Menelaus

Class overview
Name:	Menelaus-class landing platform dock
Builders:	Patmos Shipbuilders Consortium
Operators:	Republic Navy Commonwealth Navy Eagleland Navy Ecclesiastical Army Navy
Cost:	$2.1 billion
In commission:	2007-present
Completed:	9
Active:	9
General characteristics
Type:	Landing Platform Dock
Displacement:	25,500 ton (full load)
Length:	212.7 m
Beam:	32 m
Draft:	8.55 m
Propulsion:	Combined Diesel and Gas 1 x RE-MGT-2250+ Gas Turbine 2 x Krakatoa 18/25V/20 Diesel Generators 2 x Azimuth Thrusters
Speed:	+20 kn
Range:	+8,500 nm
Boats & landing craft carried:	Stored on davits 4 x LCVP Mk5 4 x RHIBs Stored in welldeck 2 x EDA-R LCAT 2 x LCAC 1 x LCU
Troops:	700 standard 800 full capacity 840 overcapacity
Complement:	32 officers, 330 enlisted
Sensors and processing systems:	RN/SPS-52 3D Long-Range Air Search ARTISAN 3D Radar ARES Combat System RHEA Defence Network
Armament:	1 x RAM 1 x Millenium CIWS 1 x 76mm Super-Rapid cannon

The Menelaus class landing platform dock is a class of Amphibious warfare ship originally created to serve with the Republic Navy and Commonwealth Navy.

Design

The Menelaus class was designed by the Republic Navy in the aftermath of the Agamemnon class' launch. The Agamemnon was intended to be a class of three warships with the Navy to provide a dedicated at-range amphibious capability to maintain readiness for action overseas if needed. The 2000 financial crisis in the Republic led to the class' three ships being reduced to one, however a capability review showed that while the Agamemnon was fully capable in her roles, the class wasn't enough for the Navy to be able to provide sufficient overseas projection if needed, especially with the class being earmarked for impromptu service as a light carrier if needed. Subsequently the Navy submitted a request for a class of ships smaller than the Agamemnon but able to perform amphibious operations effectively.

The resulting Menelaus class is forty meters shorter and ten thousand tons lighter at full load than the Agamemnon and can only hold around 800 troops aboard compared to the 1,650 of the larger ship. The class, however, is capable of conducting amphibious operations far better than the Agamemnon which, while capable of launching and storing amphibious watercraft, has it's focus primarily on conducting air operations. The class has watercraft stored in three locations; The first and most obvious is the welldeck, which is capable of holding two large landing craft such as the LCAC or L-CAT, up to twelve LCMs, one large LCU or a mixture of the lot. The welldeck can also hold up to fifteen extendable self-propelled landing barges which can be used for short-range moving of cargo or personnel or can be used to create an impromptu 'bridge' between the ship and a beach, at which point the RO/RO door is used to exfil vehicles. The other two places of which amphibious craft are stored at on the port and starboard flanks of the ships superstructure, with four LCVP Mk.5's on davits for immediate deployment of personnel or small cargo along with four RHIBs for outboard duties. The RHIBs are also fully capable of acting as tugs for the aforementioned landing barges if needed. The davits that typically store the LCVP can be modified for use in holding other watercraft, such as the Mk5 Special Operations Boat or the Gremlin-class attack boat.

Ships of the class

Name	Hull number	Launched	Commissioned	Motto	Fate
Menelaus class
RNV Menalaus	LPD-11	29 August 2003	15 January 2007	"Of ours is the toughest duty."	Active
RNV Margenaius	LPD-12	12 July 2004	5 March 2007	"Strength in brotherhood"	Active
Minotaur class
HHS Medusa	LPD-05	16 July 2006	8 April 2009	"Ex undis surgit victoria" (From the waves rises victory)	Active
HHS Mordred	LPD-06	21 September 2007	18 May 2010	"Virtutis Fortuna Comes" (Fortune is the companion of valour)	Active
Pellegrino class
HHS Pellegrino	LPD-03	8 August 2006	11 December 2009	"Audere est Facere" (To dare is to do)	Active
HHS Fedele Servitore	LPD-04	8 August 2007	11 December 2010	"De 0presso Libre" (To liberate the oppressed)	Active
Prometheus class
ES Prometheus	LPD-34	11 June 2005	8 September 2008	"Αίεν Αριστεύειν" (Always excel)	Active
ES Amphoreas	LPD-35	16 June 2006	11 May 2009	"Τιμή ή Θάνατος" (Honour or Death)	Active

See also

• Republic Navy
• Belfrasian Marines