Apollo-class Frigate

Apollo-class
Class overview
Name:	Apollo-class Guided Missile Frigate
Builders:	Haleford Shipyards Lucas Iron Works Duncan Shipyards Stratford Hills
Operators:	Federation Navy see Users
Preceded by:	Argonaut-class Frigate Scimitar-class Frigate
In service:	1985 - present
Completed:	13
Active:	13
General characteristics
Type:	Frigate
Tonnage:	6,250 tons
Length:	140 m
Beam:	21 m
Draught:	5 m
Propulsion:	Combined Diesel and Gas (CODAG) 2 × REST Diesel engines 2 × REST Diesel generators 4 × REST Gas turbines 2 × propeller shafts
Speed:	30+ knots
Range:	7,424 km at 20 kn (8,000+ km at max fuel conservation)
Complement:	235
Sensors and processing systems:	RN/SPD-4 3d Radar Tungsten TKS-55 Surface Search Radar Tungsten SSC-06 Sonar Array with option for towed array RHEA Defence Network
Armament:	1 × 76mm dual-purpose super-rapid main gun 1 × Mk. 41 VLS tactical with 32 cells 1 × Millennium Gun 2 × Quad torpedo launchers 2 × Standard Foreganger Missile launchers (4 missiles per launcher) or 2 x Mk 141 launchers (4 RGM-84 Harpoons per launcher)
Aircraft carried:	Helipad space for 2 x Light helicopters or 1 x medium helicopters

The Apollo-class are classified as general purpose guided missile frigates in use with the Federation Navy. The first ship in the class, FNS Apollo (FFG-182) was commissioned in 1985 and the class has been in steady usage since. Built along the same system framework as the larger Warrior-class destroyer, the Apollo works on the same defence network to become a vital part of any Federation Naval squadron. The class was named after the Greek pantheon god of the sun and ships of the class are named after greek gods, titans, and mythological giants.

In 2008 the Harvard-class Frigate came into service with the initial plan of replacing the class, with a focus on anti-submarine warfare taking precedence. However, a review in 2010 showed that a significant gap in anti-shipping and anti-air would be an unacceptable risk in the modern world with the class gone. It was subsequently decided that the class would continue it's service life with refits to serve both alongside the Harvard-class.

History

Up until 1985, the Federation Navy operated the Argonaut and Scimitar class frigates, which focused on anti-air and anti-submarine warfare respectively. The two classes had been in service since the early 1960s and with technological advances the ships were beginning to become outdated at a pace where refits were not allowing them to keep up with performance requirements. Despite this, the Federation Navy still lacked a guided-missile anti-surface frigate and the Argonaut's anti-air capabilities were becoming almost negligible with poor exercise performances, resulting in the Federation Navy keeping the Argonaut's own predecessor in service until the 1970s.

In April 1995 FNS Adonai (FFG-183) was partaking in a double replenishment operation to take on fuel and new missiles when she collided with the replenishment ship during a scheduled turn. Radar clutter caused the replenishment ship to lose sight of the Adonai and subsequently struck head-on into the Adonai's port side and uncontrolled water flow into the ship caused the ship to sink after a half-hour. Two personnel were badly hurt in the collision and a third, Petty Officer Second Class Patrick Terry, was lost when the compartment he was in flooded and rescuers were unable to reach him in time before the ship sank. His body was recovered later that day by divers that also retrieved the ship's colours.

Design

The Apollo-class was designed to exacting specifications to the Federation Navy. The result was a 140-meter long ship with a displacement of 6,250 tonnes and originally capable of multi-mission warfare. The concept was for each individual vessel to be modified for their specific roles but the idea was cancelled when the Admiralty began to question the versatility of the class if built as such. Subsequently the ship was classified as a general purpose frigate with capabilities in all arenas of naval warfare.

The vessel operates with a crew of 158 with an air crew of 14 to 24 depending on options chosen with helicopters. Dockside modifications can be done to allow the ship to carry up to 60 - 70 embarked troops. The hangar is also built to allow a flexible shelter to be deployed over the helipad to store a helicopter outside of the protective shelter. This has been found useful in operations to store a second medium helicopter and tests showed that the shelter could withstand rough sea conditions and was sturdy enough to prevent objects from tearing it easily. When not needed, the flexible shelter is easily stored and in-service vessels have not reported any difficulties in maintaining the shelter when deployed.

