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by The Corgi-Hawk Hybrid of Lamoni. . 51 reads.

Type-120 'Ritter' class DDGN (Ordenite Kriegsmarine)

Type-120 'Ritter' class DDGN

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***

Stats:

Complement:
- Officers and Crew: 340
- Aircrew: 30
- Naval Infantry: 30
Displacement: 12,500 tons standard load
Dimensions:
- OAL: 186.4 m
- Beam: 20.8 m
- Draught: 9.1 m
- Block Co-Efficient: 0.354
Propulsion type: Nuclear, Integrated Electric Propulsion
Installed power: 60 MW
Top speed: 30 knots
Range: Unlimited
Endurance: 90 days before resupply
Aircraft: 2x LinkAS565 Panther (or similar) ASW helicopter, provision for UAVs
Aircraft Landing System: Twin Claw Aircraft Ship Integrated Secure and Traverse (TC-ASIST)
Boats: 2x RHIB up to 7.24 m
Machinery:
- Prime movers:
1x SNR-2020g PWR nuclear reactor
- Propulsors:
2x Controllable Pitch Propellers
Armament:
- Guns:
1x Oto Melara 76 mm/62 Super Rapid w/ STRALES system
2x 30mm LinkDS30B automatic cannon (500 rounds each)
6x 7.62 mm MG 3 GPMG (1,000 rounds each)
- CIWS:
1x Seekobra CIWS System
- Missiles:
16x Sylver A-50 8-cell VLS (128x Seespeer Heavy SAM, 512x Seepfeil Light SAM, or mix thereof)
3x 8-cell UKSK VLS (24x 3M54T anti-ship or 3M14T land attack Kalibr cruise missiles)
2x 4-cell slant launchers (8x LinkKh-35U anti-ship missiles)
- Torpedoes:
2x B515 Triple Torpedo Tubes, with 24x Seehund Mod. 3 LWT (port/starboard)
Combat Management System: Meeresschutz Combat Management System
Optronics: 3x ARTEMIS long range IRST
Radar:
- Multi-functional:
NS-200 S-band AESA radar
- Surface surveillance/navigation:
2x NR-50 X band Navigation Radar (66 km range)
Identification Friend or Foe:
AN/UPX-25(V) integrated interrogator/transponder
Sonar:
- Hull sonar:
Seejäger medium-frequency active/passive sonar
- Towed Array Sonar:
Schwertfisch low frequency, Passive - Active/Passive Towed Array Sonar
Electronic warfare:
- RECM:
RAMSES RECM System
- RESM:
SEAL RESM System
- Communications EW:
Seeohr CESM System
Countermeasures: 4x Seemücke decoy launcher (20x 118 mm rockets per launcher)
- Decoys:
Seegeist seduction/distraction Chaff
Seestern seduction/distraction IR
Seesturm Active RF

***

WRITE-UP:

Designed with anti-air warfare foremost in mind, the Type 120's class name was chosen in a sports contest by officer cadets at the Viktor Klubtz Kriegsmarine Academy. The winning team picked the name "Ritter," which means knight. Long a symbol of protection of the realm, a Ritter was a professional warrior who was given a plot of land, as well as servants to work the land for his support, while pledging military service to their Lord in exchange. The number of Ritters that a Lord could manage depended on their finances, as Ritters also tended to have access to the best military technology and training of their time. A Ritter could also be expected to pick a young boy to be their squire. A squire was both a personal servant to a Ritter, as well being trained by the Ritter in how to be a proper Ritter themselves.

One of these ships is reputed to have been in combat against a Morridane submarine, but as the event has been classified by the Ordenite Government, academics have not been able to find out when this alledged incident might have occured.

Construction and Signature Reduction Measures

The hull of the Type 120 is made from 80 HLES steel (12NiCrMoV18), which has a strength of 770 MPa. This is slightly higher than that of HY100 steel, but 80 HLES steel has higher elasticity than does HY100. Already used on certain Ordenite submarines, 80 HLES steel is a solid yet economical choice for Ordenite Kriegsmarine surface ships, with production facilities already established, only requiring expansion to meet the increased demand. The ship's structure is made stronger via compartmentalization, which has been a standard for naval warships since before the missile age.

