Beluga class amphibious assault ship
| File:BelugaAAS.JPG CFS Ebonheart on maneouvres
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Beluga class Amphibious Assault Ship |
| Builders: | Hlaford Shipyards |
| Operators: | Template:Country data Confederate Brytisc Fleet |
| Cost: | $3.4 billion |
| In service: | 2002-present |
| Building: | 0 |
| Completed: | 4 |
| Cancelled: | 0 |
| Active: | 4 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Beluga class |
| Type: | Amphibious Assault Ship |
| Displacement: | 44,971 (long tons) |
| Length: | 257m |
| Beam: | 32m |
| Propulsion: |
list error: <br /> list (help) Two Gas turbines, 2 shafts with 70,000 total brake horsepower, two 5,000hp auxilliary engines |
| Speed: | 20kn (cruising) |
| Range: | 5,500+ nautical miles at 20kn |
| Boats & landing craft carried: |
list error: <br /> list (help) 4x Wernham-Hogg LCU Mark II or 16x Wernham-Hogg LCPV |
| Troops: | 1,742 marines |
| Complement: | 65 officers |
| Crew: | 985 enlisted men |
| Sensors and processing systems: | AN/SLQ-32B(V)2, fire control, air search radar |
| Armament: |
list error: <br /> list (help) 2x Rolling Airframe Missle launchers 2 x SAM/AMM launchers 2x CIWS gun turret 2x 30mm autocannon 6x 7.62mm chaingun |
| Aircraft carried: |
list error: <br /> list (help) |
| Aviation facilities: | Hangar deck |
The Beluga class Amphibious Assault Ship is the primary operational vessel of the Confederate Brytisc Fleet. Designed and manufactured by Hlaford Shipyards of Brytene, the class currently consists of four active-duty vessels and a single unfinished hull. The class includes capacity for amphibious landing vehicles, V/STOL landings, and helicopter support, as well as light armament to enable it to defend itself against airborne or naval attack.
After the CFS Pelegiad, Beluga-class vessels are the largest ships in operation with the Royal Brytisc Fleet.
Development
In the early 2000's, the decision was made to refit the entire Fleet. Following consultation and budgetary planning, it was determined that the Brytisc economy could not support a full carrier fleet, and that large supercarriers were neither cost-effective nor vital to the overall Fleet mission statement.
As a compromise, a single supercarrier was commissioned, whilst four smaller Amphibious Assault Ships were commissioned in order to act as mobile command and deployment for international missions carried out by the Fleet. Large enough to support up to a score of VTOL or STOL aircraft, able to transport an entire regiment of Marines plus support, and with a well deck to support amphibious landers, these vessels are designed to provide power projection to the Fleet.