Hestia-class fast battleship
| File:HMS Hecate underway.png Hecate underway in 2056
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Alliance of Illuverendian Shipyards via Midfordshaven Arsenal |
| Operators: |
 Royal Illuverendian Navy |
| Preceded by: | Gungnir class |
| Succeeded by: | None, final fast battleship class authorised |
| Built: | 2049-2052 |
| In commission: | 2052-present |
| Planned: | 2 |
| Completed: | 2 |
| Active: | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Fast battleship |
| Displacement: | |
| Length: | 276 m (905 ft 6.1 in) |
| Beam: | 33 m (108 ft 3.2 in) |
| Draught: |
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| Propulsion: | 4 shafts, 6 steam turbines |
| Speed: | 33 kn (61 km/h; 38 mph) |
| Range: | 15,027 nmi (27,830 km; 17,293 mi) at 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
| Complement: | 1,750 crew and officers |
| Armament: | |
| Armour: | |
| Aviation facilities: | 1 × helipad |
| Notes: | Last fast battleship class authorised by the Royal Illuverendian Navy |
The Hestia class is a class of fast battleships under the service of the Royal Illuverendian Navy in early 2050. The class is part of the New Generation Fast Battleships, and the third and final class to be designed in the program. The class is a slimmed-down Conqueror class, a canceled battleship class that was supposed to complement the Albemarle class.
Production of the ships started in 2049, with the slimmed down Conqueror design, official scheme G5-101-CQR, were approved for construction by the NGFB's board. However, the design was a major difference than the first two groups submitted, forcing only two ships of the class to be authorised. The slimmed-down design would then influence the Gungnir class, a slimmed down Albemarle class. The Gungnirs were the last design to be submitted.
The sole two ships, Hestia and Hecate, began construction altogether at the Alliance of Illuverendian Shipyards' Midfordshaven shipyards, with yard numbers 965 and 966 respectively. Upon their completion and commissioning in 2052, they are the most powerful fast battleship class to be commissioned by the Royal Illuverendian Navy. The class is armed with twelve 406 mm (16.0 in) naval guns in contrast to the first two groups, which only had nine.
Background
Between 2048 and 2049, studies on the rearmament of the Royal Illuverendian Navy determined that fast battleships were a must-have in their inventory. The S-50s and the under construction S-51s, which would become the Albemarle class, while heavily armored and armed, were subject to being slow and large heavy targets, being derivations of the Enigmastadt class.
The Royal Illuverendian Navy then launched the New Generation Fast Battleships program in lieu of the outcome, with major Illuverendian naval designers stepping up for the program. Most designers hailed in Neverendia, with two designs - the Osmanthus class and the Hestia class, and the Illusians with the Gungnir.
Design
Under the program's limits, all ships within the NGFB's jurisdiction were strictly regulated in terms of design. All ships had to maintain a length of 276 m (905 ft 6.1 in) and a beam of 33 m (108 ft 3.2 in). Due to the program emphasizing on the fast battleships able to achieve 32 to 33 knots, most displacements were set between 47,000–49,500 t (46,300–48,700 long tons) at standard.
Precursor design: Conqueror
The design of the Hestia class predates the NGFB's founding, and was based on the Conqueror class, a canceled battleship class that was supposed to complement the S-51 Albemarle classes. Neverendian design studies preferred the usage of transom hulls, with viable experience from other vessels. These designs proved to be extensively successful, and often protected the propeller shafts better than the standard curvature hull the Navy uses by default.
The Conquerors were designed to be 30% lighter and 45% faster than the S-51s, while equipped with the roughly same lethal armament of 46 cm (18.1 in) naval guns, as equipped by the Minotaur subclass. The design also had an estimate displacement of around 52,000–56,750 t (51,180–55,850 long tons) standard, with its lean design allowing it to go at 31.7 knots estimate.
Ultimately, the battleship class was shelved due to the superior popularity of the Albemarle classes. However, the design was ordered to be shelved for future use.
Design trimming and submission
When the NGFB program began, the designers of Conqueror were called on upon the table. The viability of the Conqueror as a fast battleship was very high, with projections indicating that a slimmed-down version of the battleship that appropriates the program's limitations are highly possible to be operated. The NGFB board ordered the designers to come up with a 276-meter long, 33-meter wide version of the Conqueror, that meets up the program's standard displacement as well of 47,000–49,500 t (46,300–48,700 long tons).