The shape of both the hull and superstructure were designed with a reduced RCS in mind, with the superstructure being constructed of aluminium alloys overlaid with GFRP materials. The shaping and material choices made during the design and construction of the Type 120 allows it to appear smaller than it really is on radar.

A 50 milimeter thick layer of glass wool thermal insulation has been added to the exterior bulkheads of all compartments that are routinely heated above ambient air temperature, and these compartments are also well ventilated, as part of IR Signature Suppression measures.

These signature reduction methods allow for innovative new tactics by the captain of ships that are so equipped, for example such a ship might be overlooked by the enemy, who might believe that the ship is less powerful than it really is. Additionally, the reduced RCS and IR emissions from the ship can make it possible for the ship to hide amongst merchant shipping, giving the frigate a tactical advantage.

The ship also maintains an Integrated Platform Monitoring System, which is designed to use electronic and mechanical sensors in order to monitor propulsion, power generation, fuel, configuration, watertight integrity, fire, and alarms for surface vessels. It has two operating consoles, one on the bridge, and the other in the engine room. There are also three auxiliary display/operating monitors distributed in key areas in the ship. The man–machine interface allows easy system operation and graphical display of the status and alarms of the platform subsystems.

Navigation

Navigation is accomplished via a highly accurate ring-laser gyro Inertial Navigation System, with drift error corrected by the occasional Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module-enabled GPS receiver fix. The Type 120 also has a pair of compact (the robust, pressure-proof dome containing the radar head measures 650 millimeters by 510 millimeters) X-band navigation/surveillance radars (frequencies programmable from 9300-9500 MHz). Using a planar array with a maximum rated power of fifty watts and turning at twenty two RPM, the NR-50 radar has a maximum range of sixty six kilometers, but can also reduce radiated power to less than one watt for close-in, Low Probability of Intercept operations, if required. The radar has a capability of up to two hundred Automatic Radar Plotting Aid tracks, and can also show other obstructions, such as shorelines. The radar can be operated at temperatures from -25C to +55C, and can be stored at temperatures from -30C to +70C.

The inputs from these devices are fused with the data from the other sensors via the ship's CMS, and are presented to the Navigator and Commanding officer on a multi-function display table with full ECDIS functionality. The information is displayed using standardized symbols and terminology, in order to reduce confusion, and allow for proper mission planning. The commanding officer or other officer controlling the ship while the CO is indisposed can also open windows on the display that can display any information desired that is available to the ship.

Radar

The main radar used on the Type 120 is the NS-200 S-band AESA radar. This flat face, two-panel "back to back" radar spins at a rate of 30 RPM, allowing each degree of bearing to be swept once a second. The radar has a maximum instrumented range of 400 kilometers, and a minimum range of 300 meters; while surface modes are restricted to 80 kilometers, due to the radar horizon caused by the curvature of the Earth. Utilizing digital beam-forming at the element level, the radar can track one-thousand air and surface targets, while features like missile guidance, surface gunfire support for the ship's 76 mm gun, and an integrated IFF antenna drastically reduce the number of radars required on-board, opening up space on the ship for other uses.

IRST Sensors

The Type 120 utilizes the ARTEMIS long range IRST system. Each of the non-moveable heads of the system can see over a one-hundred twenty degree arc, allowing only three sensor heads to provide a constant three hundred sixty degree view. Each head can provide images in MWIR, and each also has a Class 1M, eye safe, laser rangefinder, that can also be used as a laser designator. The rangefinder function can be used at distances of up to forty kilometers, while the MWIR cameras have a very high refresh rate of 10 Hz, and electronic stabilization.

ARTEMIS is designed to automatically detect, track and classify all “above water” types of threats, from sea-skimming missiles to small craft. The system can be used to identify a threat before it is able to attack the ship, and can be used in conjunction with any of the ship's weapons systems.

Hull Mounted Sonar

The Seejäger medium-frequency active/passive hull mounted sonar can be called an "omni-sonar," for being capable of ASW operations in both shallow and deep water, as well as mine detection/avoidance, ROV/AUV tracking, and general ocean surveillance. Seejäger operates at a frequency of 24 kHz for active sonar, using narrow beams (beam widths of six degrees by six degrees) to maintain excellent performance in shallow water, while the frequency itself provides extended detection ranges in deep water. It integrates the hull mounted transducer with a digital transceiver to provide simultaneous active and passive digital signal processing, display processing and computer-aided target detection and tracking using CW or FM modulation. The system has a source level of 223 dB, and an output power of 13.5 kW, thus granting it a range resolution of one meter, and a target bearing positioning accuracy of three quarters of one degree. Seejäger is capable of automatic target tracking, as well as sonar video recording and playback.

