Intrepid Class Aircraft Carrier

CNS Intrepid Side Profile
Class overview
Builders:	South Veluna Naval Yard
Operators:	The North American Socialist Commonwealth The Commonwealth Navy
Preceded by:	Nimitz Class
Succeeded by:	None
Subclasses:	None
Cost:	$2,900 million
Built:	7
In commission:	7
General characteristics
Type:	Fleet Aircraft Carrier
Displacement:	72,000 tonnes
Length:	250 m
Beam:	60 m (Flight Deck), 30 (Waterline)
Draft:	10 m
Propulsion:	2 AE Shipboard Nuclear Reactors, 3 propellers, 2 waterjets, 8 port waterjets
Speed:	37 knots
Range:	Theoretically Unlimited (Limits on Crew Endurance, and periodic refuel required)
Complement:	85 Officers, 72 E-7+ Petty Officers, 1,493 Enlisted
Sensors and processing systems:	AE/RA-47 Air and Sea Search Radar AE/RA-43 Launch Control Radar AE/RA-35 Gun Control Radar AE/SO-42 Sonar Suite
Electronic warfare & decoys:	AE/EW-45 Electronics Warfare Suite AE/DE-43 Infrared and Radar Decoy Suite
Armament:	24 MkIV MRSAM Launchers (Arm Launcher) 4 Mars CL3-A Laser CIWS turrets
Armor:	Light Kevlar Blast Protection
Aircraft carried:	36 Eurofighter Cyclone, 2 E-101 Little Eye, 10 UA-12 Damocles, 3 UAR-4 Ghost Reaper, 4 UV-24 Swiftfox (Further Accommodation for 5 Additional Aircraft)
Aviation facilities:	4 EMALS Catapults, 2 four wire Recovery Arrestors, 2 VTOL Launchpads, 2 Elevators

The Intrepid Class is a CATOBAR fleet carrier in service with the Commonwealth Navy. It is about half the size of the larger Vanguard class vessels, and serves as an auxiliary to those larger vessels. Each vessel off the Intrepid Class is given a conceptual name starting with the letter I.

Construction & Service

In the late 2030s it had become apparent to the Commonwealther government, the decrepency of much of its aging fleet. The Commonwealth had been left with the Nimitz Class vessels that had been a mainstay of the United States Navy for the past 30 years. These carriers, themselves being replaced by the Navy before the revolution were aged, and went through some neglect while Commonwealther policy was turned inward.

In replacing the Nimitz, an emergent doctrine dictated the course that would be taken. This emergent doctrine, the "Two Carrier Fleet", some vessels would be replaced with similarly sized ships, while others would be replaced by smaller 60,000 tonne vessels to act as an auxiliary in larger fleets for use in extended duration operations. The smaller vessels, referred to as Intrepid Class vessels underwent initial construction starting in 2039 with the first being launched in 2046.

Service in the Phonencian Conflict

CNS Intimidator was stationed as the subordinate carrier to CNS Valiant in Phonencian Waters. In spite of the fact that the Phonencian Imperials could bring a much greater array of air power to the fray with their land based air bases than could be launched from two carrier decks, the Commonwealther carriers managed to deny air superiority to the vastly overwhelming numbers of Phonencian Aircraft. This came at the price of an enormous casualty rates among Commonwealther pilots, and spurred on the development of more combat capable drones, something which had been a bit of a forgotten art since the Revolution.

Sea Trials of Autonomous Drones

As an offshoot of the Autonomous Kill Vehicle program, the Commonwealth developed completely autonomous aircraft for use and eventual replacement of semi-autonomous strike drones, and perhaps even manned air superiority craft and multi-role combat aircraft within the air forces of the Commonwealth Defense Force. The CNS Intrepid was fitted with an impromptu drone control system for the duration of the 2063 annual Commonwealther war games. The drones performed admirably, in light of the increasing interest in more advanced Artificial Intelligences, and while it is still in deliberation, it is expected the furthered development of autonomous aircraft will continue.

Design

The Intrepid Class is designed to be a lighter but sizeable fleet carrier to act as the center of a carrier battle group, or as a secondary carrier in a large fleet. the Intrepid Class as a result, primarily designed to operate fixed wing, VTOL, and drone aircraft. The Intrepid Class is also equipped with extensive communications and electronics suites to serve as a command vessel for fairly large groups of ships.

