Image by Etoile Arcture.
Design by Lamoni.
STATS:
Acquisition cost: 5 billion standard dollars
Complement:
- Accommodation: 727
- Crew: 90 officers, 637 crew
- Aircrew: 30
- Marines: 30
Displacement: 28,000 t standard load
Dimensions:
- OAL: 252 m
- Beam: 28.5 m
- Draught: 10.1 m
- Block Co-Efficient: 0.390
Propulsion type: Nuclear, Integrated Electric Propulsion
Installed power: 104.4 MW
Top speed: 30 knots
Range: Unlimited
Endurance: 90 days before resupply
Aircraft: 2x LA-214 Molior (or similar) ASW helicopter, provision for UAVs
Aircraft Landing System: Twin Claw Aircraft Ship Integrated Secure and Traverse (TC-ASIST)
Boats: 2x RHIB up to 11 m
Machinery:
- Powerplant:
1x C6H1L PWR nuclear reactor
- Propulsors:
2x Controllable Pitch Propellers
Armament:
- Guns:
1x Otobreda 127/64 Lightweight Gun
6x KWF PAK2 25 mm automatic cannon (500 rounds each)
6x 7.62 mm LY64 GPMG (1,000 rounds each)
- CIWS:
4x Manticore CIWS system, Xiphos Inner Layer Missile sub-system (24x RIM-199A Xyston missiles each)
- Missiles:
32x Sylver A-70 8-cell VLS (256x Tempest LR-SAM or Typhoon LR-ABM , or 1,024x Sea Krait PD-SAM, or 256x cruise missiles, other compatible load-outs)
4x Quad AShM Canister Launchers (16x Muraena AShM, other compatible load-outs)
- Torpedoes:
2x B520 Triple Torpedo Tubes, with 24x LA-92 Instigo LWT (port/starboard)
Combat Management System: Praefectus Combat Management System
Optronics: 4x Pervela long range EO/IR
Radar:
- Multifunctional:
LA-25 Sentio X/S-band AESA Multifunction Radar System
- Surface surveillance/navigation:
2x Xiphias X-band FMCW, LPI navigation radar (44 km range)
- Identification Friend or Foe:
IDZ-50 interrogator/TRL-50 transponder - Modes 1, 2, 3/A, C, S, 4, 5
Sonar:
- Hull sonar:
Fortuna-C medium-frequency active/passive sonar
- Towed Array Sonar:
Acies Active/Passive Fiber-Optic Towed Array System
Electronic warfare:
- Radar EW:
Aqua Marine integrated RESM/RECM system
- Communications EW:
CRS-8000 Compact Radio Monitoring System
Countermeasures:
4x Centurion Multi-Role Trainable Naval Launcher, 12x 130mm tubes each
Decoys: IR, LR-Chaff, SR-Chaff, SIREN Active Decoy, LESCUT
BACKGROUND
While the Cottish designed Kalmar class CGN had served admirably in the Lamonian Navy for over a decade, there was no possibility of a follow-up class, and the class was beginning to require significant upgrades in Lamonian service. Not wishing to repeat the experience of getting a world-class warship, and then being unable to use the same suppliers later, the Lamonian government and LAIX ARMS worked together to make their own CGN. The major changes from the Kalmar class included the propulsion system, sensors, combat management system, communications, and virtually every other major system on the ship. The new Lacto class CGN is thus expected to carry Lamonian naval dominance forward for years to come, including being sold to allied navies on the export market.
Construction and Signature Reduction Measures
The hull of the Lacto class cruiser is manufactured from DMR-249A, a low carbon micro-alloyed high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel which has been calculated to absorb an impact of 78 Joules at negative 60 degrees Celsius. This hard yet tough alloy is used in the construction of warship hulls, and will form the basis for future Lamonian warship hulls, allowing for longer periods at sea than the composite hulls seen on some other classes of warship.
The shape of both the hull and the superstructure have been designed (with help from Sequoia Dynamics in Etoile Arcture) to reduce the ship's RCS, with the superstructure being constructed of aluminium alloys overlaid with GFRP materials. The shaping and material choices utilized on the Lacto class Cruiser, as well as the concealment of the ship's boats and most equipment behind low-RCS curtains allow the ship to be less noticeable to those who are looking for her.
The ship maintains an Integrated Platform Monitoring System, which is designed to use electronic and mechanical sensors in order to monitor propulsion, power generation, fuel, configuration, watertight integrity, fire, and alarms for surface vessels. It has two operating consoles, one on the bridge, and the other in the engine room. There are also three auxiliary display/operating monitors distributed in key areas in the ship. The man–machine interface allows easy system operation and graphical display of the status and alarms of the platform subsystems.
Navigation
For navigational purposes, the Lacto class utilizes two Xiphias X-band Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave, Low Probability of Intercept navigational radars. The radar is less likely to be detected by enemy ESM, and can also be used to gather short range targeting information on enemy surface units and low-flying aircraft. The Xiphias radar has a range of 44 kilometers.
The Lacto includes a GPS/INS unit, which is tied into both the Combat Management System, and an Electronic Chart Display & Information System. Navigational charts are also used, with the ship's navigator using time, speed, and course in order to keep track of the ship's position manually, which is still useful when all electronic measures fail.
