Thor Class Guided Missile Cruiser
 Thor Class Pre-refit
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Thor Class Guided Missile Cruiser |
| Builders: | Gaeges Imperial Aquanautics |
| Operators: | Imperial Huvakian Navy |
| Completed: | 4 |
| Cancelled: | 1 |
| Active: | 2 |
| Laid up: | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Guided Missile Cruiser |
| Displacement: | 24,300 tons standard 28,000 tons full load |
| Length: | 252 m (827 ft) |
| Beam: | 28.5 m (94 ft) |
| Draught: | 9.1 m (30 ft) |
| Installed power: | 4 shafts, 4 x steam turbines, 8 x 2-drum boilers (172,000 bhp / 128MW) |
| Speed: | 32 knots |
| Range: | Unlimited at 20kn |
| Complement: | 710 |
| Armament: |
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| Armour: | 76 mm plating around reactor compartment, light splinter protection |
| Aircraft carried: | 1 x helipad (standard), Hangar facilities for 2 KH-27 helicopters. |
The Thor Class Guided Missile Cruisers are the largest surface vessels in operation in the Imperial Navy and one of the largest surface vessels still in operation in the world that isn't an aircraft carrier. Envisioned as a heavy missile cruiser the Thor class were designed to hunt down carrier groups and destroy them with long range missiles. With the launch of the Fordo Class they are also the only ships able to complement Imperial aircraft carriers in unlimited range nuclear operations. Even if supply lines are cut the navy's carriers would still have heavy cruiser escorts. Originally armed with only guided missiles the Thor class would see an upgrade starting in 2002 adding additional weapon systems, and the latest guidance and detection systems. The Imperial Navy classifys the Thor class as a Heavy Guided Missile Cruiser but given its size and tonnage many foreign observers have classified the ships as battlecruisers.
2002 Refit
After assessing the changing conditions of warfare it was determined that the Thor class could benefit from a redesigned air defense network. Recognizing that missile technology is becoming more affordable the Imperial Navy aimed to ensure that it's most expensive ships wouldn't be seriously effected. As such the Thor class gained two additional CIWS emplacements and all existing turrets are to be upgraded to the KKD-630 "Duet". Additionally the Thor class recieved two 127mm guns as an added layer of defense should and enemy vessel enter direct combat range.
Due to the high price and budget competition from the carrier program only two of the four warships in Imperial possession have undergone refit. Two hulls in their original configuration are currently laid up near Gaeges with plans to start work sometime in 2021. There has been some speculation that the two remaining vessels are to be scrapped or potentially sold to a foreign power.