the vehicle/cargo storage section of the ship. Once this was complete, designers worked their way up in designing the ship. From the engine room, workstations, and additional living space, the former Garnele vessel received so much work that it was completely unrecognizable from its original state - this would become the origin of the class name "Nilpferd", an animal quite often labeled as being huge and "fugly" looking. With the internal compartments now mostly accounted for, the hard part of replacing the flight deck, island, and hanger space had finally arrived. Initially the Committee wanted to experiment with keeping aircraft as part of the design and utilize jet aircraft that launched off a smaller flight deck. Similar proposals advocated for a small flight deck to utilize large numbers of attack/utility helicopters in order to give this new vessel a wider range of capabilities. These proposals were ultimately rejected citing the fact that Garnele CVLNs already fulfilled the Imperial Navy's requirements for marine based air power projection capabilities; the Imperial Navy required a delivery platform for marines using amphibious vehicles, adding more aircraft then necessary would be counterproductive to the ship's intended design. It would be the fourth major proposal, which suggested to fill the remaining areas with additional superstructure space and a helicopter hanger, that was eventually accepted. This configuration allowed the vessel to hold more personnel, store more equipment and supplies, and add more workspace for the ship's crew.
With the design phase nearly complete, small replicas were constructed, tested, and put through exhausting consultation sessions where Imperial Navy staff, seasoned ship designers, and other industry experts weighed in on the design. Although a good start, many experts failed the design for multiple reasons. Complaints ranging from inefficient compartment layout to unsatisfactory storage space proved to be the worst offenders among the filed complaints; other complaints such as lack of defensive firepower, no vertical launch system to name of, and a poorly designed vehicle storage bay left Imperial Navy staff disappointed. First among the changes were the vehicle bay and other storage facilities. The new four leveled vehicle bay was designed for easier vehicle navigation and had special areas for lightweight vehicles and non-vehicle equipment, including howitzers, mortars, and other essential ground equipment; a new network of storage facilities were also added to the vehicle bay section, easing the distribution chain. Additionally, a large elevator connecting the vehicle bay to the helicopter hanger was added, allowing large equipment to be towed/driven to the helicopter pad for transportation by helicopter. To address other listed complaints, designers crafted new layouts, including redesigned living quarters that utilized improved space control, better workstation room layouts, and added improved service stations (such as mess hall, workout rooms, and ship hospital). A vertical launch system was added to the bow of the ship, the forty-eight cells occupying unused deck space. To further satiate calls for more defensive firepower, the network of close-in weapon systems (CIWS) received significant improvement with firepower being the primary focus; this included adding more gun based systems, vertical countermeasure systems, and widening the coverage of the network. The addition of a Mk. 80T Dual-Barreled Naval Turret was seen as a radical choice, but nonetheless, its addition added significant firepower that countered surface and above-surface threats.
With the approval from the gathered consultation staff, Wolf Armaments produced its first prototype model of the vessel in 2014, months after the Kaiser CVN was entered into full service with the Imperial Navy. Although Imperial Navy crewman identified flaws during sea and military trials, they were soon corrected along with the addition of crew suggested changes to the design - all of which were relativity minor in scale, including some safety features and "hacks" used by everyday crewman. Once finally approved for service by the Imperial Navy and Armed Forces, INS Luitpold was officially delivered for service on the eighth of November, 2015. The Imperial Navy's outstanding order is expected to be fulfilled around 2030 where it will completely replace the Hermes and Austin classes in Imperial Navy service; the earliest estimates suggest completion as early as 2028, or as late as 2034 depending on the Imperial Navy's acquisition funding and Wolf Armament's current rate of manufacturing.