Closer to shore, LORAN and other navigational methods can also be used.
Radar
The main radar system of the Lacto class cruiser is the LA-25 Sentio X/S-band AESA Multi-function Radar System. The Sentio system consists of two primary radar systems, and a radar suite controller (RSC) to coordinate the sensors. The S-band radar system is to provide volume search, tracking, ballistic missile defense discrimination, and missile communications; while the X-band radar system is to provide horizon search, precision tracking, missile communication and terminal illumination of targets. The S-band and X-band sensors will also share functionality including periscope detection, as well as missile guidance and communication. The use of both X and S-band in the multi-functional radar system also increases the system's resistance to jamming. The transmit-receive modules will use new gallium nitride semiconductor technology, allowing for higher power density than previous gallium arsenide radar modules.
Like on the Libertas class frigate, the usage of AESA radars for missile tracking and guidance allows for up to thirty-two separate SAMs to be controlled at the same time, improving the ship's ability to survive missile saturation attacks. The system is estimated to be capable of tracking up to 1,000 aerial targets at up to 480 km, and up to 950 km against ballistic missiles.
Electro-optical/Imaging Infrared Sensors
The Pervela long-range electro-optical/Imaging Infrared (EO/IIR) system is used for sea surveillance, detection, recognition, and tracking of targets both with or without radar assistance, as well as a Fire Control System (FCS) for the ship's small guns (25 mm and below), and short-range air defense systems. The Pervela system pairs a zoom-able, high-sensitivity CCD color camera with zoom-able MWIR and SWIR infrared cameras, as well as a 6 Hz eye-safe laser range finder, in a high-performance gyrostabilized lightweight sensor head.
The Pervela system EO/IIR cameras are bolted to the outside of the radar housing where one camera unit in each corner can provide complete three-hundred sixty degree vision in both day or night, as well as all weather conditions. The system has a detection range of 27 kilometers, a recognition range of 16 kilometers, and an identification range of 9 kilometers against both helicopters and small boats.
Hull Mounted Sonar
The cruiser's anti-submarine capabilities begin with the Fortuna-C hull-mounted active/passive sonar. The system is designed to detect, locate, classify, track, and engage targets in littoral and deep waters, including submarines, sea mines, obstacles, and torpedoes. The Fortuna-C processes acoustic data, sending it to the operator display console and Combat Management System.
With a peak response frequency of 7.5 kHz, the Fortuna-C is a medium-frequency sonar, created using Open System Architecture. The system is capable of 10 degree, 30 degree, 60 degree, and omnidirectional acoustic transmission beams, with a source level of greater than 225 dB. The Fortuna system is scalable to fit frigates, destroyers, and even cruisers, with a total system weight of 14,470 kilograms.
The system can be broken down into the following components:
Transducer Array
Converts electrical to high level acoustic energy during transmission and from low level acoustic to electrical during reception to detect submerged contacts. The baseline configuration is made up of 36 staves formed by 6 transducers each, protected by a neoprene cover. The array does not require dome pressurization, making its installation simpler.
Transmission/Reception Switching Unit
This air-cooled unit houses a switching array connection between the transmitter units and the processing unit, as well as a set of preamplifiers for the signals received, effectively changing between transmission and reception.
Transmitter Units
Water-cooled units that contain high power amplifiers.
Processing Unit
This unit consists of converters and control electronics for transmitting and receiving, processing resources, an Ethernet network hub, record/playback storage facilities and external interface connections.
Power Distribution Units
These units distribute the ship’s power to the rest of the system. One of the units includes system controls, indicators, and loudspeaker to facilitate maintenance.
Cooling Units
These units are responsible for cooling the system with purified water. They consist of a water pump and heat exchanger, dissipating heat from the sonar circuit to the ship’s primary sea-water circuit.
Display Console
Composed of 2 monitors, 2 touch panels, a trackball, and a range of indicators and controls, allowing a single operator to control the system.
Towed Array Sonar
The Lacto class cruiser utilizes the Acies active/passive fiber-optic towed array system for long-range detection of submarines, torpedoes, marine life, and other possible sonar contacts.
The detection of targets by surface ships and submarines has always been made difficult, due to differing sea and associated environmental conditions. However, radiated noise from the user's ship makes it difficult or even impossible to detect weak signals from quiet or remote targets. A towed array is a known technology that comprises a cable of an elastomeric material, having an outside diameter of about 5.08 to 10.16 centimeters, which may be several kilometers long, and may be towed by a surface ship or submarine. The cable is made to be several kilometers long in order to prevent the user ship's own noise from having an undue affect upon the towed array.
Inside the cable are many sensors; in the case of the Acies, there are two thousand of them. In order to prevent the sensors from bumping into each other (and potentially damaging the array), the spaces in between the sensors are filled with a specialized fluid. There are also many fiber-optic fibers, because the detected acoustic energy must be utilized to trigger the passive sonar sensors, so that the corresponding light signals are transmitted to the towing vessel. Since one fiber for each sensor is impractical, the Acies includes a coaxial fiber-optic cable and telemetering equipment, including amplifiers for amplifying the fiber-optic light signals. A Vibration Isolation Device (VID) is employed at the point where the towing cable meets the towed array, as well as at the end of the array, helping to prevent movement from the ship from affecting the array so much that the array is unable to function.
