Jefferson Class Coastal Defense Frigate

File:CNS Jefferson.png Profile of a hypothetical replacement CNS Jefferson with unregistered of Hull Number.
Class overview
Builders:	South Veluna Naval Yards
Operators:	North American Socialist Commonwealth The Commonwealth Navy
Cost:	$400 million
Completed:	8
Active:	8
General characteristics
Type:	Frigate
Displacement:	6,500 tons
Length:	75m
Beam:	35m
Draft:	7m
Propulsion:	2x AE Shipboard Diesel Engines, 2 propeller shaft, 2 waterjet, 2x AEJE Cruising Engines
Speed:	35 knots, (50 knots with Cruising Engines)
Range:	8,000km (1,000km with Cruising Engines)
Complement:	50 (3 Officers, 47 Enlisted)
Sensors and processing systems:	AE/RA-47C Compact Air and Sea Search Radar, AE/RA-32 Fire Control Radar AE/SO-42 Sonar Suite
Electronic warfare & decoys:	AE/EW-50 Electronics Warfare Suite, AE/DE-43 Infrared and Radar Decoy Suite
Armament:	124 500mm VLS cells armed with ACAS MkIC AShM ACAS MKIV MRSAM 8 1000mm missile launchers (2 boxes) armed with ACAS MkVII AShM 12 MkIII SRSAM Launcher (Arm Launchers) 1 76mm Automatic Cannon 1 Mars CL3A Laser CIWS turret
Armor:	none

The Jefferson Class is a Coastal Defense Frigate, a small warship designed for short range maritime patrol and interception missions. The Jefferson Class is in the service with the Commonwealth Navy. The Jefferson Class is among the first major shipping projects undertaken by the Office of Naval Acquisitions, and the earliest non-littoral project, and is such is treated with some degree of venerability, in spite of its shrinking role with the Navy. The Jefferson Class, as one of the more limited issue vessels (and a class that had only been constructed by one shipyard), do have a cohesive naming structure, taking names of Commonwealther cities.

Background & Service

The Jefferson Class was conceived in the early days following the proclamation of the Commonwealth. In light of the increasingly outdated navy, and the changed emphasis from expeditionary task fleets to defensive fleets, a new breed of Frigate was conceived. This new breed was expected to perform short to intermediate range patrols of the Commonwealth's coast and interception missions of incoming carrier groups if needs be. Project requirements were posted to design bureaus in early 2033.

The initial design proposals for the Jefferson Class were completed in July of 2033, and authorized the following month. With orders for the construction of eight new vessels in place, construction began in the South Veluna Naval Yards starting in November of 2033. The first Jefferson Class, CNS Jefferson was commissioned in June of 2034, and underwent Sea Trials as part of its initial service. Construction of further vessels proceeded apace. The first four ships of the Class Jefferson, Memphis, Richmond, & Albuquerque were completed as of late 2037. As the largest ships constructed by the Commonwealth to date, the Jefferson Class was viewed as something of a national pride, and spent most of its early service "touring" the Commonwealth.

The Northern War

In the lead up to the Northern War all existing Jefferson Class Vessels were pressed into service against attacking Enclave missile boats. Later once the Northern War had gotten started, CNS Jefferson & CNS Richmond both assisted the Commonwealther Force in tracking down and destroying the remaining Missile Boats in Enclave Service, as well as providing limited missile support for Commonwealther forces. At the end of the war, the CNS Jefferson emerged as one of the more accomplished vessels in service, having been confirmed sunk eight enemy missile boats.

The Opening

After the opening and the annexation of the Veiled Isle and Isla, there were calls to put into service four additional vessels to protect Commonwealther holdings overseas. This motion was accepted, and four additional vessels, named for the newly annexed cities Fairhaven, Mystvale, Corazón del Río, & Castille were ordered. These vessels, once commissioned performed limited anti-piracy operations around their respective coasts.

Sea Fire Trials of Autonomous Kill Vehicles

CNS Jefferson was part of the Autonomous Kill Vehicle (AKV) Project in 2062. The Jeffersons were admitted, as they were among the lightest vessels to be equipped with Heavy Box Launchers for missiles. The Jeffersons were the sole participants in the AKV Trial, Light Vessels part of the Tests. Despite some issues with the AKV's Artificial intelligence, the trials were eventually completed satisfactorily and Jefferson Class Frigates are expected to among the first vessels to carry the MkI AKV when it enters service in 2068.

