Aurora-Class Cruiser
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Aurora-Class Cruiser |
| Builders: | Royal Shipbuilders of Cacerta |
| Operators: |
 Cacertian Royal Navy |
| Preceded by: | Romana-Class |
| Succeeded by: | Juliana-Class |
| In commission: | 1923 – 1947 |
| Planned: | 10 |
| Completed: | 10 |
| Lost: | 3 |
| Retired: | 10 |
| Preserved: | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Heavy cruiser |
| Displacement: |
list error: <br /> list (help) 17,532 tons standard 21,269 tons fully loaded |
| Length: | 218.4 meters |
| Beam: | 23.3 meters |
| Draft: | 6.7 meters |
| Propulsion: |
list error: <br /> list (help) 4 × shafts 4 × CNRC geared turbines 4 × CNRC Mk XII boilers |
| Speed: | 33 knots (61 km/h) |
| Range: | 10,500 nautical miles at 15 knots |
| Complement: | 1,657 officers and crew |
| Armament: |
list error: <br /> list (help) Guns: 9 × 200mm RN-CBV guns (3 × 3) 12 × 140mm RN-SBII guns (6 × 2) Dual-purpose: 24 × 75mm RN-AAVII guns (12 × 2) Anti-aircraft: 20 × 20mm RN-AAIV guns (10 × 1) |
The Aurora-class was a class of Cacertian heavy cruiser that served in the nation’s Royal Navy from 1923 to 1947. The Auroras and their related sister class, the Messalina-class cruisers, were designed to address the Cacertian navy’s severe lack of speed and maneuverability during the Divide War. By the end of the Siduri War, the Aurora-class was superseded by the upgraded Juliana II-class cruisers and were decommissioned by 1947. One remaining example of the Aurora is preserved at the Fumicino Naval Warfare Museum; the other nine ships were scrapped.
Design
The Aurora-class can be considered and advanced derivative of its sister class of heavy cruisers, the Messalina-class. They were slightly larger and possessed improved machinery in comparison to its counterparts and featured nine new, auto-loading 200mm naval battery. Construction of the first Aurora began in December of 1921 and would continue for two years until the HMS Aurora was launched in 1923. After a successful shakedown cruise, she was commissioned in the first weeks of 1924.
The nine other sister ships of her class, constructed at other sites across Lombardo, would also be completed between 1923 and 1927. All 10 ships would go on to serve extensively throughout the Siduri War.
Armament
The Aurora-class cruisers possessed a main battery of nine newly developed 200mm auto-loading naval guns capable of maintaining a rate of fire of twelve shots a minute—nearly twice that of her sister class. As a result, the Aurora and her sister ships possessed a rate of fire not seen before on any previous class of Cacertian cruiser. The auto-loading mechanism possessed the ability to operate at any elevation, allowing the Auroras main battery to load specialized anti-aircraft flak shells for a limited anti-aircraft capability.
The secondary battery of the Auroras was nearly identical to that of the Messalina-class cruisers and consisted of six dual turrets armed with 140mm dual-purpose guns. To supplement her larger guns the, class is also armed with a number of dual purpose 75mm guns that were capable of engaging both aircraft and small craft. The Auroras also had twenty 20mm guns for anti-aircraft defense.
Propulsion
A set of four CNRC Mark XII steam boilers served as the main power plant for the Aurora-class. Each boiler powered a single turbine that turned one of four propeller shafts. At full power, the Auroras could reach a maximum speed of 33 knots which made them great pursuit vessels. During the Siduri War, Auroras worked to harass Inner Sphere commerce and trade.
Current Status
The HMS Aurora was the first ship of the class to be decommissioned on 17 July 1947 and was towed to Fumicino to be deactivated. The other nine ships were also decommissioned the same year, but the remaining units were towed to sites in Paviolo where they were later broken apart for scrap.