Fiber-optic towed array sensors like those in the Acies use standard interferometer principles to detect acoustic energy. The optical fiber is wrapped tightly around malleable plastic spools called mandrels. As pressure from the acoustic event moves across the sensor mandrel, it changes shape causing the optical fiber to stretch or relax. When light is projected through the optical fiber wrapped around the sensor mandrel, the acoustic energy deforms the mandrel and changes the distance the light has to travel. This is compared to the distance light travels through the optical fiber on a reference mandrel. The optical phase difference between the two, representing the acoustic energy, can easily be measured and passed on to the signal processing equipment, which can display the gathered acoustic information in a form that humans can understand and act upon.
The acoustic energy source for the active sonar component of the Acies towed array is a Horizontal Projector Array (HPA), which is located on the same cable as the towed array, but is located closer to the ship on that cable. The HPA consists of thirty-two acoustic energy projector elements, and can produce an acoustic output of approximately twenty-one dB. In order to receive the active sonar signals from the HPA, there is also a small specialized receiver array placed between the HPA and the passive sonar sensors on the towed array, whose fiber-optic sensors undergo different processing techniques than the main towed array, allowing the same towed array system to be used in both active and passive sonar modes.
The fiber-optic sensors employed by the Acies towed array system allow it to detect submarines at the extreme edge of their weapons range, with greater clarity and resolution than was possible in previous towed array sonar systems.
Combat Management System
The Lacto class utilizes the Praefectus Combat Management System, which optimizes the command and control of a force, supporting the efficient use of resources. The system uses both technology developed by LAIX ARMS, as well as technology based on COTS components in an attempt to create a superior system while taking advantage of non-proprietary systems where advisable. Praefectus also applies an open and modular architecture that allows the integration of new systems without changing the core system. The modular nature of the system allows it to be used on ships ranging in size from OPVs to fleet aircraft carriers.
Praefectus is a powerful force multiplier, which was designed to face the challenges of modern naval warfare, and is the fourth generation of naval Combat Management Systems developed by LAIX ARMS. The capabilities of the Praefectus Combat Management System can be broken down in the following manner, illustrative of the need for such a system to integrate the various weapons and other systems onboard the ship.
Integration of Platform Systems:
Praefectus integrates all sensors, weapons, navigation, RESM, CESM, ECM, and communication systems onboard the ship. It also includes the integrated system of multi-function consoles used to control the various installed systems onboard the ship.
Data Links:
Praefectus includes the integration of the SP100 data link, for the benefit of planning, as well as coordination and conduct of operations. Additionally it can also integrate other Data Link Systems, and even national Battle Management Systems:
- Link 11
- Link 16
- Link 22
- Link Y
- Link Y Mk 2
- Delian League Common Datalink System
- Cromwell II BMS
- Warrior III BMS
- SACHERI
- Others
Automatic Decision Aids:
Praefectus has the ability to perform and present calculations, evaluations, and automatic actions to facilitate decision–making. This includes calculating and re-calculating the most effective way to employ the ship's systems and weapons during both normal and combat situations, presenting options to the ship's officers and crew.
Planning Capacity:
Praefectus has the ability to formulate mission plans for a single unit or for the whole force, and can follow it up by reporting any deviation in respect to any established plans.
Simplicity and Ease of Operation:
Praefectus includes operator-friendly interfaces, with clear visualization of graphics, standard information and symbology, through detailed consideration of human factors, including ergonomics and arrangement of elements to support continuous operation in environments with a high level of activities.
Common design elements are used in hardware and middleware, to facilitate the needs of maintenance, replacement and modernization. High–level applications are decoupled from the details of hardware and operating system, through the use of interface middleware. The system's software design methodology works according to military standards and modern software engineering principles.
Safety in Operation:
Praefectus maintains backups of current tactical information, systematic monitoring of system functionality, visual and audible alarms, and graceful degradation in performance capabilities.
SP100 Data Link:
Designed as an alternative to other more wide-spread data link systems, the SP100 allows the coordination and transfer of tactical information between different units of a force, providing the necessary tools to maintain a common tactical picture.
The transfer of tactical information (views, messages, texts, etc.) between two or more units of a force occurs quickly, timely, and accurately, and has the ability to establish one or more communication networks, which can operate simultaneously on HF, VHF, UHF and satellite frequencies. The SP100 datalink also gives any ship, aircraft, or ground station equipped with it Co-operative Engagement Capability. This capability means that data from any sensor in the communications network can be spread to other similarly equipped units, allowing for such things as a surface ship launching surface to air missiles against incoming enemy anti-shipping missiles that have been detected by the outer air-screen, thereby extending the effective target engagement range of units so equipped.
The SP100 data link system also:
- Allows integration of a wide range of communications equipment.
- Allows simultaneous transmission of ALE (Adaptive Link Establishment) and E/LOS modes (Extended Line of Sight), in HF bands; as well as polling, CSMA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access) and TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) in VHF, UHF, and satellite bands.
- Enables the encryption of messages, priority management, error detection and correction.
- Facilitates the management, deployment and transfer of data messages, free text, tracks, ESM emissions, reference points and geometric elements.