Design

The Jefferson Class due to its fairly limited scope of operations have a fairly specialized design. The Jefferson Class is highly evocative of the ship construction doctrine known as "never enough VLS cells". As light frigates they have some of the most VLS cells per cubic meter of any vessels in Commonwealther service, supplementing the much larger heavy missile tubes that the vessel is also equipped with. The Jefferson Class is designed primarily around offensive capability intending to assault fleets with only air cover and perhaps limited fleet support. As such it does have somewhat unique design choices involved in it.

Powerplant & Propulsion

Primary power for the Jefferson Class is provided by a pair of large AE Shipboard Diesel engines which provide power to the main propellers as well as the ship's electrical systems. Main propulsion is provided by a pair of propellers which allow the Jefferson Class to attain a top speed of 35 knots in favorable conditions. In a nod to the Soviet Tarantul Class, the Jefferson Class is also equipped with a pair of Jet Engines which allow for a major burst of speed over limited distance, pushing the top speed of the Jefferson to 50 knots, though the limited fuel supply for the engines puts a serious damper on the distance they can be used.

Armament

The Jefferson Class is very heavily armed for a frigate. The Primary armament of the Jefferson Class is provided by eight heavy missile tubes mounted in box launchers. Initially, these were conventional missiles, however the Jefferson was recently upgraded to approved nuclear carriage status, and as a result the heavy missiles are now nuclear armed. As a supplement the Jefferson also has 124 VLS cells for lighter offensive and defensive missiles. Close range fire support is provided by a single 75mm Autocannon mounted on the bow, which is also capable acting as CIWS if necessary.

Defenses

The Jefferson Class is protected by some defenses, appropriate for a Light Frigate. Anti-Missile defense is primarily provided by Surface to Air Missiles, both from VLS Cells and also from a few Arm launchers on the ship. A further layer of missile defense is provided by a CIWS Laser turret and the Autocannon, as well as some ECM Capability. The Jefferson Class, if hit is unarmored and has only damage control to prevent a sinking if hit. Ultimately however, the Jefferson Class is expected to rely upon SSS (Speed, Stealth, & Surprise) to survive engagement with hostiles.

Electronics

The Jefferson is well equipped with Electronics. Primarily it is focused on comparatively powerful search and fire control radar, with much more limited emphasis on other measures. As it is, first and foremost an attack craft it is considered such when plotted in Commonwealther Battle Net. The Jefferson has once already been upgraded with more modern electronics, and is expected to be upgraded again soon.

Future of the Jefferson Class

The Jefferson Class does still have a future in Commonwealther service. It has been upgraded once with newer electronics, and is expected to undergo another upgrade in 2068, and finally in 2072. However, the Jefferson Class is starting to approach the end of its expected service life. Given the shift in Commonwealther doctrine, it is widely expected that one the Jefferson is phased out there will be no replacement for the vessels.

Ships in Service

Ship Name	Hull Number	Shipyard	Launched	Commissioned	Home Port	Status
CNS Jefferson	FFG-1	South Veluna Naval Yards	8. March. 2034	28. June. 2034	Boston, New England	In Service
CNS Memphis	FFG-2	South Veluna Naval Yards	28. September. 2035	15. December. 2035	Boston, New England	In Service
CNS Richmond	FFG-3	South Veluna Naval Yards	19. November. 2035	7. February. 2036	San Fransisco, Vesper	In Service
CNS Albuquerque	FFG-4	South Veluna Naval Yards	12. January. 2037	5. May. 2037	San Fransisco, Vesper	In Service
CNS Fairhaven	FFG-5	South Veluna Naval Yards	19. April. 2049	25. August. 2049	Port Fairhaven, Veiled Isle	In Service
CNS Mystvale	FFG-6	South Veluna Naval Yards	15. June. 2050.	18. September. 2050	Port Fairhaven, Veiled Isle	In Service
CNS Corazón del Río	FFG-7	South Veluna Naval Yards	8. September. 2051	2. January. 2042	Corazón del Río, Isla Verde	In Service
CNS Castille	FFG-8	South Veluna Naval Yards	19. May. 2052	26. September. 2052	Corazón del Río, Isla Verde	In Service