Bell-class frigate

Revision as of 13:24, 29 April 2023 by Chain (talk | contribs) (Created page with "{|{{Infobox ship begin}} {{Infobox ship image |Ship image=300px |Ship caption=''Bell'', lead ship of the ''Bell''-class frigates. }} {{Infobox ship cl...")
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Bell-class.png
Bell, lead ship of the Bell-class frigates.
Class overview
Builders: Algiers Maritime Engineering, Smith Island,  Meridon
Operators:  Meridonian Navy
Preceded by: Mystere-class destroyer
Succeeded by: Helena-class destroyer
Subclasses: Rourke-class cruiser
Built: 2018-present
In service: 2020-present
Planned: 22
Building: 3
Completed: 5
Active: 4
General characteristics
Class and type: Guided missile frigate, anti-submarine warfare frigate
Displacement: 7,200 tons, full load
Length: Overall: 420 feet
Beam: Overall: Around 68ft
Draught: 26 ft
Propulsion:

list error: mixed text and list (help)
CODLOG configuration:

  • 1 gas turbine
  • 4x high-speed gas generators
  • 2x electric motors
Speed: In excess of 35 knots
Range: In excess of 7000 nm at 18kts operating on electric motors
Complement: 160, with capacity for up to 200.
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • Delta EMRASsed array 3D multifunction radar
  • Delta AM8491 2D air search radar
  • 2x Delta SM333 I Band surface search/navigational radar
  • 1x Delta SM315 E/F Band surface search radar
  • 2x Delta TM220 missile radar illuminators
  • 2x MATCA combined AHRS/INS systems
  • MATCA Command Navigation Program
  • MATCA RAGOTS combined radar and optical gun tracking suite
  • Matca R43E sonar suite
  • Matca Seafin R300 towed array sonar
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
  • MATCA SHREWD electronic warfare suite
  • MATCA NGSEE signals exploitation suite
  • Nulka decoys
  • Advanced Counter-Torpedo Decoy System
  • Offboard Float Decoy System
  • Nixie decoys
Armament:

list error: mixed text and list (help)
1x Type 42 4.5in naval gun 2x Type 318 30mm chaingun 2x 7.62 miniguns 6x 7.62 general purpose machine guns 2x 48-cell + 1x 32-cell VLS (128 total cells) with capacity for:

  • MSA-7 short range anti-aircraft missile (up to 4x per cell) (legacy)
  • MSA-6 long range anti-aircraft missile (legacy)
  • MSA-15 short-range anti-aircraft missile (up to 4x per cell)
  • MSA-30 long-range anti-aircraft missile
  • MSU-14 antisubmarine rocket-propelled torpedo
  • MSS-18 cruise missile

2x Goalkeeper CIWS 16x MSS-33 anti-ship missiles

2x triple torpedo tubes for MSU-90 anti-submarine torpedoes
Armour: Kevlar over vital spaces
Aircraft carried: 2x H50M5 normally carried
Aviation facilities: Enclosed hangar for up to 2x H50M5 Hawk

The Otapara-class is a class of eight guided missile destroyers in service with the Meridonian Navy. Initially designed as all-spectrum multi-purpose destroyers to replace a number of surface combatants in the Navy, cost concerns and perceptions about its lack of ability to effectively counter next-generation threats particularly in the air-to-air arena due to the lack of modular space available (particularly with radar and guidance systems for missiles) saw it optimized into a 'general purpose' (GP) destroyer oriented as a surface action group leader and multi-purpose destroyer. The first ship, Otapara, was commissioned in 1998, with the last, Anamaru, commissioning in 1993. While 20 of these vessels were initially planned, 12 were cancelled. 6 of the twelve were converted to Rourke-class cruisers, and material from the other two currently in construction were cannibalized to contribute to this.

The Otapara-class is the largest surface warfare vessel built for the Navy since the 1950s, and is one of the most heavily armed destroyers in the world. Considered a cruiser in some circles, it was designed to meet virtually every mission set expected of a surface combatant. Originally armed for air defense with MSA-6 and 7 missiles, all have since been upgraded by 2010 to utilize the Common Air Defense System suite of missiles. It is additionally capable of anti-shipping warfare with box-launched MSS-33 and VLS-launched MSS-18 cruise missiles, the latter of which are also capable of land attack; and anti-submarine warfare with embarked anti-submarine helicopters, MSU-14 antisubmarine rocket torpedoes.


Description

Design

Anamaru conducting a live fire exercise off the coast of Redbird Territory.

The Otapara-class was originally conceived as a standardized class of destroyer able to perform all necessary functions expected of a future surface combatant, including provisions for flag facilities as leaders of surface action groups. Replacing older Mystere-class vessels, they offered a substantially increased capability in anti-ship and land attack warfare, the latter being the first introduction of the capability from a surface ship with the introduction of VLS tubes. 20 ships were originally planned, however due to the high cost related to fitting and arming an Otapara-class destroyer and its percieved inadequacy in the air defense role, the Helena-class destroyer was designed to specialize in air warfare and form the bulk of a surface action group. This lead to the emergence of the semi-formal designation of the Otapara-class as a 'general purpose' destroyer, as opposed to the 'air wafare' destroyer Helena-class.


Construction

Propulsion

Armament and protection

Flight deck and aircraft facilities

Strike groups

Design differences within the class

Ships in class

Ship Pennant number Laid down Launched Commissioned
MRS Otapara D30 23 March 1985 12 April 1988 33 November 1988
MRS Kaimai D31 10 July 1985 24 December 1988 30 August 1989
MRS Kaihiku D32 2 June 1986 30 March 1989 20 February 1990
MRS Ohikati D33 13 November 1986 20 March 1989 11 March 1990
MRS Rotoma D34 24 July 1987 14 July 1990 2 January 1992
MRS Whitikau D35 18 February 1988 2 January 1991 11 January 1992
MRS Pipiroa D36 2 March 1989 3 March 1992 16 December 1992
MRS Anamaru D37 20 December 1989 14 December 1992 3 May 1993