- Is designed for operation in extreme environments and conditions of vibration and temperature, complying with military standards.
Communications
The communications system of the Lacto class cruiser is composed of two systems, which are the Exterior Communications System (ECS), and the Combat Data Network (CDN).
The Combat Data Network is a shipboard data bus solution by Synergy Electrodynamics that integrates local area network (LAN) and wireless local area network (WLAN) infrastructure to command and control systems (processors, databases, datalinks, etc), combat suites (sensors, weapons, effectors, etc), damage control (hull, mechanical and electrical systems) and communications aboard vessels. It is based on a robust deterministic fully distributed fault tolerant network architecture that can handle high volumes of real time mission critical information and maintain connectivity through operational stress and degrade gracefully by automatically reconfiguring and rerouting around battle damage. This is achieved using a revolutionary hybrid fibre-radio (HFR) network architecture that combines wired and wireless physical layer (PHY) open standard protocols in scalable 1/10/100GBASE (Gigabit Ethernet) implementations to transport high bandwidth packet-based IP (Internet Protocol) traffic including voice-over-IP (two-way intercom), video, and TCP/IP and UDP-based services.
The HFR network in crude outline consists of the following elements:
1.) Radio frequency (RF) network nodes that form self-configuring ad hoc femtocell (very short range) wireless networks;
2.) Optical interconnects that sit between the RF network nodes and shipboard data buses that modulate RF signals into multiplexed light signals;
3.) RF-over-fibre (RoF) backbone/backhaul picocell (long range) networks to transport converted RF light signals error free long distances over optical fibre cables.
To reliably carry the multi-gigabits-per-second of real time data the HFR network uses ultra high capacity millimeter wave (mm-wave) carrier signals in the E-band (71-76 & 81-86 GHz) region of the radio spectrum, using 5 GHz of continuous bandwidth per channel to achieve data rates up to 40 gigabits-per-second with immunity from electromagnetic interference (EMI) and meteorological effects. The wireless (WLAN) network covers limited areas using a point-to-point (P-t-P) and point-to-multi-point (P-t-MP) mesh network topology based around multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) femtocell RF network nodes that relay data in either a decentralized ad hoc flood mode or multi-hop routing mode using media access control (MAC) protocols. The network can also be extended through ship-to-ship radio and data links using 60-70 GHz mm-wave transceivers with a full duplex throughput of 1.25 gigabits-per-second for exchanging tactical data and engagement information. Communications security features of millimeter waves include the ability to spatially control radiated emissions through a combination of the exploitation of high atmospheric attenuation and the use of physically small but highly directive antennas. These features help to maintain communications security by the simple expedient of any enemy needing to be very close to the ship in order to intercept the MMW RF signals, while encryption can also increase communications security.
The wired (LAN) network provides a robust deterministic distributed network backbone or optical backhaul that interconnects the MIMO radio nodes via a switched fabric network topology based on multiple redundant physical links to increase reliability. The interconnects use digitized RF-over-fibre (RoF) technology, in the first instance a self-pulsating laser (SPL) optical mm-wave transmitter (OMT) to convert E-band RF signals into light pulses for error free long distance transport over high bandwidth ITU thin-core single-mode fibre (SMF), and in the second instance a coherent heterodyne 70-80 GHz optical receiver to recover the E-band RF signal. The CDN thus melds femtocell very short-range RF links with a picocell long-range optical switched fabric backhaul, without loss of speed, bandwidth or reliability between the mediums, and providing full coverage above and below decks, on-the-move to tablet computers, and creating wireless and fibre optic sensor networks for detection of battle damage (flooding, fire, etc). A common ship data bus is configured around a pair (both port and starboard side) triple- or quadruple-redundant optical fibre backhaul networks.
The Exterior Communications System (ECS) is an IP-based system using a dual Local Area Network (LAN), which uses the CDN as a backbone. The central IP-based system of the ECS was designed to control the usage and performance of the ships' HF, VHF, UHF, VLF maritime, and Ka-band SATCOM radios; as well as telephonic/fax, encryption, broadcast & alarm, and wireless communications with helicopters, and external parties from a central location inside the ship's radio room. The use of a dual-LAN system allows the system to continue to work even when the ship itself is damaged, as well as permitting graceful degradation for the entire system.
Armament
The armaments for the Lacto class cruiser begin with the Otobreda 127/64 Lightweight Naval Gun, which is equipped with a low-observable gun covering. The 127/64 gun is an upgrade from the prior 127/54 gun, but with a slightly reduced rate of fire, which allows for better control and fire placement. The lightweight mounting uses four modular automatic feeding drum magazines, each holding 14 rounds. This permits firing up to four different and immediately selectable types of ammunition. The magazines can even be reloaded while the gun is firing. Projectiles and propelling charges are hoisted separately to the gun level from below-deck feeding magazines. There is a composition station below the gun where the next round to be fired is selected just before it is taken up by the gun automatic loading system. Unfired rounds can be recycled back to the loading drums. The mounting uses a water-cooled barrel, normally using sea water, but it requires fresh water for flushing after firing.
The gun can fire the unguided VULCANO round out to a distance of 84 kilometers, with later guided variants of the round expected to be fired out to 120 kilometers, which when coupled with expected top-attack capabilities, is expected to be of benefit to gunfire support of amphibious landings. The gun is rated for an effective range of 15 kilometers with standard projectiles, firing these at a rate of 32 rounds per minute.
