Spear class frigate
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| File:Spearclass.png | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Spear class frigate |
| Builders: | Anacom Industries |
| Operators: |
 Tarsas |
| Planned: | 10 |
| Completed: | 10 |
| Active: |
Imperial Sea Legion |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Frigate |
| Displacement: | 4,053 tonnes |
| Length: | 134.1 m (440 ft)(overall) |
| Beam: | 16 m |
| Propulsion: | CODAD, 4 x KLO 16 PA6 STC diesels, 5700 kW (7600+ hp @ 1084 rpm) each |
| Complement: | 165 |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
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| Electronic warfare & decoys: |
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| Armament: |
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| Aircraft carried: | 1 x TETRU H-11 |
| Aviation facilities: | Helipad and hangar |
The Spear class is a Tarsan multi-role warship class, the first of which entered service with the Imperial Sea Legion in 2007. It is a development of the Trident class frigate, using the same hull but with improved sensors and weapons. The frigate's design is focused mostly towards anti-submarine warfare despite its strong capabilities against air targets, the introduction of the Type 095 ASW launcher, it is the most modern anti-submarine vessel in the Imperial Legion.
Design
The class was designed as a multi-role frigate, it's primary strengths lay in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) systems. This new class of frigates incorporates some stealth technology. The ship is equipped with a newly designed Type 011 integrated sonar system as its primary ASW sensor.
The Spear class carries medium-range air defence missiles and various anti submarine rockets in a VLS system and launcher system. The vessel adopts the same cold launch VLS system common on Tarsan ships and is capable of being resized for various missiles.
The vessel is also armed with 2 Scarecrow CIWS. The autonomous Type 730 provides improved reaction time against close-in threats.
The 100 mm main gun on earlier Trident class is replaced by H/PJ26 stealthy 76 mm dual purpose gun mount. The adoption of smaller caliber gun is the result of the need of higher rate of fire for air defense, including sea-skimming anti-ship missiles. H/PJ26 utilizes advanced synthetic material such as fiber glass, resulting in over 30% of weight reduction to 11.5 ton of H/PJ26, as opposed to the 16.8+ tons of AK-176.
The Spear class had the 2 x 6 Type 87 240mm anti-submarine rocket launchers removed and replaced with a Type 095 ASW system, which was moved atop of the hangar at the stern, the Type 095 is currently the most up to date anti-submarine rocket based system in use within the Papal Navy. The Type 095 also required an update of the class's sonar capabilities, including upgrades to the system, allowing automation based upon sonar data in the targeting of the Type 095.
Another improvement of the Spear class is its information systems (IS) for maintenance and inventory control, which automatically provides information to shore based facilities or supply ships on the parts in need, to the last detail, so that parts in need can be provided more quickly. The resulting down time due to maintenance & repair is reduced to a fraction of what it is for older vessels without this IS system. The Legion has termed this IS for maintenance and inventory control another force multiplier because it increased availability for deployment by reducing downtime.