The designers were aware they had one shot of doing their job, and quickly got to work. Using the projections made by the NGFB, they came up with scheme G5-101-CQR: a 48,000-ton fast battleship with an all-or-nothing armor scheme and a projected speed of 33 knots. Strikingly similar to the Conqueror with its four three-gun turrets, it abided by the program's usage of 40.6 cm (16 in) naval guns, making the design heavily armed as the Albemarle class and group, and the only fast battleship to sport 12 main guns.
Though vastly different from the other ships in the program, the NGFB board approved the design, and limited it only to two ships. The NGFB ruled out that its special design attributes were as equal to four ships in a class. The program also was subjected to a limitation of 10 fast battleships as well, as mandated by the Illuverendian government, forcing a 4-4-2 setup. Nonetheless, the designers were pleased to see their design get the approval. It did leave an influence as the Gungnir class was also a trimmed-down version of the Albemarle class.
Characteristics
Hull
The Hestia class's hull measures at 276 m (905 ft 6.1 in) long overall, and 33 m (108 ft 3.2 in) wide. Taking inspiration from most Neverendian naval designs, the class has a long and lean hull that begins with a curving bow and ends with a transom aft. Most of amidships up to the bow follow the 33-meter wide measurement of the ship, thus allowing extensive space for naval defense systems and secondary batteries.
Unlike the similarly Neverendian-designed Osmanthus class, the Hestia classes' belt armor is exposed, running from the start of turret A to the end of turret Y. This armor scheme protects not only the guns' magazines, but also the engine room and other lower vitals.
Armament
Main battery
The primary battleship guns utilised by the class are twelve 406mm (16 in)/52-calibre Mk I guns, the newest 406 mm (16 inch) calibre gun fielded by the Royal Illuverendian Navy. These guns are able to fire two types of ammunition: armour-piercing and high-explosive shells, and are able to fire such shells into long distances of 23.9 nmi (44.3 km; 27.5 mi). The guns are housed in a four three-gun turret configuration: two forward of the superstructure and two aft, labelled respectively as turrets A-B-X-Y. Turrets B and X are superfiring turrets.
Secondary battery
Like most contemporary Illuverendian warships, the fast battleships extensively use the 127 mm (5 inch)/38 caliber Mk XXIII gun. Twenty-four guns are installed aboard each battleship. These guns, in contrast to the 127 mm L/62, have a higher rate of fire and are effective in short-ranged combat. The 38 caliber version was chosen over the 62 caliber version due to the effectiveness of the former in medium to close-range ship combat.
The Mk XXIII guns are housed in a Mk XLIV twin gun enclosed base ring mount. Six turrets are installed on each side of the battleships on a partial zig-zag pattern, following the positioning of the ship's tall funnels. The design of the mounts allow the guns to have a high degree of elevation, making them a DP gun.
Anti-air systems
The battleships carry a significant amount of heavy shipboard defences against aircraft and other airborne projectiles such as missiles. The Stormbringer CIWS is omnipresent on the battleships, with 10 units installed onboard each, primarily protecting the ship's integral portions. The model used by the battleships is the Mk-III variant of the close-in weapon system, which can be also found on other Illuverendian naval ships.
The CIWS in itself is equipped with a 5,000-round per minute GMF-7 30mm eight-barreled rotary cannon, with effective ranges of 3,000 to 5,000 meters, and a high detection range of 7 km (4.3 mi). During testing of the Mk-III variant, the unit began suppressive fire process at 6.5 km and reached peak operative efficiency at 4 km to 2 km, destroying the test missile completely.
Fire control systems
The battleships utilise the Valhallerens Mk II Mod 7 fire control system for its main batteries. The secondary batteries utilise the Takanashi Mk 57 Mod 11 gun fire control system. The Mk II Mod 7s's main directors and rangefinders are installed on a tall fire control tower for the frontal two batteries, and atop the superstructure on the aft for the rear two batteries. The Mk 57 Mod 11 follows the same procedure, albeit the frontal unit is located above the conning tower and the aft unit atop the superstructure as well, just in front of the rear Mk II Mod 7.
Though the battleships are heavily reliant on radar and sophisticated fire control systems of the modern day era, the turrets of the 406 mm (16 inch) guns have optical rangefinders (affectionately called ears) built on them, in case the shipboard rangefinders encounter glitches or failures.
Protection
Armour
All ships in the New Generation Fast Battleships utilise an all-or-nothing armour schemes, and small measurements of armour to counter the ever-increasing use of high-speed projectiles in the modern day naval doctrine.