Thirty-two eight-round A-70 Sylver VLS modules are installed on the ship, with each cell holding a Tempest Long Range Surface to Air Missile, Typhoon ABM, quad-packed Sea Krait Point Defense Surface to Air Missiles, or cruise missiles. With a range of 250 kilometers, the Tempest LR-SAM flies at a speed of Mach 4+, and has a flight ceiling of 33,000 meters, with a high-explosive blast-fragmentation warhead. A second option is the Typhoon ABM, which flies at a speed of Mach 8+, has a range of 600 kilometers with a flight ceiling of 160 kilometers, and a hit to kill warhead. Alternatively, once can quad pack Sea Krait point-defense SAMs in the VLS cells, which have a range of 50 km, a flight ceiling of 15,000 meters, and a high-explosive blast fragmentation warhead. Cruise missiles can also be employed, so long as they fit in the VLS cells. Other options include Standard Missiles, or any equivalent weapons which can fit within the VLS cells.
Next comes four quad canister launchers for the Muraena anti-shipping missile. The Muraena is launched via a solid-fuel rocket booster, which builds speed and altitude for the variable-flow ducted rocket sustainer engine to bring the missile to a speed of Mach 4 at altitude (Mach 2.5 at sea level). The missile has a total range of 250 kilometers for a hi-low mission, or 200 kilometers for a low-low mission. Terminal guidance for the Muraena is provided by a Ka-band millimeter wave active radar seeker. Other options include any Harpoon or Exocet class anti-shipping missile.
Finally, two B250 triple torpedo tubes can launch LA-92 Instigo (or comparable) lightweight ASW torpedos, with additional storage of up to twenty-four lightweight ASW torpedos onboard.
CIWS
The CIWS in use aboard the Lacto class cruiser is the Xiphos Inner Layer Missile System (ILMS) variant of the Manticore CIWS system. Each Xiphos mount holds up two twenty-four RIM-199A Xyston missiles, which travel at a speed of Mach 4, and has a range of eight kilometers. The ILMS is a fully self-contained mounted on its servo-driven turntable, using all-electric solid-state drives for fast reaction and rapid slewing to accurately track threats.
As with the Dory gun system the ILMS can operate autonomously or integrated into an anti-air warfare (AAW) system. The engagement sequence is automated and begins with detection by on- or off-mount surviellance radar, identification friend-or-foe (IFF) interrogation, the incorrect response generating an air warning and automatic hand over to the on-mount auto-trackers (radar, TV/FLIR and laser) that slew the turntable to track the target or targets, with threat classification, prioritisation (with the ability to track 100 targets and engage 12 simultaenously), calculation of the optimum intercept point for the missile (typically at 1-2 km) by on-mount or a AAW system processor, and firing on the target(s). An engagement from first detection to successful intercept lasts only 7 seconds, with the system capable of engaging a single target with a two-salvo launch for 100% kill probability and multiple targets in salvo fire with only a 0.5 second launch delay.
Protection
The Lacto class is fitted with a maritime-use modified version of the TRT-25 Remote Weapon Station, which can fit both the KWF PAK2 25 mm automatic cannon, as well as a 7.62 mm LY64 GPMG on the same turret. Each turret is aimed via the Pervela electro-optical (EO) / imaging infrared (IIR) system, which is connected to a multi-function console, with a Nintendo controller-like aiming device for the guns. There are four such turrets on-board the cruiser, and each turret carries five hundred rounds for the autocannon, and one thousand rounds for the LMG. These turrets are used to discourage threats from coming close to the cruiser, and can be used against both air and surface targets. Manual reload of the turrets takes only minutes, and can be accomplished by a single sailor.
The KWF PAK2 can destroy lightly armored vehicles and aerial targets (such as helicopters and slow-flying aircraft). It can also suppress enemy positions such as exposed troops, dug-in positions, small boats, and occupied built-up areas.
This chain-driven weapon system uses sprockets and extractor grooves to actively feed, load, fire, extract, and eject rounds. A system of clutches provides for the use of alternates thus allowing the gunner to switch between armor piercing, high explosive and high explosive incendiary rounds, as well as manually selecting the rate of fire.
It has a rating of 31,000 mean rounds between stoppage (MRBS), which is much higher than many comparable devices.
Cartridge: 25x216 mm
Operation: chain gun (1.5 hp)
Feeds: Disintegrating link belt
Weight: 115 kg
Length: 2.25 m
Muzzle velocity: 1,200 m/s
ROF: Cyclic 200 +/- 25 RPM
Max effective range: 2,200 m
Max range: 6,800 m
The LY64 General Purpose Machine Gun is utilized as a co-axial weapon to the KWF PAK2 25 mm autocannon, and can be used against especially close-in threats that have managed to make it past all of the other defensive measures on the ship, or if the captain determines that the autocannon would cause too much collateral damage.
