Hinoryū-class helicopter carrier

TNS Hinoryu (HCV-103)
Class overview
Builders:	UST and Englean Kaiserreich
Operators:	UST Navy Imperial Taoist Navy Kaiserliche-Marine
Preceded by:	Shokaku-class
Subclasses:	Fürst Faulstich Class
Built:	2010–present
In commission:	2012–present
Planned:	5
Completed:	4
Active:	4
General characteristics
Type:	Helicopter carrier
Displacement:	19,500 tons empty 27,000 tons full load
Length:	248 m (814 ft)
Beam:	38 m (125 ft)
Draft:	7.5 m (25 ft)
Propulsion:	One C2H nuclear reactor
Speed:	34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph)
Range:	Unlimited
Complement:	940 including crew and troops
Sensors and processing systems:	ANCS (advanced naval command system) NGMRCS-3 (next generation multi-role combat system) YERS-12 air radar YERS-56 surface radar YERS-83 sonar
Armament:	4 x Sūkikyō CIWS
Aircraft carried:	Up to 30 aircraft

The Hinoryu-class helicopter carrier (known as the Graf von Kluge-class helicopter carrier in the Englean Kaiserreich) is a helicopter carrier class constructed for the United States of the Tao Navy (USTN) and the Kaiserliche-Marine (KM). The ships of this class are currently the largest surface combatants of the Imperial Taoist Navy (ITN), taking over the mantle previously held by the Shokaku. The lead ship was officially unveiled at Firentsu on 2 July 2012.

Development

The UST Chancellory of Defense (COD) first announced plans for a next generation class of helicopter carriers on 10 October 2002, which included both the Shokaku and Hinoryu classes of carriers. on 15 October 2002 the Englean company Germaniawerft announced that the project would be a joint development with the Ein Shipbuilding Co.

The ship's primary mission is power projection and air superiority, but peacekeeping and disaster relief operations are also being considered.

The ship carries up to 30 aircraft. However, only 4 attack helicopters, 4 ASW helicopters and 2 search and rescue (SAR) helicopters are planned for the initial aircraft complement. For other operations, 400 troops and 50 3.5 ton trucks (or equivalent equipment) can also be carried. The flight deck has 5 helicopter landing spots that allow simultaneous landings or take-offs. The ship is equipped with 4 Sūkikyō CIWS for its defense.

The ships have neither a "ski-jump" nor a catapult, typical features for launching fixed-wing aircraft. If the Izumo class were to operate fixed-wing aircraft, they would be limited to those capable of STOVL (short take-off, vertical landing) operations.

The construction of the first ship of the class began in 2010 at an Ein Shipbuilding Co. shipyard in Ein.

Ships in the class

In September 2011, the Chancellor of Defence Reina Kaede, announced that the Chancellory of Defence was to proceed with a budget request calling for funds for the construction of the planned second, third, and fourth units in the class. The request was approved and the construction contract was awarded to the Ein Shipbuilding Co. in October 2012.

Pennant no.	Name	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Homeport
Imperial Taoist Navy
HCV-103	Hinoryū	4 October 2010	19 June 2011	11 November 2012	Neshito
HCV-104	Gōrudohō	19 January 2012	21 September 2011	3 January 2013	Neshito
HCV-105	Chōrōryū	22 February 2012	6 November 2011	29 March 2013	Aoba
HCV-106	Taihō	2 April 2012	9 February 2013	17 July 2013	Aoba
Kaiserliche-Marine
FZT(N)-05	Fürst Faulstich	4 June 2019