Towed Array Sonar

The Type 120 utilizes the Schwertfisch low frequency, Passive - Active/Passive Towed Array Sonar. The system is comprised of the ship-borne electronics, a towed active sonar transmission body, and a passive receiving towed array. A towed array is a line of hydrophones that are lined up in an array that is towed by a ship or submarine, with the space between each hydrophone taken up with wiring and a protective fluid that prevents the hydrophones from bumping into, and thus potentially damaging each other, inside of a protective polymer tube that allows sound waves to pass through it to the hydrophones. A specialized weight is put at the end of the towed array, which both allows the array to move into position away from the towing ship while being unspooled by the ship's winch, as well as preventing the towed array from shaking around excessively, which would reduce the array's performance.

Towed Array Sonars are designed to operate away from the noises made by the towing ship, and thus achieve longer ranges than any hull mounted sonar. Towed array sonars can hear sounds from the second convergence zone, or farther, which out-ranges known submarine weapons, making them a potent ASW weapon for surface ships. Towed arrays can also detect torpedoes, biologics, mini-submarines, surface ships, and other waterborne targets. For best effect, towed array sonars should be deployed in deep water, where the ocean sound channels are more conducive to the strengths of the system.

It is not recommended to use the towed array sonar while traveling at high speeds, though it can be done during emergencies, like torpedo evasion. The towed array should be winched back into the ship, and inspected for potential damage, if a scenario like this occurs.

Combat Management System

If all of the other systems onboard the ship are analogous to the various limbs and organs of the body, then the Combat Management System would be both the brain and nervous system of the ship. To that end, the Type 120 is fitted with the Meeresschutz Combat Management System. The Meeresschutz Combat Management system utilizes a pair of redundant fiber optic bundle loops to connect all of the ship's systems to each other, as well as to the ship's main computers, allowing the correct information and data to get to the people onboard the ship who need it. The usage of redundant fiber optic bundle loops renders it immune to EMP, or electro-magnetic interference, and also endows the system with the ability to route around battle damage, while information can be sent from one place to another on the ship at the speed of light.

The system meets all of the following requirements:

Situational Awareness

To be aware of the battle environment at sea which includes surface, subsurface and air. This is collected through sensors like radars, electro–optical systems and sonar.

Intelligence

Convert the above information into actionable intelligence by interpretation, collation, and evaluation, thereby producing a common operational picture.

Planning and decision-making

This step helps the commanders to rapidly make an actionable plan for decision-making and implementation, in a rapidly changing complex battle environment.

Weapon systems command and control

An effective CMS will also direct weapon sensors and weapons to engage and destroy incoming threats.

The above functions are carried by the Meeresschutz CMS through the crew, sensors and weapon systems. The whole system is part of naval network-centric warfare (NCW), where each system becomes a separate node with similar nodes on other vessels. The NCW concept is more autonomous than hierarchical. Meeresschutz CMS is a software-intensive system which is flexible enough to operate in a complex naval battle environment, electronically interact with other sub-systems and be interoperable with other ships and units in your own navy, as well navies of friendly countries. It is able to cope with mass information and reduced crew sizes. Meeresschutz CMS is simple in concept but complex in design, as it has to be tailor-made to suit the operational doctrines and hardware held by the Ordenite Kriegsmarine. Meeresschutz employs an open architecture system, to provide flexibility in both combat, and non-combat situations.

A key part of sharing the combat picture generated by the ship's systems and CMS is a system known as a datalink. A datalink is defined as a standardized, encrypted communications link appropriate for transmitting digital information, incorporating more than one communication structure and communications medium for tactical information exchange, which possesses more than two C2 systems or weapons system interfaces.

For the Ordenite Kriegsmarine, the Waffenamt designed the R(eich)-Link N(aval). R-Link N was developed as part of a family of datalinks that will provide Ordenite forces wide, secure data-sharing capabilities for the first time, and in addition to encryption, is capable of frequency-hopping in the HF (3-30 MHz), and UHF (40-225 MHz) bands. R-Link N uses Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA), and dynamic TDMA functionality in order to increase system flexibility, and decrease communications net management overhead.