Powerplant & Propulsion

The Intrepid Class is powered by a pair of Heavy Duty AE Shipboard nuclear reactors which provide power for the ship's propulsion system, its EMALS system, and its other systems. The ship is propelled by three large propeller shafts and two waterjets which provide redundancy for each other as well as adding additional power. In addition there are eight smaller waterjets used for maneuver in tight spaces. In favorable conditions the Intrepid Class is capable of reaching a top speed of 39 knots.

Armament & Defenses

The Intrepid Class is very lightly armed, as aircraft are its intended means of attack and defense. The Intrepid does however have some defense against missiles in the form of 18 Intermediate Range Surface to Air Missile tubes, and Six CIWS Laser Turrets. Electronic Countermeasures and Decoys, as well as Light Blast Protection serve last ditch protection to keep the Carrier Afloat.

Electronics

As a major fleet level vessel, the Intrepid Class comes equipped with several Sensor Suites and Communications systems that enable it to operate as the leading ship of a fleet. To keep the operation of such a large number of aircraft efficient, and effective, the Intrepid Class is equipped with potent Launch Control Radar which allows to more effectively tracked its own launched aircraft. It is keyed into the Commonwealther Battle-net as a capital ship.

Air Wing

As the main asset of the Intrepid Class, the Air Wing it controls is quite substantial. Though the craft could theoretically keep as many as 70 Eurofighter Cyclones or 75 UA-12 Damocles craft, it can keep at most 60 mixed model aircraft, and can only efficiently operate with 55. Currently each Vanguard Class carrier has a wing of 36 Eurofighter Cyclones, 2 E-101 Little Eye, 10 UA-12 Damocles, 3 UAR-4 Ghost Reaper, 4 UV-24 Swiftfox aircraft. There is space for an additional 5 Aircraft. Aircraft are launched via an Electromagnetic Launch System (EMALS), of which there are four two on the main flight deck, and two on the angled deck. There are two recovery spaces on the rear of the deck, and four elevators.

Amphibious Support

Though it is not an Amphibious Assault Ship, the Vanguard Class does have some means of supporting its own modest contingent of Naval Infantry and Underwater Demolition Teams. It has 4 VTOLs capable of transport as well as 10 small watercraft that can be used in a similar capacity. The Vanguard Class can support the operations of its contingent naval infantry group (three Platoons in strength) four three or four days if necessary.

Future of the Intrepid Class

Given the relatively young age of most of the Intrepid hulls in Commonwealther service, and the obvious utility of a 60,000 ton carrier, the Intrepid's Class is relatively secure. All planned Intrepid Class hulls have been finished, and there are currently no plans for further ships in the class. The first planned upgrade of the class is to begin occurring in 2070, where it is expected that the conversion to autonomous craft carrier, or partial autonomous craft carrier is to take place, and the air wing of the Intrepid is expected to begin shifting to autonomous craft and drones.

Ships in Service

Ship Name	Hull Number	Shipyard	Launched	Commissioned	Home Port	Status
In Service
CNS Intrepid	CVN-4	South Veluna Naval Yard	19. April. 2046	11. September. 2046	Veluna City, Columbia	In Service
CNS Interceptor	CVN-5	South Veluna Naval Yard	17. February. 2047	10. May. 2047	Veluna City, Columbia	In Service
CNS Invincible	CVN-6	South Veluna Naval Yard	19. January. 2048	8. May. 2048	San Fransisco, Vesper	In Service
CNS Instigator	CVN-7	South Veluna Naval Yard	17. May . 2049	1. January. 2050	Port Fairhaven, Veiled Isle	In Service
CNS Intimidator	CVN-9	South Veluna Naval Yard	20. February. 2050	13. May. 2050	Corazón del Rio, Isla Verde	In Service
CNS Interdictor	CVN-11	South Veluna Naval Yard	29. February. 2050	6. June. 2050	Corazón del Rio, Isla Verde	In Service
CNS Impervious	CVN-12	South Veluna Naval Yard	30. August. 2051	15. March 2052	Corazón del Rio, Isla Verde	In Service