The class is featured in the RHEA defence network, a Federation Naval mainframe that, whilst highly classified, has apparently allowed for fleet management and tactical operations to be both expedited and accurate. For the class, the system is merged with the same Tungsten TKS-55 Surface search radar seen aboard the heavier Frederic Wellson-class destroyer. Coincidentally the Tungsten SSC-06 Sonar array mounted on the nose of the vessel and the twinned towed array mirrors that of the destroyer and allows for accurate submarine detection and tracking. A hatch below the flight deck allows for the deployment of the towed array and was originally planned to be able to launch unmanned surface vehicles, although size restrictions cancelled the idea.

The ship's propulsion is achieved through a Combined Diesel And Gas (CODAG) system that, for the class, involves the usage of two Sentennei-Majestic 5490 diesel engines, two Sentennei EL221 diesel generators, and four Majestic AC22 gas turbines. The impressive machinery are capable of being operated in four modes. The first mode, known as 'Economy Mode' has only one diesel engine operating per shaft. The second are for all diesel engines to be on, known as 'Maneuvering Mode'. Finally, the last two modes are a full CODAG mode with all engines on for a maximum speed and then for the gas turbines to be activated only.

The aft mounted hangar of the class is capable of hosting either two light helicopters or a single medium helicopter along with aviation fuel and ammunition as appropriate. A storage facility is also included for both two light unmanned aerial vehicles and the necessary launch/recovery system.

Ships of the class are equipped with an assortment of multi-purpose weapons, each fulfilling a vital role in anti-surface, anti-aircraft, and anti-submarine warfare. The primary anti-surface armament of the class are it's two quad-launchers for the Foreganger anti-shipping missile that provide them with an ship-to-ship missile capable of striking an enemy vessel at ranges of 209 kilometers. Closer surface threats are countered by the vessels 76mm main gun with a variable mixture of ammunition and ranges between 16 to 40 kilometers. Submarine targets of the ship are engaged utilizing both aft-mounted torpedo launchers and the vessels air compliment. Whilst originally designed with an anti-air specialized launching system, the class is equipped with a Mk. 41 vertical launch system (VLS) with 32 cells, or tubes, for a wide variety of weapons to augment it's capabilities. It was revealed by the Federation Navy in 2008 that most frigates in service utilize usually three quarters of the cells for anti-air warfare.

The defence of the ship comes in the form of both missiles from the Mk. 41 VLS and it's rear-mounted Millennium gun. Close range defence from surface targets is available from a wide variety of pintle mounts for crew served heavy machine guns. The ship also comes with four Trixton 500 defensive launchers capable of launching passive and active countermeasures or short-range missiles.

Operational history

The class first entered service with the Federation Navy in 1985 and the first ship of the class, FNS Apollo (FFG-182), embarking upon it's first tour of duty in early 1986 as part of the Second Fleet. It's excellence above the previous Argonaut and Scimitar-class Frigates caused it to be immediately adopted as the primary frigate of the Federation Navy.

Shortly after the beginning of 2020, the Belfrasian defence ministry confirmed that it intended to sell all but five of the Apollo-class in order to readjust the navy for new challenges ahead, with the final five remaining in service until at least 2040.

Ships in class

Name	Number	Builder	Comissioned	Status
Apollo class
FNS Apollo	FFG-182	Lucas Iron Works	1985	Active
FNS Adonai	FFG-183	Lucas Iron Works	1987	Active
FNS Thetis	FFG-184	Haleford Shipyards	1988	Active
FNS Hera	FFG-185	Duncan Shipyards	1985	Active
FNS Akhennos	FFG-186	Haleford Shipyards	1988	Active
FNS Ares	FFG-187	Lucas Iron Works	1989	Active
FNS Titus	FFG-188	Duncan Shipyards	1986	Active
FNS Chiron	FFG-189	Duncan Shipyards	1987	Active
FNS Phobos	FFG-190	Haleford Shipyards	1989	Active
FNS Deimos	FFG-191	Lucas Iron Works	1989	Active
FNS Aphrodite	FFG-192	Haleford Shipyards	1988	Active
FNS Perseus	FFG-193	Johnson Shipyards	1989	Active
FNS Oceanos	FFG-194	Johnson Shipyards	1990	Active

Users

• Belfras
  • Federation Navy

See also

• Federation Navy