TDMA is a channel access method for shared-medium networks. It allows several users to share the same frequency channel by dividing the signal into different time slots. The users transmit in rapid succession, one after the other, each using its own time slot. This allows multiple stations to share the same transmission medium (e.g. radio frequency channel) while using only a part of its channel capacity. In Dynamic TDMA, a scheduling algorithm dynamically reserves a variable number of time slots in each frame to variable bit-rate data streams, based on the traffic demand of each data stream.

Communications

The first part of the communications suite of the Type 120 is a Ka-band SATCOM communications system. This allows for communications between higher command and the ship, no matter where in the world that the ship is.

Communications Management Software has been installed onboard the ship, providing economical, efficient, and effective routing of messages across multiple communications frequencies both within and without the frigate.

A series of Digital Modular Radios have been installed in the Type 120, with a frequency range of from 2 MHz to 2 GHz. When combined with the installed communications management software, the Digital Modular Radios provide a single point of control for communications in the maritime HF, VHF, and UHF radio bands. Two crossed loop type antennas are present on the ship, allowing the communications system to both pick up and transmit in the VLF/LF bands.

The Type 120 implements an encrypted underwater telephone. Using high frequency acoustic transmissions, the underwater telephone provides the ability to communicate with submarines without the submarine having to come near the surface. Users of this system should be advised that it is possible for nearby enemy units to be able to track the acoustic transmissions, and therefore use of the system should only occur when needed, and once it has been determined that the area is clear of nearby enemy units.

The major difference between Ordenite and any potential export ships is that the encryption computers aboard will be memory erased, so that the user nation can use their own encryption methods, while Ordenite encryption methods remain secure.

Armament

The armaments for the Type 120 begin with the Oto Melara 76 millimeter Super Rapid naval gun, which is equipped with the Strales system in a low-observable gun covering. The Strales system consists of the gun, DART guided ammunition, and an RF guidance system, which allows the gun to fire Vulcano ammunition at ranges of up to 40 kilometers, up to 16 kilometers with standard ammunition, and DART ammunition to ranges above eight kilometers. The gun has a maximum elevation of 85 degrees, a maximum depression of 15 degrees, and a rate of fire of 120 rounds per minute.

Sixteen 8-round A-50 Sylver VLS modules are installed aft of the gun, with each cell holding either a Seespeer Heavy Naval SAM (150 km range), or a quad-pack of four Seepfeil Light Naval SAMs (45 km range). This allows for up to 128 Seespeer SAMs, 512 Seepfeil SAMs, or a suitable mix thereof. Other options include Standard Missiles, or any equivalent which can fit within the VLS cells.

Next comes twenty-four UKSK VLS cells, enabling the Type 120 to carry and launch up to twenty-four 3M54T anti-ship or 3M14T land attack Kalibr cruise missiles.

3M54T Anti-Ship Cruise Missile

A ship launched anti-shipping variant of the Kalibr whose design and fabrication equipment were smuggled out of Russia by Ordenite Intelligence. Launched from UKSK VLS cells, the missile has a thrust vectoring booster. The missile's length is 8.9 m, with a 200 kg SAPHE warhead. The missile's maximum range is 660 km, and it requires a third-party with suitable sensors to provide precise targeting information to the missiles in the terminal stage of their attack. It is a Sea-skimmer with a final stage flight altitude of 4.6 meters and a supersonic terminal speed of Mach 2.9, giving the enemy little time to react.

3M14T Land Attack Cruise Missile

An INS/GPS guided land attack variant deployed by the Ordenite Kriegsmarine, from the same source as the 3M54T missile. The ship launched weapon has a basic length of 8.9 m, with a 450 kg warhead. Its range is 2,500 km, allowing the Ordenite Kriegsmarine to strike land targets at long range, so long as the target's coordinates are known with high precision. The subsonic terminal speed of the missile is Mach 0.8, though the missile flies a low flight path, in an attempt to evade any enemy air defenses that might try to shoot the missile down. The chosen guidance method for the missile means that it can only attack land targets that do not move, making them suitable for destroying major non-movable targets behind enemy lines.

