Rapier-class corvette

Rapier Class corvette
Class overview
Name:	Rapier class corvette
Builders:	Arthuristan Dynamics
Operators:	Commonwealth Navy Eagleland Navy Imperial Belhavian Navy
General characteristics
Type:	Corvette
Displacement:	640 tonnes
Length:	73m
Beam:	10.6m
Draught:	2.3m
Propulsion:	CODOG, 2 x waterjets, 4 x gas turbines (16 mW total), 2 x diesel generators (3 MW total), 4 x auxiliary generators (300 kW each)
Speed:	40 knots
Range:	2,400nm
Sensors and processing systems:	Dartereye enclosed-mast AESA multirole radar Farview navigation radar Bullshark EW suite GDC Hull-mounted sonar Hydroscience Technologies variable depth towed array sonar system
Armament:	1 x Oto Melara 76mm turret 16 x ACM-13 Lilith or Foreganger anti-ship missiles 24-cells RAM VLS 2 x 7.62mm Mini-guns 6 x MU90 torpedo tubes
Armour:	steel shrapnel sheets, kevlar spall liners
Aircraft carried:	Helipad space for 1 x light helicopter

The Rapier-class Corvette is a class of advanced small surface combatant in Arthuristan service, designed to supplement the older Sabre Class missile boat. It is a stealthy design featuring a wave-piercing catamaran hull constructed with carbon fibre and PVC, capable of reaching 40 knots in rough conditions. The class is armed with an extremely heavy offensive and defensive missile armament for its size, including sixteen box-launched ACM-13 Lilith subsonic or Foreganger supersonic anti-ship missiles and 24 VLS-cells for RAM SHORAD missiles, supplemented with a 76mm Oto Melara turret for short-range anti-surface/shore combat and torpedo tubes for use against submarines. Two miniguns, mounted near the stern of the corvette, provide additional means of defence against swarming small boats, together with the 76mm deck gun their firing arcs cover a full 360 degrees around the vessel. A light helicopter, such as the Westland Lynx, can deploy from its helipad, further enhancing the vessel's flexibility and reach in littoral warfare scenarios. It can be equipped with mine-hunting equipment.

The Rapier Class was also designed to be a 'technology-demonstrator' of sorts, showcasing the latest in Arthuristan sensors equipment. Its enclosed-mast incorporates the Palantir AESA multirole/fire control radar, Farview navigation radar and Bullshark EW/TACJAMMER suite. Also of note is its sonars-suite, which is optimised for the detection of very quiet diesel submarines in cluttered in-shore seas. Ships of the class began to enter service in 2007.