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.
Development
The Miquimama class began its design and planning almost as soon as its predecessor class the Tletacati class had entered service in 1990. This was because the Tletlacati carriers had fallen short of the ambitions of its designers, ambitions which were subsequently pushed onto the next generation of the navy's fleet carriers. The Tletlacati is of moderate size, with a displacement of 55,000 tonnes when fully loaded, which is much heavier than its 20,000-30,000 tonne non-nuclear powered predecessors. In many aspects, the Tletlacati class was a major leap forward for the Zacapine Navy in terms of technology and global standing. However, even these carriers were still significantly smaller than the massive supercarriers operated by the world's leading naval powers such as Belfras, Latium and Tsurushima. For its entire history, the Zacapine Navy held the ambition of standing as an equal to these nations and their powerful blue-water navies capable of projecting military power across the globe. In the Tletlacati class it had made an important step in this process, launching its first CATOBAR-type carrier propelled by nuclear energy. However, they were still significantly smaller and therefore carried fewer aircraft, less aviation fuel, and a smaller arsenal of weapons onboard. The Tletlacati ships were originally planned to be the first Zacapine supercarriers, but when these plans fell through and a smaller, more realistic design was pursued, the early drafts for such a class of ship became the basis for the next generation of carrier which would eventually replace the Tletlacati carriers at the ends of their service lives.
This especially long period of development, over two decades before construction began on the ACZ Miquimama, resulted in many features being added and removed from the plans over time. Some designers called parts of the design process feature creep, especially in reference to the multi-layered defense systems added to the vessel over the course of its development. The vessel was originally planned to be armed with eight of the Navy's proven OT-630s controlled by the central fire control radar. Individual radars were added after the fact to the design, to guide each of these weapon systems. When the Cuauhquetztia Naval Armaments Plant finalized the design of its new VLS missile system, these were also added to give the Miquimama longer ranged integrated anti-air capabilities. Unsatisfied with the OT-630s, two of these were replaced with the much larger OT-425 system, requiring significant changes to the mountings due to the difference in weight and dimensions. The OT-425s also had their own integrated SAM system, which were older and less capable than the new VLS system already included in the plans, creating a redundant design. Finally, a series of anti-submarine rocket launchers were added to round out what had become a significant defensive arsenal. Many of the engineers complained about this aspect of the design process, as it led to constant delays and additional workload. Nevertheless, the Navy approved of the added defenses and put pressure on the engineering units to continue this course of development.
Besides the general improvements over the Tletlacati class from the increase in size, the Navy also wanted the Miquimama class to be more resistant to damage. This would compel the design team to make a series of revisions to the hull and especially to the hangar decks, adding a series of safety contingency and hardened features that would help to mitigate the damage of a successful enemy attack penetrating through the bristling defenses that had been added. This would include four massive armored doors inside the hangar deck that could close and section off parts of the hangar to contain a fire and protect the a portion of the aircraft in the hangar from any collateral damage or spreading effects. Following the 2004 Xochitlalpan disaster, the Navy also directed the engineers to add additional shielding and improved safety protocols for the nuclear reactors onboard.
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 primality 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.
In addition to these fixed wing aircraft, the Miquimama class also carries a number of helicopters for various purposes. During normal operations, the ship carries 4 Ilacatztli Ila-11 helicopters for anti-submarine operations, although they can also serve in the search-and-rescue role. However, if the ship is involved in an amphibious military operation, it is capable of carrying and launching up to 12 additional Mixcoatl Mix-28, Mixcoatl Mix-24, and MIAEZ-60 helicopters to support the operations of the Naval Infantry.