Baval class intelligence collection ship

Origin

The Baval class was conceptulaised in 1991 even as the first of the Imperators were being constructed in drydocks across the nation. The aging Vortar class SIGNIT vessel had been in service since the 1970s. Normally, a vessel can serve for up to 50 years before the navy will retire it but the advances in communication and intelligence collection meant that a newer vessel would be more useful to the navy. The Imperator hull was already being built in large numbers and it was decided that it would be used as the base for the design. A formal design study was undertaken by the Imperial Academy of Naval Architecture in 1992 for a replacement vessel.

Design

The Baval class is built on the hull of the Imperator class cruiser. The Baval would have fundamental differences within the hull, however. The flood compartment system contains a series of heavily insulated and watertight "dry compartments" to protect electronics. A series of heavy water pumps moves water around electronic compartments and out of a series of vents on the hull. Hull armour is increased heavily around the hull with kevlar reinforcement. The superstructure consists of a series of armoured steel panels that protect the crew from explosive damage. The armour is not strong enough to prevent damage from direct his but it can protect crewmen from explosions nearby. The base of the vessel is the powerful MARCUS OTH radar. The maximum range of the system is over a thousand kilometres. The vessel cannot get accurate readings at the range due to the properties of an OTH system but it can detect large objects at that range like ships. To get more accurate readings, the target must close the distance. The MARCUS system is capable of tracking and getting accurate information at ranges up to 400 kilometres. It does not serve as a fire control radar, however and the ship relies on short range pedestal tracking devices to target the CIWS and SAM missiles. This was done to prevent interference with the MARCUS system.

To execute its primary purpose, the STELA SIGNIT system was installed aboard the vessel. The STELA offers full intelligence capability. It is capable of intercepting enemy communications on many frequencies. The STELA is also able to offer options for decoding encrypted messages. Thousands of known languages are programmed into the system, making it capable of COMINT and ELINT. The system is composed of numerous transmitters that pick up on every broadcast that it can detect emerging from the nation the vessel is spying on. This was most useful against Ulthrannia since the two nations bordered ech other and STELA could detect millions of signals. The second advanced system of the Gammau Longrange Communications Suite. The Gammau is a fully capable long range communication suite. It is powerful enough to directly communicate with satellites where it can receive feed from spy satellites and transmit them orders just like a land based facility. The Gammau can communicate directly with Tarsas from thousands of kilometres away and is capable of transmitting encrypted messages. An independent communication system means that another Gammau module at home can electronically decrypt a special decryption algorithim designed for the Gammau. Using the algorithim makes it incompatible with common navy communication systems but makes it invaluable for transmitting sensitive information with a next to nothing chance of interception by enemy SIGNIT.

A basic MF and HF towed sonar arrays offers detection against submarines, though the vessel does not normally carry any defence against subs. Tying every system together is the CF858 Giga Computer. The CF858 was developed in 1998 in partnership with Vyrant Technologies. It was the most powerful super computer ever released very briefly when it was unveiled. The system was retrofitted at great expense to the two vessels already completed. It allows the vessel to be a fully independent processing center for intelligence but also makes it the most expensive naval vessel ever designed in Tarsas. The computer is capable of processing a staggering amount of information and ties together every system aboard the vessel. The systems themselves are not capable of communicating together By themselves and need the CF858 to do so. It also powers the decryption capabilities of the Gammau system and offers storage for all the information the two systems need. It is protected extensively by a continually updating virus protection system designed by hired experts from all over Pardes. The vessel as little else in terms of armament or purpose. The entire idea is to carry the advanced systems mentioned above.

Upgrades

File:Missile tracker.png Baval class intelligence collection ship
Class overview
Name:	Baval class
Builders:	Merlo Heavy Industries
Operators:	Imperial Sea Legion
Preceded by:	Vortar class
Built:	1996 to present
In service:	1997 to present
In commission:	1999 to present
Planned:	2
Completed:	2
Active:	2
General characteristics
Type:	Cruiser
Displacement:	61,332 tons
Length:	272.6 metres
Beam:	28.6 metres
Draught:	11.3 metres
Installed power:	250,000 shp
Propulsion:	4x Lead-Bismuth Nuclear Reactors producing 600 MW 3 × controllable-reversible pitch propellers 3 × rudders
Speed:	26.7 knots
Range:	Theoretically Unlimited
Endurance:	Five Months
Boats & landing craft carried:	2x Patrol Boats 230 x inflatable life boats
Crew:	67 Officers 670 enlisted
Sensors and processing systems:	Mark 17 MARCUS OTH radar MF and HF dipping towable sonar arrays Mounted Mark 28 Fire Control Designator STELA SIGNIT intelligence processing system Mark 62 Gammau Advanced Longrange Communications Suite
Armament:	12x T-330 missile cells with 35 additional missiles 4x Scarecrow CIWS Turrets
Aircraft carried:	1x helicopteR
Aviation facilities:	1x hangar