The Hestia class is known for its exposed belt armour, running between turrets A to Y, and integrated into the hull. This sort of design was a cross between turtleback armor and the demanded all-or-nothing scheme. To emphasise on its type, the class utilses a 320 mm (13 in) thick sloped armour belt. The battleships' citadel armour range between 395–410 mm (15.6–16.1 in). Each of the bulkheads dividing the ships into sectors are 285 mm (11.2 in) thick.
The class's barbettes are also thickly armoured. Down below the ships decks, it starts at 286 mm (11.3 in), and the extrusions above deck that can be seen have a thickness of 406 mm (16.0 in), the same measurement as the ships' guns. The turrets have a very reasonable armor thickness as well. Each turret's face, except the frontal ones, have a thickness of 340 mm (13 in), with the roofing 381 mm (15.0 in). The frontal face of the turrets possess a very thick layer of armour, at 410 mm (16 in), sloped at 30°. Survivability tests conducted on an exact same turret face reproduction that it was able to withstand even a 460 mm (18 in) shell hit from afar.
The decks of the battleships are primarily made out of steel. Its armour ranges from 42 mm (1.7 in), thickest being 152 mm (6.0 in) and the thinnest at 25–36 mm (0.98–1.42 in).
The ships' most heavily armoured section is the conning tower, located at the forward section of the battleship. At 442 mm (17.4 in) thick, it is virtually impenetrable at long ranges. Because of the frontal secondary battery fire control system installed on the roof of it, the conning tower is also responsible for the protection of the frontal guns' GFCS.
Torpedo protection
The Hestia class utilises some sort of torpedo protection at any rate. A thick internal bulge of four longitudinal torpedo bulkheads, and two shipboard flood tanks that can be used dually for ballast, or for flood control, make up the torpedo protection of the class. Such bulkheads have a system depth of 6.4 m (21 ft) to absorb energies of a torpedo warhead. The 320-mm armour belt runs as well to the triple bottom of the ship, which serves as a factor in the torpedo defenses of the class.
Aircraft facilities
Like most other Illuverendian battleships and warships, the Hestia-class fast battleships are capable of landing and carrying helicopters with the presence of a helipad, located at the aft just in front of turret Y.
Ships
Being the most powerful class in the entire New Generation Fast Battleship series, and the third permitted overall, the Hestias were limited to two ships, named after primordial gods. Both ships were laid down and constructed in the Midfordshaven shipyards in southern Illuverendia.
Hestia
Hestia was ordered on January 2049, laid down on 10 February 2049, with yard number 965 assigned. She was launched on September 2050 thanks to prefabricated construction and innovations implemented. Construction work continued until January 2052 when it was commissioned. The ship then conducted sea trials weeks after and achieved the design speeds of 33 knots and even went over (33.8 kn recorded) its prescribed speeds.
The fast battleship is currently assigned at the Fast Battleship Task Force fleet, moored in Midfordshaven. On September 2056, Hestia left port as the flagship of the fleet as part of Illuverendian intervention in the Memesterian Civil War.
Hecate
Hecate was ordered on January 2049, laid down on 12 February 2049, with yard number 966 assigned. Delays in prefabrication caused her to be launched on mid-October 2050. Hecate was also the first to be finished on December 2051, with speed trials conducted prior to commissioning, inverse to its sole sister ship. On its trials it achieved its prescribed design speeds of 33 knots, but did not go over. The ship was commissioned on the same day as Hestia.
Like Hestia, the fast battleship is assigned at the Fast Battleship Task Force fleet, moored in Midfordshaven. Hecate was also pressed into the Memesterian Civil War.
Operational history
The class conducts routine patrols and exercises off the waters of Illuverendia, known as Operation Aquatic Knights. Limited tours are also conducted when the battleships make a courtesy call in port cities, often for aspiring Navy recruits, or for curious civilians.
On the outbreak of the Memesterian Civil War, Hestia and Hecate were both dispatched. The former served as the flagship of the Fast Battleship Task Force, as part of Illuverendian intervention on the side of the royal government, until it was superseded by the Carrier-Battleship Task Force. Hecate participated in the landings of Green Bay, where she, alongside the Albemarle class HMS Yokohama (BB-95) and fellow New Generation Fast Battleship HMS Jasmine (FBB-51) bombarded the coastlines and cleared way for the Royal Illuverendian Marines to land on.