Design
Nilpferd was designed with the intention of projecting TECT naval/marine power abroad and transporting combat units to foreign shores. The Imperial Navy needed a vessel capable of projecting the military's marine forces which utilized amphibious vehicles, vehicles such as the Schildkröte AAV, Wolverine ATT, and Schwert LBT. This new vessel had to compliment the Garnele CVLN, a light carrier in the Imperial Navy which also takes on the role of Landing Helicopter Dock for marine operations. While aircraft dominated marine units would utilize Garneles, other units that don't would deploy from this new vessel using their amphibious vehicles; since the Garnele lacks a well dock, transporting armored vehicles and delivering them is not possible. Enter the Nilpferd, a nuclear powered Amphibious Transport Dock, or LPD, capable of delivering a battalion of marines along with their vehicles and equipment to foreign shores. With a capacity of one thousand one hundred marines, Nilpferd is designed to transport most battalion sized units to hostile shorelines oceans away; her vehicle bay is able to launch up to thirty or so vehicles (depending on vehicle selection) from its well dock destined for shore. With its Mk. 80T naval turret and VLS cells, Nilpferd is also able to directly support ground troops while they conduct landing operations; its other defensive systems, including CIWS and countermeasures, protect the ship from almost every conceivable threat imaginable. Nilpferd is aimed at directly competing with other amphibious assault ships on the market, such as Lyran Arms' Kazatlan amphibious assault ship, which have an extensive track record and are extremely popular around the world.
Nilpferd'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 action and is very capable of absorbing radar energy, enhancing the vessel's stealth design. For its own safety, the Nilpferd 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 additional armoring. Additionally, the outer hull is fully built with RS reduction tiles and is ice treated to improve survivability in arctic conditions.
Starting with the upper levels of the ship, you will first notice the superstructure that makes up most of the above-deck area; this structure is actually split into two sections (the front and rear structures) with the front being the primary area of work for the ship's crew - the rear structure focusing mostly around marine operations. In the front structure there's the bridge (which houses important work stations for the ship), the ship's primary radar system, the communication mast, and other vital officer stations. The rear structure, although important, mostly serves as the ship's Marine Combat Center; said center controls air traffic, marine operations (including supervising landing missions or managing marine forces on the ground), and acts as the ship's hub for coordinating marine and navy forces. Remaining portions of the structure are dedicated to the helicopter hanger, where up to four medium sized helicopters can be stored, a maintenance workshop, and a heavy-duty elevator that connects the hanger to the vehicle bay (more about that later). Between these two main structures are crew hospitality areas, including housing for the crew and marines, and the ship's mess hall. The mid section also houses the medical wing, which include the ship's hospital and its dental station. This area also serves as the main pipeline to both front and rear structures, connecting one-another through extensive passageways. What remains of the top-deck is the bow section (home to the ship's vertical launch system, naval turret, and open deck space), the stern (the helicopter landing pad), and other open deck space atop the ship.
Bellow the midsection, starting from the stern, is the well dock. The well dock consists of two large horizontal doors, a flood basin (including ballast tanks, which help flood the basin), and a large ramp leading to the vehicle bay; walkways along the sides are also present for crew access. While unflooded, the basin can be used as additional parking space for vehicles - while flooded it can hold a single large landing craft (LCU) or two LCACs (air-cushioned landing craft). Following the ramp up will bring you to an open area where crew and vehicles operate; in this section are the ship's side entryway, limited space for vehicle parking/crate unloading, an access lane to the second vehicle bay floor, a ramp to the first and third vehicle bay floors, and the heavy-duty elevator connected to the helicopter hanger. Inside the elevator is a hydraulic lift system capable of lifting over thirty tons of supplies and/or vehicles - the elevator space can fit three Ente-As or two Longbow Howitzers, for example. Moving on to the vehicle bay, the vehicle bay spans four floors, which are connected by ramps wide enough for two armored vehicles to share the space; this is mostly to ensure each vehicle has enough room to make turns since ramps on such vessels are considered one-lane roads. Each floor is similar excluding the fourth floor which shares the space with an upper decked workout facility; trucks or other small vehicles are typically parked here in confined rows with each vehicle blocking the next in. The other three floors are multipurpose in design and can store just about any armored vehicle in use around the world, including infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled howitzers, and main battle tanks. Such a large space is also quite handy if the ship is deliver supplies instead, in which case these floors would have walls of crates instead of armored vehicles. Little space is left unused except for the central travel lane, each vehicle's needed space, and the ramp areas; with proper coordination, vehicle parking can be very efficient while traffic can be swift and orderly with minimal risk involved. To add to the ship's extensive supply stores, a series of multipurpose storage rooms are situated adjacent to each floor excluding the fourth. These areas are used to store marine/ship supplies (all together this includes ammunition, munitions, medical supplies, spare parts for equipment, firearms, etc..) and are protected by an additional layer of armor, including a wide blast-proof door integrated to the ship's Automated Damage Control System (ADCS).
