Shokaku-class aircraft carrier

Shokaku-class aircraft carrier

FNS Shokaku on the Ceres Ocean in August 2019
Class overview
Name:	Shokaku–class aircraft carrier
Builders:	Hitsubishi Heavy Industries
Operators:	Fuso Navy
Preceded by:	Mirai-class aircraft carrier
Succeeded by:	Kaga-class aircraft carrier
Cost:	Program cost: $11.29 billion Unit cost: $7.103 billion
In service:	2009–present
In commission:	2
Planned:	2
Completed:	2
Active:	2
General characteristics
Type:	Aircraft carrier
Tonnage:	65,000 tonnes
Displacement:	About 71,650 short tons; 65,000 tonnes
Length:	947 ft (289 m)
Beam:	228 ft (69 m) (flight deck) 134 ft (41 m) (waterline)
Height:	243 feet (74 m)
Draft:	39 ft (12 m)
Installed power:	Two FA4M nuclear reactors
Propulsion:	Four shafts
Speed:	In excess of 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)
Range:	Unlimited
Endurance:	50-year service life
Complement:	320 officers 1,680 enlisted
Crew:	2,000
Armament:	Anti-aircraft missiles: 2 × RIM-162 ESSM launchers 1 × RIM-116 RAM Guns: 2 × Phalanx CIWS 4 × M2 Browning
Aircraft carried:	60
Aviation facilities:	853 ft × 221 ft (260 m × 67 m) flight deck

The Shokaku-class is a class of two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in service with the Fuso Navy. It is currently the largest and heaviest ships of the Fuso Navy and the first aircraft carrier of the Fuso Navy since the dissolution of the Imperial Navy. The Shokaku-class introduces unique designs and technologies inside that would meet the requirements of an effective, functioning carrier, as well as introducing a command-based ATECS system for operations management. It also has a unique aircraft launch system that reduces the stress on the body of the aircraft upon takeoff, as well as other designs that would improve the efficiency and reduce operating costs.

The decommissioning of the FNS Murai left Fuso with no aircraft carrier for the next four decades, and work began for two aircraft carriers following a narrow but approved an order from the National Diet to begin construction of two aircraft carriers that would significantly bolster the nation's naval capabilities both from its territories and beyond. The lead ship, FNS Shokaku was first deployed in 2016 at the Nadelia Sea during Operation: Frontier Defiant where it conducted airborne and maritime rescue operations. Although it was also assigned to assist in coalition airstrikes, most of its fighters were exclusively for air patrol interception duties.

Both the Shokaku and Zuikaku carry up to 65 aircraft onboard. With 48 of aircraft onboard comprised of FA-18C/D multirole fighter jets, and the rest either being complemented by combat/surveillance aircraft or helicopters. The launch of any aircraft onboard are done by an electromagnetic aircraft catapult launch system. For defensive capabilities, it is equipped with short to medium-range defensive weaponry for anti-aircraft warfare and missile defense. Plans to make another carrier after the Zuikaku was rumored in November 2018, but the Fusoese Government currently states that it will exceed the current budget of the Navy. But a press leak confirmed the construction of the successor of the said classes, however, and on February 13, 2020, the government confirmed the construction of the Shokaku's successors, the Kaga class.

Description

The Shokaku-class carriers have an overall length of 947 ft (289 m) and a full-load displacement of about 59,000 tonnes. They have a beam at the waterline of 134 ft (41 m), and the maximum width of their flight decks is 228 feet 10 inches (69.72 m) to 253 feet 3 inches. The ship's company can number up to a maximum of 2,800. Until the completion of the FNS Kaga, they are currently the largest warships in the Fusoese Navy.

The carriers armament and defenses are complemented by two anti-missile and anti-aircraft ESSM launchers, as well as four Phalanx CIWS. Some parts of the carriers are equipped with mounted anti-infantry weapons across with M2 Brownings. The carrier also carries one company-sized troops ready for offensive and defensive operations.

The Shokaku-class carriers can accommodate up to 60 aircraft of different types, but the Ministry suggests to carry 42 aircraft in order to accommodate for any aircraft to make a landing on the carriers itself, specifically in any emergency or other necessities. Five combat air squadrons, with each squadron having 6 FA-18s. A sixth and seventh squadron would either be composed of EFA-18s for electronic warfare operations, E-2 Hawkeyes for airborne early warning operations and other such, with the rest filled in by any aircraft such as a squadron of Anti-submarine helicopter squadrons that would compose of 5 to 6 SH-60s. The aircrew is also made up of support personnel involved in roles including maintenance, aircraft, and ordnance handling and emergency procedures. Each person on the flight deck wears color-coded clothing to make his role easily identifiable.

Ships in class

Pennant no.	Ship	Commissioned	Status	Homeport	Notes
Shokaku subclass
CVN-01	FNS Shokaku	7 January 2009	In service	Yokosa Naval Base, Yokosa City	Flagship of the Fuso Navy and the First Fleet (To be soon to the Third Fleet)
CVN-02	FNS Zuikaku	18 October 2013	In service	Kure Naval Base, Hanoshine City	Serves as the flagship of the Second Fleet

Service history

2009–present

The first major operations in which the ships were involved as during airstrike and rescue missions in the Kaenai Peninsula during Operation Guardian Waves by Shokaku in February 2011, where she had deployed her airwing in providing additional strikes for coalition forces while rescuing stranded military troops during the Peninsula Wars. It later soon became a platform for major relief operations in the area upon its helicopter wing received about hundreds of civilians in need of medical attention, where she later transferred the majority of it's patients to the nearby Aventhian hospital ship Vincent. A year later, Shokaku was sent to the Fuso sea during a brief naval skirmish between North Khoshun and Fuso in the Changshun Straits, where it's airwing had sunk four gunboats and one corvette.