Taesun-class

File:Ani LHD.png Taesun
Class overview
Name:	Taesun Class Landing helicopter dock
Builders:	Kyoungcho Group
Operators:	Anikatian People's Navy Anikatian Navy
Preceded by:	Jeoncha-class
Succeeded by:	Namju-class
Completed:	5
Active:	4
Laid up:	2
Retired:	1
General characteristics
Type:	Amphibious assault ship
Displacement:	30,500 tonnes empty, 36,000 tonnes full load
Length:	234 m
Beam:	33 m
Draught:	6.4 m
Propulsion:	COGAG 2 × Bulgakko G-TM1U-5M gas turbines producing 30,000 kW (40,230 hp) each 2 × shafts
Speed:	25 knots
Range:	17,000km at 18 knots (33 km/h)
Boats & landing craft carried:	4 x Sangeo-class landing craft or 3x Kalmareu-class LCAC or 3x Myuren-class LCAC
Troops:	1000 Marines, 50 tanks or 80 APCs, (Up to 1,600 troops and 110 vehicles in maxium configuration)
Sensors and processing systems:	Top Plate 3D air search radar Strut Pair air/surface search radar 2x MR-360 Cross Sword Toryu missile directors Kite Screech main gun director 2x Palm Frond navigation radars 4x Bass Tilt CIWS director
Armament:	1x AK-726 dual-76mm turret 32x vertical-launched SQ-033M Toryu surface-to-air missiles 4x SQ-130 CIWS turrets
Aircraft carried:	1x deck aircraft elevator Up to 32 medium helicopters using hangar and deck space Up to 24 STOVL fighters using hangar and deck space Typical maximum air group: 12x STOVL fighters and 12x medium helicopters

The Taesun-class a ship class of amphibious assault ships built for the Anikatian People's Navy. They were built as part of the expansion of the Navy's amphibious warfare capabilities in the late 1960s and have been the mainstay of Anikatian amphibious force-projection capability ever since. The design is far more heavily-armed than the contemporary Western counterparts. The class was created with economical manufacturing techniques that allowed the vessels to be built quickly by civilian shipyards as approved by Ministry of Shipping. The shortcoming of this process was that the design initially suffered from poor quality performance particular regarding vibrations at high speed, combined with lower than expected power and poor handling in bad weather conditions. Work immediately began on a redesign of the class which resolved the most pressing issues, although this was not sufficient to correct all the problems however allowed them to pass naval trials and enter service with People's Navy.

History and development

New naval command objectives required the development of a full-fledged amphibious assault ship. The shape and purpose of the ship changed during development as plans for a larger aircraft carrier were also underway at the time. The original purpose of the ship was purely for amphibious operations only. However, as design work began and VTOL aircraft were developed the idea of a ship with a continuous deck, utilising both helicopters and VTOL aircraft. There were even proposals to turn the design into a universal aircraft carrier. These ideas would later split into two distinct programs one the Taesun-class would focus on amphibious operations while a new design which would later become the Motyekkoyu-class would be the main aircraft carrier for the Anikatian People's Navy. The requirements for the Taesun-class were finalised in the 1960s, and design work by Daesungkhu & Namkoong Engineering with the design process following the latest information gathered on the construction new Western amphibious ship designs. Therefore, as directed by the state the ship took part in the development by the Central Research Institute for final approval by the DSRA Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Shipping, and other organisations. In October 1964 the preliminary design was given approval and by May 1967, the finalised technical design was approved. Preparation to build this class was completed in October 1967, and construction begun a month later in November 1967. Due to the extensive number of naval construction projects underway by shipyards in the DSRA at the time, mainly the highly ambitious Motyekkoyu-class, it was not until almost three years later in August 1969 when the ship was launched. From November 1969 thru December 1969, extensive trials were conducted and the ship which reveal a number of significant problems. The shortcoming revealed in the naval trials were that the early vessels suffered from poor handling in bad weather conditions due to the simple low cost hull design. The engines had inadequate cooling and were insufficiently mounted which resulted in dangerous vibrations at high speed and fire risks. These issues also meant that engine were producing less power that expected further reducing performance. The Navy would not accept the designs and work immediately began on a rectifying the issues. After a further year of redesign of the class which resolved the most pressing issues, although this was not sufficient to correct all the problems, but allowed them to pass naval trials and the first ship was handed over to Anikatian People's Navy in November 1971 for further tests and then commissioned in 1972. The ships would receive constant updates and improvements throughout their operational history which eventually corrected most issues.

Design

The Taesun-class is the mainstay of Anikatia’s amphibious warfare fleet. As a landing helicopter dock, it is an aviation-focused flushed-deck ship capable of supporting a large complement of assault helicopters and STOVL fighters. At the same time, it features a large well-deck optimised for the Kalmareu-class LCAC and other landing crafts. Although STOVL fighters routinely operate from vessels of the class, they do not possess ski-jumps in order to maximise deck space for helicopters. Designed from the outset as multi-mission vessels, these ships are not only capable of amphibious operations, but were also heavily-involved in anti-submarine patrols in defence of Anikatian SSBNs during the Cold War as helicopter carriers.

Like other Anikatian naval aviation vessels, the Taesun is equipped for self-defence and less reliant on escorts. Initially armed with a mixed-calibre gun armament optimised for close-in defence against missiles, The class received 32-vertical launched SQ-033M Toryu in a late-80s upgrade.

Ships

Name	Launched	Commissioned	Stricken
TBA	1969	1972	2001
TBA	1974	1976	-
TBA	1975	1979	-
TBA	1976	1983	-
TBA	1980	1985	-
TBA	1988	1990	-

External links

• Taesun Class Amphibious, Anikatia
• Taesun class Amphibious Warfare ship on GlobalSecurity.org
• All Taesun class landing ships - Complete Ship List

See also

• List of ships of the Anikatian Navy