Miquimama-class fleet carrier
 ACZ Miquimama underway in the Vespanian ocean
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators: |
 Zacapican |
| Preceded by: | Tletlacati class |
| In commission: | 2018-Present |
| Planned: | 3 |
| Building: | 1 |
| Active: | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Aircraft carrier |
| Displacement: | 75,000 tonnes (full load) |
| Length: | Overall: 310 m (1,020 ft) |
| Beam: |
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| Propulsion: | 2 × TlA2 pressurized water reactors, 250 MW (340,000 hp) each |
| Speed: | 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph) |
| Range: | Unlimited |
| Complement: |
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| Sensors and processing systems: |
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| Armament: |
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| Aircraft carried: | 50-60 aircraft (See air groups) |
The Miquimama class is the newest aircraft carrier type in service with the Zacapine Navy. The class leader, the ACZ Miquimama, is also the flagship of the Navy and the lead ship of the Vespanian fleet. The class are the largest ship type ever put into service in the Zacapine naval forces at a massive 75,000 tonnes of displacement when fully loaded, making them the first Zacapine carriers to qualify as supercarriers. The Miquimama is a CATOBAR-type carrier design capable of launching and recovering non-VTOL/STOVL aircraft from its flight deck using three electromagnetic catapults and arresting gear. Like the Tletlacati class it is planned to replace, the Miquimama class is nuclear powered which gives it greater flexibility in its deployments and a theoretically unlimited range. A total of 3 Miquimama class carriers are planned to be built, each one replacing one of the Navy's older Tletlacati carriers. To date, only the ACZ Miquimama has been launched, with the ACZ Chalchiuhtlicue currently under construction at the Tecolotlan military shipyards.
Design
Armament
Although the Miquimama class relies primarily on its air groups in combat, it is nevertheless equipped with an array of defensive weapons to serve as a second line of defense against a variety of attacks. Its most advanced weapons are the 16 Pocyotl 21 anti-air missiles which are held in 8-cell VLS missile systems aft of the island tower. These missiles represent the second line of defense behind the combat air patrol against enemy aircraft and missile attacks. The third line of defense are the CIWS point defense weapon emplacements. The Miquimama class carriers are equipped with two of the heavy OT-425 CIWS, one port and one starboard amidships. These are complex air defense systems each armed with 2 30mm rotary cannons and a 4-cell missile launch system launching anti-aircraft and anti-radiation missiles. The OT-425 missiles have a shorter range and less advanced target tracking than the Pocyotl 21s. The anti-air defenses of the Miquimama class are rounded out by 4 additional OT-630 CIWS each linked to a TZI10 fire control radar to track targets independently. The CIWS array is primarlity intended to defend against incoming missiles, but may also engaged enemy aircraft that have managed to penetrate the combat air patrol and could not be engaged by the primary SAM systems.
The anti-submarine defenses of the Miquimama class are considerably more rudimentary than its layered anti-air defense system, relying much more on escort ships and the carrier's ASW helicopters for anti-submarine defense. The carrier is fitted with a TET-3ACTN sonar system on its hull which grants in a limited capability to detect and track submarines in the water below. To engage these submarines, the ship is armed with 3 ZBT-2000 rocket launchers (1 near the bow and 2 astern) firing 212mm guided rockets that can seek out targets up to 1000 meters of depth. The ZBT-2000s are primarily for use against submarines but can also target incoming torpedoes and even divers in the water.
Propulsion
The ship is fitted with two TlA2 pressurized water reactors which turn two 8 meter bronze screws to propel the ship at 28 knots. These reactors also provide all of the necessary electricity for the ship's operation. The ship is able to move at a limited speed under the power of a single reactor in the case of unexpected shutdown or failure of one of its Tla2s. The class was originally planned to be fitted with a series of hydrogen-moderated nuclear power modules instead, but these ran into diffculties during development and were not ready in time to be included in the construction of the ship. Instead, a modern naval PWR design was quickly developed based off of existing reactor types used by the Zacapine Navy to serve as the Miquimama's powerplant.
Air groups
The typical carrier air wing for the Miquimama class consists of 60+ aircraft including naval fighters, AEW&C aircraft, and various helicopter and UAV models. The fixed-wing aircraft of the carrier air group are grouped into five numbered squadrons (patlanalli). Pat 1-4 consist of 13 fighters each, adding up to a total of 52 fighter aircraft aboard the carriers. Pat 1, 2 and 3 are made up entirely of navalized Tlo-45 Sea Condor fighter aircraft, while Pat 4 is made of 4 Tlo-45s and 9 of the older Tlo-35 Skua. The VTOL capable Skuas are included in the air group as they are somewhat smaller than the Sea Condors, saving enough space between nine aircraft to enable the carrier to store 2 additional fighter aircraft aboard than it would otherwise be able to. The Tlo-35s are not modified to engage with the catapult or arresting wire systems of the carrier, relying on their VTOL capabilities to take off and land from the carrier instead. Pat 5 is the AEW&C group of the carrier air wing, made up of four Mixcoatl Mix-200 aircraft. In typical operations, the carrier air wing will field 2 fighter squadrons and 2 of the corresponding Mix-200 AEW&C aircraft at a time. During a combat operation, the number of active aircraft can be between 2 and 3 such fighter-AEW&C groups. The Miquimama class is capable of launching upwards of 75 sorties per day and up to 150 sorties in a 24 hour period.