Cartridge: 7.62x51 mm
Operation: Gas operated, open bolt
Feeds: Disintegrating link belt
Weight: 11.79 kg
Length: 1,263 mm
Muzzle velocity: 840 m/s
ROF: 650–1,000 rounds/min
Max effective range: 800 m
Max range: 1,800 m
Four Centurion decoy turrets have also been fitted to the Lacto class cruiser. Designed with a stealthy semi-cylindrical shape, each Centurion decoy launcher fits twelve decoy tubes of 130 mm caliber, each of which can launch rocket-propelled decoys of multiple types, including IR, LR-Chaff, SR-Chaff, SIREN, and LESCUT. The ship's four (trainable) decoy turrets can fit 48 decoys of any desired mix from the list below, each of which serves a purpose in the defense of the ship against enemy radars and weapons. The Centurion decoy turrets are programmed with safe firing arcs, so no damage to the ship will result from the system's use. The Centurion turrets can be manually reloaded from the ship's store of decoys by a team of two crew members.
IR
With a range of up to six hundred meters, and an altitude of one hundred fifty meters, the IR decoy unleashes a pair of parachute flares optimized for high IR radiation in the low and high infrared spectrum. The programmable electronic timer is set for optimum dispersal range at the moment of launch. The IR decoy can also be launched into a chaff cloud created by other decoys in order to create a more realistic target for dual RF-IR guided missiles.
LR-Chaff
The LR-Chaff decoy has a range of up to fourteen kilometers, and a maximum altitude of up to nine hundred meters. The chaff cloud generated by the LR-Chaff decoy is effective against radar frequencies in the X, C, and S bands, with a maximum decoy persistence of up to fifteen minutes. The resulting chaff cloud can be used to either distract long-range anti-shipping missiles, or to distract enemy radar systems at long to medium-range.
SR-Chaff
Designed for maximum ship self-defense, the SR-Chaff decoy has a maximum range of 600 meters, and a maximum altitude of up to 100 meters. With a maximum decoy persistence of three minutes, the decoy is effective against radars with frequencies between 8−18 GHz.
SIREN Active Decoy
Siren is an active decoy system designed to protect ships from missile threats by seducing incoming anti-ship missiles away from their target. Rocket launched from a 130mm decoy launcher it uses a two stage parachute system which slows the decoy round down at a pre-programmed time before deploying a second stage para-wing, under which the advanced programmable electronic payload descends to detect and counter the missile threat.
Siren is capable of generating sophisticated jamming waveforms, making it unique amongst naval decoys. The Siren payload contains advanced RF, digital and analogue electronic circuitry, enabling the round to quickly detect, identify and track threats to ships. Siren is able to handle multiple threats simultaneously even in dense RF environments.
LESCUT
Designed as an expendable torpedo decoy for surface ships, LESCUT is launched via rocket in the same way as the other decoys. Upon the rocket hitting the water, the LESCUT decoy is lowered to operational depth, and uses sophisticated acoustic signals to either seduce or deceive the incoming torpedo into continually re-attacking the decoy until it runs out of fuel. The decoy has enough power to operate for up to ten minutes, and the on-board torpedo evasion computers are also designed to calculate the optimal evasive maneuver for the ship to undertake.
The LESCUT decoy rocket has a range of up to six hundred meters, and an altitude of one hundred fifty meters.
RESM/ECM
RESM and ECM functions are handled by the Aqua Marine integrated RESM/RECM system. An evolution of the Bellicus RESM/ECM system used on the Libertas class frigate and Lamia class destroyer, the Aqua Marine system uses Digital Compact Spiral Antenna Arrays, along with linear and circular interferometers. This gives the RESM portion of the system an accuracy of better than 5º RMS, and a frequency detection range of 0.5-40 GHz. With the addition of an Integrated Narrow Band Receiver, the RESM system has a sensitivity of better than -80 dBm. The system can simultaneously track up to 500 emitters, and has a library of up to 10,000 sets of emitter parameters, which helps the system to determine the type of emitter that it is receiving.
The ECM part of the system continues to use MBATs, two of which are stationed on each side of the cruiser for full 360 degree coverage. Connected to DRFM technique generators, the system is capable of the following ECM techniques:
* RGPO/I (Range Gate Pull Off/In)
* VGPO/I (Velocity Gate Pull Off/In)
* Range/Frequency False targets
* Noise (spot (burst/swept/blinking/Doppler), barrage)
* Combined techniques
The MBATs operate on a frequency range from 6–18 GHz, with an ERP of >75 dBm.
CESM/COMINT
For CESM and COMINT purposes, the Lacto class makes use of the CRS-8000 Compact Radio Monitoring System. The system is “compact,” in that CRS-8000 integrates acquisition and direction finding, HF as well as V/UHF, online and offline processing, into one system including an integrated interception and DF antenna. Acquisition is realized with a configurable set of wide band drop receivers.
Operating in the 100 kHz to 18 GHz bands, the system detects, collects, measures, characterizes and identifies signals, while offering very good bearing accuracy over the full azimuth and a wide elevation. The CRS-8000 has a fully modular and scalable system design, which has been ruggedized for military service. Built with a high degree of automation, the system can be controlled by one crewman, at a multi-function control station located adjacent to the ship's radio room.
Propulsion
The Lacto class uses a C6H1L Pressurized Water Nuclear Reactor Plant to provide power for the ship via a nuclear powered Integrated Electric Power System, which uses electrical power from the Pressurized Water Reactor in order to both provide propulsive power, as well as providing electrical power to all of the other systems on-board the ship.
