Agamemnon-class amphibious assault ship

Class overview
Name:	Agamemnon-class amphibious assault ship
Builders:	Patmos Shipbuilders Consortium
Operators:	Republic Navy
Preceded by:	Nobility-class
Cost:	$3.4 billion
Built:	1999-2004
In service:	2003-present
Active:	5
General characteristics
Type:	Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) amphibious assault ship
Displacement:	45,000 tons full load
Length:	252 m (826.77 feet)
Beam:	31 m (101.70 feet)
Draft:	9.15 m (30.01 feet)
Propulsion:	Combined Diesel and Gas 1 x RE-MGT-2500+ Gas Turbine 2 x Krakatoa 24/50V/22 Diesel Generators 2 x Azimuth Thrusters
Speed:	+20 kn
Range:	9,650 nm
Boats & landing craft carried:	2 x Landing Craft Air Cushion or 12 x Template:Landing Craft Mechanized or 15 x Extendable self-propelled landing barges
Troops:	1,650 Marines (standard) 2,000 Marines (Temporary capacity)
Complement:	63 officers, 995 enlisted
Sensors and processing systems:	RN/SPD-4 AESA Radar RN/SPS-52 3D Long-Range Air Search RN/SPN-82E Air Traffic Control System ARES Combat System RHEA Defence Network
Electronic warfare & decoys:	RN/SLS-082 Electronic Warfare Suite
Armament:	4 x Millenium-Gun CIWS 4 x RAM Anti-Air Missile Launchers 4 x 76mm Super-Rapid cannons 2 x 30mm Remote-Operated Weapons

The Agamemnon class is a Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) amphibious assault ship class in service with the Republic Navy. Designed to improve on the more populous but older Nobility-class, the design boasts an improved air and naval capability with the mission mindset of providing a forward operations base for land-based combat operations along with the ability to provide air cover or air mobility to that ground force. It is capable of holding an entire Army expeditionary unit to conduct rapid reaction deployments to crisis events.

Naming

Naming of the class was conducted through a series of internal meetings with the admiralty and the government at the time. It was ultimately decided that the name of the class should be something to reflect the Navy's heritage to this point. Eventually it was decided that the name of the class should be after Phillippos Agamemnon, an admiral who served in the navy during the 1850 rebellion against Latin rule.

Design

RNV Agamemnon with old bridge set-up prior to 2014 refit.

Agamemnon was meant to be the first of a class of four amphibious assault ships, with the mission for them to be paired with a supporting group for duties abroad, but construction costs coupled with the 2000 financial crisis resulted in the remaining vessels of the class never being laid down. The class builds on the success of the Nobility-class design with modifications to allow for a slightly larger marine complement and a larger aircraft and landing craft storage ability. The resulting effect of these improvements to the design meant that the ship was almost 25 meters (82 feet) longer than the previous design along with a heavier displacement of 45,000 tons under full load. Plans for a long-range anti-air missile system to be a part of the ship's design was scrapped before Agamemnon was laid down and the design was altered for an increased CIWS system with the idea that the class would rely on an escort group and carried air wing for long-range anti-air protection.

The ship was the first in the Republic Navy to be constructed in modular sections, with Agamemnon being constructed out of 148 'super-lift' modules. These sections were constructed at specialised facilities around teh country and shipped to the drydock for assembly, being lifted into position by a 700 ton-capacity crane and then welded together, with equipment and wiring already installed.

The amphibious assault ship's defensive capabilities are provided by the ARES Combat System, which is an advanced command and decision C&D and Weapon Control System (WCS) platform which utilises advanced computer systems and radar equipment to track enemy and friendly targets and to guide/recommend munitions for the neutralisation of hostile targets or airborne/sea-borne munitions. The ARES system is highly modular and is capable of utilising equipment and software direct-links on the fly to fit to the ship's current load-out and mission profile. This highly efficient system also communicates with nearby ARES systems to share information and to 'scrub' false positives when it is safe to do so, an intricate fire-wall prevention system alerts and shuts down the network when a false hand-shake is identified. The networking system can also be shut down as a part of the ship's Emissions Control (EMCON) or when engaging enemy combatants in an environment where jamming may occur. The ARES system itself is divided into several boxes; A centralised mainframe that contains the system's unique user interface which is accessed from the ship's Combat Information Center (CIC) and bridge. The system's Command and Decision (C&D) and Weapon Control Systems (WCS) are divided into two separate boxes, with all three interacting as necessary.

The system's Command and Decision C&D software aboard the Agamemnon operates as such: The ship's navigation display charts are overlaid onto the tactical grid provided by ARES and operators are able to see an detailed map of the surrounding areas, including moving entities (Ships, planes, detected land vehicles and sub-surface entities) in detail with speed and altitude/depth also displayed. Operators utilising the system can alter it as necessary or interrogate contacts for further information as available. The system plugs directly into the ship's radar systems to generate it's map and is coupled with the ship's Electronic Support Measure (ESM) suite to scrub radar echoes and resolve any jamming ongoing. Satellite Communications and Tactical Information Link (SCOTIL) allows the ship to maintain steady communications with Fleet Command, allied ships or other entities whilst out on operations. This is the method in which the ship's RHEA network gains third-party information of incoming ordnance for self defence purposes.

The Weapon Control System (WCS) of the Agamemnon falls into the Anti-Air Warfare (AAW), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW), and Electronic Countermeasure (ECM) boxes, all of which interface with the Command and Decision (C&D) system for pin-point accuracy. The ship's Electronic Warfare Suite is provided with the RN/SLS-082 which also houses the Electronic Support Measure suite (ESM) mentioned previously. The Electronic Countermeasure suite utilises a multi-mode, multiple-engagement frequency modulating system to present false images to incoming ordnance and enemy fire control systems trying to 'paint' the vessel. The emitters of the Electronic Countermeasures are capable of a self-modulating energy patterns that constantly shifts during engagement to also throw off Electronic Counter-countermeasure systems (ECCM). The suite also works as a method of detection for incoming missiles and utilises an automated decoy deployment system that takes over from crew members in emergencies to launch RBOC (Rapid Blooming Off-board Chaff) as needed.

The Electronic Countermeasure suite (ECM) forms a part of the Weapon Control System (WCS) defensive mode which combines the previously mentioned Rapidly Blooming Off-board Chaff (RBOC) with the ship's Trixton 500 Defence Suite and Beluga Anti-Torpedo Countermeasure System. The Trixton 500 is a modular system that utilises 1.2 ton rotary launchers to deploy active countermeasures into the direction of incoming missiles. The suite is also capable of holding and firing anti-air and anti-surface missiles for short range combat against hostile aircraft and boats making an attacking run. One such missile the Trixton 500 is capable of firing is the Pilum Missile, a short-range anti-surface/ship missile with a range of eight kilometers. The suite is also capable of launching anti-torpedo countermeasures, either as a decoy submerged chaff or as a torpedo-hunting interceptor. The Trixton is aided by the RBOC and an array of active/IR decoy launchers throughout the ship. The defensive mode also directly utilises the ship's four Millenium CIWS, four SAM launchers and two 30mm remote operated cannons as needed, although usage of the 30mm cannons is a toggled-on slave as opposed to naturally available. The offensive mode of the ship is limited and utilises the Millenium CIWS, 30mm Cannons and SAM launchers for anti-surface warfare (ASuW) mode.

Ships of the class

Name	Hull number	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Motto	Fate
Agamemnon class
RNV Agamemnon	LHD-03	2 August 1999	22 April 2001	5 March 2003	Iron Strike	Active

See also

• Republic Navy
• Belfrasian Marines