Bellow the waterline are the ship's main sonar bulb, two sets of water intakes (two per side), two sets of water pumps (three per side), two sonar nodes (one near the bow and the other towards the stern of the hull) on the underbelly of the ship, and lastly, a set of pump jets (two to be precise) propelling the ship through the water. Interior spaces, including areas not yet covered in the design, are the additional ballast tanks (one of which runs down the center of the vessel), a large section dedicated to housing crew and marines (adjacent to the vehicle bay/storage space), and towards the bow of, the "engine room". The few remaining empty spaces are additional store rooms used by crew; although this small area can be modified into additional housing since the rooms are multipurpose in design.
Command, Control, Communications
Command and control are vital components in modern warfare. For marine based operations, C&C along with communication are absolutely required if an operation is to succeed. The ability to absorb information and manage that data is important for an amphibious warfare ship; commanding ground elements requires strong communication and organization tools, making it a centerpiece to any amphibious 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 current foreign models as examples - this also includes weapons, combat systems, and other technology the company was developing before it was bought by Wolf Armaments in 2004. Many of these systems got needed boosts or were totally reinvented to serve today's Imperial Navy. 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. Nilpferd, using the 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 Nilpferd's survivability, reaction times, and crew/equipment performances. This fast management system ensures Nilpferd LPDs 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 marine operations but also needed for group management. As a forefather, Nilpferd's electronics, including radar and communications equipment, was inherited from the Garnele CVLN along with the more recent Kaiser CVN. Equipment fielded by these two classes, especially the Garnele (the Nilpferd's direct decedent), would find themselves fielded on the Nilpferd during the design phase mostly due to the similar hull types and because of their optimal platform compatibility; their compatibility with the aforementioned vessels is also boosted since they operate on the same, or identical, equipment.
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. 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, missile or rockets, and fighter jets. Nilpferd excels at sharing this information 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 amphibious assault ships. Command side of things is operated out of two designated crew spaces, one being the Bridge (visibly near the ship's bow windows, although not directly adjacent to them) and the other the Marine Combat Center (or MCC, located on the stern-most structure and visibly near the top windows). Both the Bridge and MCC hold many equipment management controls and spaces where human operators can manage or control their assigned external partner (radar or communication console for example). In the event these areas are damaged or destroyed in enemy action, systems can be rerouted to new locations within the vessel. These command centers are made up of multi-function consoles capable of displaying functions such as sensor references, electronic chart display 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. While the Bridge handles most of the day-to-day operations, the Marine Combat Center is essentially tasked with managing marine operations on and off dry land (its own operations or a theater's); in certain environments, Nilpferd vessels will act as air traffic control centers where marine operations are underway - essentially at a point where close navy and marine coordination is vital. So while the Bridge maintains its primary functions as the ship's command center, it delegates marine management to the MCC. For equipment management and marine operations, Nilpferd uses two large tables mounted to hardpoints like consoles - one on the Bridge and the other in the MCC. Labeled the STDS, or Smart Table Display Systems, STDS' are multi-function display units that are used to manage ship operations, communication with others on or off the ship, and track the ship's vehicles/aircraft and supplies; on other vessels the STDS is used for special purposes, such as control over aircraft carrier flight decks, or the management of air defense operations on Delphin CGNs. In Nilpferd's case, its STDS' excel at ship management, marine operation management, and comes with extensive communication packages utilized only on Wolf Armament's aircraft carriers. They can be interfaced with using both controls and the screen (the entire surface is a touch enabled).
