Broadsword Class Frigate
| |
| Broadsword class | |
|---|---|
| Design details | |
| Type | Frigate |
| Hull type | Monohull |
| Manufacturer | FDI Group other yards |
| Preceded by | Ardent Class Frigate |
| Followed by | Hidden Blade Class Frigate |
| Service dates | 2005 (SC) to Present |
| Status | In Active Service |
| Operators | |
| The Freethinker Commonwealth File:Nationalflag Kouralia.png Kouralia  Malgrave
| |
The Broadsword class is an escort frigate of the Freethinker Royal Navy. Based on the FDI Group Forum Series of corvette and frigate export designs, it is intended as a more cost-effective counterpart to the larger Ardent class, retaining a multi-role configuration but on a smaller, cheaper hull and with leaner crewing requirements. They form one of major support classes of the Commonwealth's naval forces, and are principally tasked with territorial patrol and anti-piracy operations.
The concept of the 'escort frigate, essentially a ranged 'sub chaser', was prior to the introduction of the Broadswords a limited function of Freestian frigates. They were the first design, and noted for such, to move away from the trend of 'large multirole combatants' that had seen an expansion in the size, power and cost of the surface fleet of the FRN. The vessels, thanks to their high degree of modularity and cost-effectiveness, have been one of the major export successes of Freestian shipbuilding.
Origin and Manufacture
Design
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Displacement: | 3,400 tons (Normal load) |
| Dimensions: | 120.2 (l) x 15.2m (w) x 5.2m (d) |
| Crew: | 85 (Ship's Complement) 12 (Onboarded Specialists) |
| Propulsion: | - |
| Performance: | - 28 kts (Sustainable) - 7,400 Miles |
| Armament: | - 1 x 76mm/32 Gun - 1 x 16-cell FDI Seasnake SAM VLS - 2 x Quad CASM Launchers - 1 x Mk3B JOCIWS - 2 x Twin Torpedo Catapults - 2 x 25mm Cannons |
| Aircraft: | - 1 light/medium helicopter - Support facilities for UAVs/drones |
| No. Ships in Class: | - 2,480 |
Armament
The ship's surface-to-surface missile is the CASM. The two quadruple launch tubes are installed amid-ship ahead of the ship's funnel. The CASM missile uses active or semi-active radar homing to deliver a 260kg warhead to a range in excess of 80 miles.
Gunnery is centred on a BI 76mm/32 DP Autocannon, a license built version of the 3" OTO Melera Compact weapon.
There are two BI 25mm guns for manual close in defence. These are crewed, sensor-directed weapons designed for anti-surface and anti-air work. In addition, 4 machine gun mounts, for either 7.7mm GPMG or 6 x 7.62mm Miniguns are installed for port defence work.
Sensors
As a dedicated
- Sonar
- Falltech SS-24A Medium-range Bow-mounted, Falltech SS-30B (mod 2) Towed Array
The Combat Management Suite is the Falltech General Surface Tactical Defence Control system. This is the standard escort control system installed on Freestian warships, and combines all sensory input and weapon control modules to provide an integrated system management function. Primary control is located in a hardened Command Centre amidship.
The ship is equipped with an Falltech/CNIO RD OVERLORD communciations and coordination module, Link 11/14 communications,
Propulsion
The propellors are large, four bladed units mounted on two shafts. A new feathered design was installed to reduce cavitation and improve transmission efficiency.
Several auxiliary generators and battery systems are also carried. These include two 500kw Thompson diesel-electric motors.
Protection
- Electronic Warfare
- Falltech Mk 605 ECM/ESM suite, 4 x Falltech Mk 7 Decoy Launchers,
Passive defence against submerged targets is provided by a number of systems. The Falltech Universal Towed Decoy System is the main decoy carried, deploying an active towed platform.
Argus Defence Technologies installed degaussing and acoustic sweeping gear, specifically the ASDS and the AD Mk.1 Magnetic/Acoustic sweeping system. Both installed sets are sized for the vessel and designed to provide effective passive defence against numerous underwater threats.
Service History
As a relatively common frigate design, Broadswords have deployed on a number of recent occasions.
Vessels of this class were deployed in the 2nd and 13th Expeditionary Fleets as part of Operation In Scarlet Clad.
Foreign Operators
Alongside the FRN, several other nations use the vessel, using variants of the Broadsword design. These include Kouralia and Malgrave.
Kouralia
Malgrave
List of Users
The Freethinker Commonwealth
- Freethinker Royal Navy 2,480
Kouralia
Malgrave
- Royal Malgravean Navy 150