C6H1L Stands for:
C: Cruiser platform
6: Contractors sixth design generation
H: Halcyon Arms. Contracted Designer
1: First iteration of the present Reactor Design
L: Licensed for Lamonian Use
The C6H1L is a Pressurized Water Reactor utilizing nuclear fission for the purpose of heat production to be used to create steam for usable work. The C6H1L is jointly designed and built by Halcyon Arms, LAIX ARMS, and Asimov Engineering, with LAIX ARMS having been granted an extensive license by Halcyon Arms and Asimov Engineering for the use of technology from these firms in naval reactors. Core life is expected to be twenty years, depending on operations, maintenance, and modifications made. Utilized for only electrical power, the core may last for up to 60 years. The reactor core utilizes highly enriched uranium as fuel. The Uranium is made into uranium oxide pellets which are then clad in zircaloy to make fuel-plates, which are stacked with gaps between them (for coolant to pass through), and made into assemblies, which are then assembled around a center channel design for the control rod to pass through, making a fuel assembly. This fuel assembly is immobile within the core.
A scaled up version of previous designs, the C6H1L is a two-loop reactor plant design, using highly pressurized and purified water as both coolant and moderator. The heated coolant passes through a boiler unit, heating it's water to produce steam. This water is then pumped back to the core by a reactor coolant pump, one per loop, where it passes around the reactor vessel, mixing with water from the other loop and then through a colander to ensure proper mixing of the coolant and filtration of debris, should any exist. From the colander the water passes up through the first-pass fuel channels for the initial heating, then out, around, and down the fuel assemblies to again pass upwards through the second-pass fuel channels, heating up the coolant further before ejecting it into the outlet region, where the coolant is sent back through towards the boiler units. All water which passes through the reactor and it's coolant loops are referred to as "The Primary," with all water that passes through the steam plant referred to as "The secondary."
The boilers provide steam for three turbine generators, one of which is used to power the reactor coolant pumps and assist with propulsion, and the other two powering the Common Electrical Distribution System, though they may provide power for the reactor coolant pumps. The steam, once passing through all systems, directly condenses into water in condensers and is pumped back to the boiler units.
The secondary water never comes into contact with primary water, and is kept at much lower pressures, allowing for it to boil when achieving the same temperature as the primary. The primary water is kept far below saturation temperature for the pressure it attains, and uses a pressurizer as a surge volume for it's water.
The C6H1L utilizes All-Electric Propulsion. Instead of main engines driving a shaft with separate turbines generating power for the ship's electric plant, all major steam-driven turbines provide electrical power. This power is then transmitted as needed around the ship, with the majority, especially in transit or combat, going to electric motors, which are connected to the controllable pitch propellers. This distribution of electrical power is computer controlled, for better overall system efficiency.
Overall, this makes the entire power plant smaller, cheaper, and easier to manage and maintain. The bearings on turbines are electromagnetic, reducing friction.
Due to using water as a coolant/moderator, the reactor achieves natural stability. If the reactor experiences an up-power transient, when the coolant heats up further it will be less dense and moderate fewer neutrons, so more neutrons will escape the core, again lowering reactor power back to it's original state. The only process, therefore, which will change reactor power and maintain it steady-state at that new power is a change in steam-demand, save for massive introductions of poisons which drive the reactor out of it's power range, such as a protective "Scram."
Conversely, other factors can change temperature, namely the introduction of poisons, to include control rods. Silver-indium-cadmium alloy (80% Ag, 15% In, 5% Cd) control rods are used for reactor control as well as protection; in the event of a loss of power they will automatically scram (insert to the bottom of the core, shutting it down completely). This can also be done by the operator or by automatic action in the event of other casualties as well. Additional safety features include automatic filling of the reactor, should the core become depressurized and risk becoming uncovered, which would mean a lack of coolant and would allow for potential meltdown. With this, significant release of fission-product contamination external to the hull of the ship is guarded against.
The C6H1L is capable of operating at up to 10% power without powering it's reactor coolant pumps; this natural circulation can be used for both decay heat removal and low power operations, making the reactor plant relatively quiet, but this natural circulation also provides for power transient-response and is not suitable for combat operations. As they are easy to cool without operator action or electrical power, the C6H1L reactor design is remarkably safe when shutdown. This also means that the reactor plant can perform a battery-only start-up, which is highly valuable for combat scenarios or a loss of all reactor plants simultaneously. The C6H1L also utilizes an Emergency Core Cooling system, which pipes primary-system water via a thermal driving head to heat exchangers that use seawater. Like others, this system requires no power and initiates automatically.
Radiation shielding is required and makes up the outside of the reactor compartment, which houses the reactor, boiler units, coolant loops, reactor coolant pumps, pressurizer, and filtration system. The shielding is made up of borated polyethylene, water tanks, steel, and lead. It also has photovoltaic cells lining the inner wall to provide a trickle-flow of electricity to power the ship's battery and auxiliary reactor-plant batteries. With the reactor at power this trickle flow can be used to maintain a supply of electricity to critical components. Entering this reactor compartment while the reactor is at power is considered to be deadly, but the layered shielding is so sufficient that personnel working in the propulsion plant will receive less radiation than those working on the weatherdecks of the vessel.
