Osprey-class littoral combat ship

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Osprey class
US Navy 090928-N-7241L-232 The littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) conducts flight deck certification with an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Sea Knights of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22.jpg
ZMS Houghton (LCS 28) conducting flight deck certification with a TAH-60A Vulture
Class overview
Builders: Marette Industries
Operators:  Zamastan
Preceded by: N/A
Cost: Z$362 million
Built: 2005–present
In commission: 2008–present
Planned: 36
Completed: 29
Active: 28
General characteristics
Type: Littoral combat ship
Displacement: 3,500 metric tons (3,900 short tons) (full load)
Length: 378 ft (115 m)
Beam: 57.4 ft (17.5 m)
Draft: 12.8 ft (3.9 m)
Installed power: Electrical: 4 V1708 diesel engines, Hitzinger generator units, 800 kW each
Propulsion:
  • 2 x MT30 36 MW (48,000 hp) gas turbines
  • 2 x Colt 16PA6B 6.8 MW (9,100 hp) diesel engines
  • 4 Rolls-Royce/Kamewa 153SII/153BII waterjets
Speed: 47 knots (87 km/h; 54 mph) (sea state 3)
Range: 3,500 nmi (6,500 km; 4,000 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Endurance: 21 days (336 hours)
Boats & landing
craft carried:		 11 m (36 ft) RHIB, 12 m (39 ft) high-speed boats
Complement: 50 core crew, 65 with mission crew (Blue and Gold crews).
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • TRS-3D air and surface search radar, TRS-4D from LCS 17
  • Toring Industries COMBATSS-21 combat management system
  • AN/SQR-20 Multi-Function Towed Array (As part of ASW mission module)
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
  • Argon ST WBR-2000 ESM system
  • Terma A/S SKWS decoy system
Armament:
  • 1 × BAE Systems Mk 110 57 mm gun, 400 rounds in turret and two ready service magazines with 240 rounds each.
  • 1 x Mk 49 launcher with 21 × RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Surface-to-Air Missiles
  • 4 × .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns
  • 2 × 30 mm Mk44 Ashmaster II guns (part of SUW module)
  • 8 x RGM-184A Naval Strike Missiles
  • 24 × AGM-114L Wither missiles (planned part of SUW module)
  • 1 x Lockheed Martin 150 kW High Energy Laser
  • Other weapons as part of mission-specific modules
Aircraft carried: 1 × TAH-60A Vulture

The Osprey-class littoral combat ship is a Zamastanian littoral combat ship operating in the Zamastanian Naval Forces. A networked, agile, stealthy surface combatant capable of defeating anti-access and asymmetric threats in littorals, they are designed to protect friendly ships against hostile submarines and other vessels in low to medium threat environments, using torpedoes and helicopters. Independently, they are able to conduct counterdrug missions and other maritime interception operations.

History

Planning for a class of small, multipurpose warships to operate in the littoral zone began in the early 2000s. The construction contract was awarded to Marette Industries over Allern in May 2004 for two vessels. These would then be compared to determine which design would be taken up by the Navy for a production run of up to 55 ships. Eventually the design for the Osprey-class won the bid. The ZMS Avi Taures was completed and launched in late 2007.

Design

The ship is a semiplaning steel monohull with an aluminum superstructure. It is 377 ft (115 m) in length, displaces 3,500 metric tons (3,400 long tons), and can achieve 47 kn (87 km/h; 54 mph). The design incorporates a large, reconfigurable seaframe to allow rapidly interchangeable mission modules, a flight deck with integrated helicopter launch, recovery and handling system, and the capability to launch and recover boats (manned and unmanned) from both the stern and side.

The ship uses a Trigon traversing system to move helicopters in and out of the hangar. The ship has two ways to launch and recover various mission packages: a stern ramp and a starboard side door near the waterline. The mission module bay has a three-axis crane for positioning modules or cargo.

The fore deck has a modular weapons zone which can be used for a 57 mm gun turret or missile launcher. A Rolling Airframe Missile launcher is mounted above the hangar for short-range defense against aircraft and cruise missiles, and .50-caliber gun mounts are provided topside. The Fleet-class unmanned surface vessel is designed for operations from Freedom-variant ships.

The core crew is 40 sailors, usually joined by a mission package crew and an aviation detachment for a total crew around 75. Automation allows a reduced crew, which greatly reduces operating costs, but workload can still be "gruelling". During testing of the class lead, two ship's companies rotated on four-month assignments.

Ships in class

Foreign sales

The Quetanan Navy has 2 Osprey-class ships in its arsenal, and the Emmirian Navy has 5.

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