The Bridge is a wide open room design much like the Garnele's, with the exception of the room's layout; the STDS location, along with command seating, is towards the stern of the room and is raised higher on several step high platform. This room design allows for free traffic between stations and staff for quicker access to and from each other - access to entry/exit corridors at the stern side is kept clear of obstruction at all times. Nilpferd's Bridge is essentially a large open space with modular paneling that separates sections for privacy and noise reduction, utilizes a wide array of hardpoints for consoles, and has a section for commanders to work from. Crews can rearrange the setup at any time to whatever sort of room layout they wish to have. The Bridge houses other management stations needed by vessels such as meteorological equipment, steering and control equipment, ring-laser based Marine Inertial Navigation System, GPS equipment, and data distribution units. Weapon systems are also linked here 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. The Marine Combat Center is identical to the Bridge in appearances but features many key differences. These differences include a smaller area to work from overall, the STDS and command area is adjacent to the MCC's windows (so it would be a reversal to the Bridge's layout), and the range of stations working on the MCC are limited; these stations would only work in tandem with the MCC, so most of the equipment has to do with radar and communication - those that don't include air traffic controllers, weather trackers, and battlespace monitoring based stations.
Developed by Wolf Armaments as an augmented reality enhancement package for future bridges/CICs, Nilpferd is equipped with an augmented reality system built into the windows of the Marine Combat 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. In Nilpferd's case, it identified its own helicopters, tracks its amphibious vehicles, observes the battlespace (blowing up radar contacts or identifying weather patterns, for example), and couples itself with the information shared between it and other allied ships, regardless if they're equipped with augmented reality systems. 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 Nilpferd has twenty headsets stored away for emergency use - ten for the Bridge and the other ten for the MCC. 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. Nilpferd has been proven remarkably durable against EMP attacks when undergoing tests; a first, second, and third round of EMP testing failed to harm the vessel's most basic operating systems, proving the ship is capable of surviving unscathed from EMP based attacks (such a nuclear strike). It is heavily recommended that should the ship 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 its systems/vehicles 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 the command decks 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 Nilpferd, which allows ship commanders and MCC staff to coordinate live using a 2D or 3D map surfaces like the STDS. The importance of Nilpferd'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-4B Electronic Warfare Suite. 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 sea/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 Nilpferd'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 C&C 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 hoping 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 Nilpferd, the vessel posses the latest electronic warfare suite developed by Wolf Armaments for warships - the JSEW-4B 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 stations 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, Nilpferd LPDs 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 Nilpferd in a strong position for commanding and organizing marine forces and marine operations. At the forefront of the Nilpferd's sensor equipment is the JSR-F-23 AESA, an active electronically scanned array radar system, and the JSS-TSA23 and JSMF-HMSS-42, which are both towed array and hull mounted sonar systems. These two sensor tools give the Nilpferd 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 Nilpferd a powerful means of sensing and evaluating the situation around it. In addition, Nilpferd has four 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 vessel's 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 Nilpferd; 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. Lipferd utilizes an additional four radar systems for air traffic control and pilot assistance: their small radar dishes are located on the roof of the rear structure (literally above the Marine Combat Center). 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).
JSMF-HMSS-42 is a hull-mounted, multi-function sonar system mounted on the bottom front of the vessel. It is the standard sonar tool used in detecting and tracking underwater noise, such as submarine actions or detecting torpedoes. JSMF uses an active mode and passive mode to either seek or listen for enemy activity. JSS-TSA23, the Nilpferd'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 Nilpferd'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 threat. 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. Nilpferd utilizes this type of sonar over its hull mounted sonar 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 larger warships, like LPDs and CVNs, 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.