In the event of a loss of power, emergency diesel generators can provide auxiliary power. They are primarily designed to support the reactor plant's automatic fill protection system, but they can also be aligned to the common electrical distribution system for propulsion or other power needs.
In the Lacto class cruiser, the engineering and propulsion compartments start aft of the center of the ship and take up a large amount of space in the aft end of the ship. The boilers are placed centerline, where they may sit higher, and the reactor sits in-between the boiler units. The boilers are placed higher to aid natural circulation of the coolant. Auxiliary reactor systems required to be maintained in the reactor compartment must be shielded along with the reactors.
Manning
The design of the Lacto class allows for 727 crew members and marines to be accommodated comfortably. The helicopter hangars can also be used as a living space or medical bay in emergency situations, such as evacuations or search and rescue operations. Crew accommodations are split into six separate bunks per room, while the officer accommodations have two bunks per room, with each bunk measuring 200x120 cm. The Captain has the only truly private stateroom, as standing Lamonian naval custom prevents even the President of the Free Republic from displacing a warship's captain. The executive officer's stateroom has a second bunk, which specifically caters to high-ranking VIPs.
For every 15 sailors there is at least one head, to include four showers, four toilet stalls, and four sinks, with both hot and cold water, calculated for a standard crew size of 727 personnel. These are often of stainless steel construction for sanitary reasons, and the shower-stalls are curtained off, though some may include a hard vanity door. Each shower or toilet stall includes stainless steel railing, in case of either rough seas, or the ship making hard turns. The bottom of the shower stalls include a non-slip surface, which is intended to protect against accidents.
Recreational facilities have also been provided for the Lacto class, including both crew and officer mess facilities, along with shared kitchen facilities, a locker sized library, and a small fitness room; which is located directly behind the ship's bridge, and is fitted with elastic band weightlifting equipment. Board games, and video games can be played in both crew and officer mess facilities, and both mess facilities also have access to satellite television and radio. Satellite phones are located just outside of the crew's mess facilities, allowing contact with family using a pre-paid phone card purchased either in the ship's store, or at port facilities. Access to the satellite phone, television, and radio can be cut-off during combat or other sensitive situations, in order to enforce EMCON conditions.
The ship has independent air-conditioning plants allowing the ship to operate at a preset temperature and moisture level, while oil-fired hot-water boilers provide the ship's heating. The units also keep the air pressure inside the ship five millibars higher than on the outside to prevent the drawing in of NBC (nuclear, biological, or chemical) contamination. The ship is also fitted with seawater fire-fighting pumps and sprinkler systems, which are also ready to wet down the warship's ammunition magazines. The galleys, reactor spaces, flight deck, and hangar are fitted with a foam fire-extinguishing system.
Fresh water is provided by reverse osmosis units. This water is provided to the galleys, messes, and drinking water supplies, and it is also used for cooling the guns, the air-conditioners, and the engine room, in addition to that used for washing the helicopters and other sanitary purposes. Water pumped to the guns, sensors, and air-conditioners is chilled by water refrigerators. The hot water for the galley and mess facilities comes from 45 kilowatt electric geysers.
Ancillary Craft
The Lacto class cruiser has a landing pad and hangar space for two LA-214 Molior (or similar) multi-role helicopters, capable of assisting the ship with ASW, ASuW, AEW&C, transport, medevac, and other roles. In order to launch and recover helicopters in conditions up to and including sea state six, the Libertas class utilizes the Twin Claw-Aircraft Ship Integrated Secure and Traverse (TC-ASIST) system.
The TC-ASIST system employs a sophisticated electro-optic tracking system which detects a laser beacon-equipped helicopter. The system tracks the helicopter and provides real time helicopter position simultaneously via visual cues to the pilot. A computer-controlled rapid securing device will also be driven by the position data to track the helicopter at low hover. Once the system has detected that the helicopter has landed on the deck, the securing device automatically approaches the helicopter and secures it.
The Rapid Securing Device (RSD), fitted with a pair of claw arms designed to capture and secure the wheel spurs of the aircraft, tracks the helicopter position with the capture arms at a ready position at either end of the RSD. The claw arms are spring loaded and held in the down position until tire sensors contact each tire as the arms are brought in. Upon contact, spring force rotates the claw arm upwards until it contacts the wheel spur. Each claw arm acts independently, but they are mechanically interlocked to ensure simultaneous operation.
Once the aircraft is secured, it is ready to be aligned/straightened for traversing from the designated landing area to the hangar or any intermediate location. All deck handling operations can thus be accomplished without the need for personnel on the flight deck.
The Lacto class cruiser can also hold and utilize a pair of Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) of up to eleven meters in length. These RHIBs can be raised and lowered from special compartments inside of the ship, and allow the ship an over the horizon surface capability, such as would be required for visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) teams, or special operations personnel.
Calculated to protect up to 110% of the ships crew size, twenty-five man Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention compliant life rafts are stored in weather-proof containers on deck.
Export
The Lacto class cruiser is available for export with no restrictions, for a unit cost of 5 billion standard dollars, and a consequent DPR price of 5 trillion standard dollars.
The Lacto-class cruiser is sold through Covenant Arms.