A pair of four cell slant launchers holds up to eight Kh-35U anti-ship missiles, which have a range of up to 300 km. While primarily intended to be used against surface ships at closer ranges that the 3M54T would not be suitable at, the Kh-35U can also serve a secondary purpose of land-attack. The missiles cruise at altitudes between ten and fifteen meters, and descend to an altitude of four meters in terminal mode. The missile's X-band seeker works at ranges of up to 50 kilometers, helping to deliver a payload of a 145 kg penetrating HE-frag warhead to the target. Multiple hits by these missiles may be required in order to sink destroyer-sized or larger targets.

Finally, two B515 triple torpedo tubes can launch Seehund Mod. 3 (or comparable) lightweight ASW torpedos, with additional storage of up to twenty-four lightweight ASW torpedos onboard.

CIWS

For last ditch anti-missile protection, the Type 120 uses the Seekobra CIWS.

The Seekobra CIWS starts with a C-band 3D pulse doppler tracking radar that contains its own IFF antenna, in order to help confirm that a potential target is not a friendly, at ranges of up to 20 kilometers. The system also utilizes a Ku-band tracking radar, which has a range of up to 30 kilometers, as well as a thermal camera (range of up to 19 km), and a daylight camera with a range of up to 15 kilometers. The highly automated system will choose the best sensor for the engagement, reducing reaction times to an average of six seconds from target detection to missile launch, or gunfire. The system operator still has the ability to override the system, and use the sensor that they feel best suited for the job, however.

The Seekobra CIWS also utilizes twin Oerlikon 30 mm/75 KCB autocannons firing APDS rounds at 650 rounds per minute, and at ranges of up to three kilometers with 985 rounds per gun, in conjunction with eight VT-1 missiles at ranges of up to fifteen kilometers, and a ceiling of nine kilometers, in order to destroy incoming targets before they can reach the ship. The missiles must be manually reloaded once expended.

VT-1 Missile

Length: 2.35 m
Diameter: 0.165 m
Weight: 76 kg
Velocity: Mach 3.5
Propulsion: Solid Propellant Rocket Motor
Range: 15 km
Ceiling: 9 km
Guidance: CLOS semi-active radar homing, electro-optical sensors, infra-red search & track
Fuse: RF Proximity Fuse
Warhead: 13 kg focused blast and fragmentation

Protection

The Type 120 utilizes two 30mm DS30B mounts with a single Oerlikon 30 mm/75 KCB autocannon each. Utilizing APDS rounds, this enables a firing range of up to 3,000 meters against a range of surface and air targets, including small boats. These mounts can be controlled by a single operator using a multi-function display console.

For smaller or closer targets, the ship has six mounts for MG 3 machine guns firing 7.62 mm NATO rounds out to a range of 1,200 meters at a rate of fire of up to 1,300 rpm.

A pair of six-round mortar style launchers enable use of the Seesirene-N Torpedo Decoy, under the guidance and control of the Seeigel-N system. The system starts with the torpedo defense computer, which is tied into the ship's sonar suite and combat management system. Programmed with advanced defensive algorithms, the Seeigel-N suite can be set to either automatic or semi-automatic (man in the loop) modes. As decoys are expended, the system must be manually reloaded.

The Seeigel-N countermeasures suite also contains torpedo defense simulations, which are a valuable training aid, and can be programmed with the latest defense algorithms should new situations or solutions arise. No decoys are launched during these simulations, but the system otherwise acts as normal.

A typical Seeigel-N operational sequence would look like the following:

1.) The protected ship's sonar detects an incoming enemy torpedo
2.) The protected ship's CMS is alerted
3.) The protected ship's CMS alerts the Seeigel-N system
4.) Seeigel-N's defense programming analyzes the threat
5.) Pre-programmed response (automatic or semi-automatic) is selected
6.) The selected pre-programmed response is executed
7.) Seesirene-N decoys are launched
8.) Seeigel-N displays suggested course and depth for evasive maneuver

A ship launched reactive decoy, Seesirene-N is designed to respond to two different types of torpedo simultaneously, whether they are active, passive, or passive homing. Once the appropriate acoustic decoy modes have been activated, the decoy seduces the incoming torpedo into attacking the decoy until the torpedo runs out of fuel or energy.

On receipt of a torpedo alert on board the ship, Seesirene-N may be launched from its launcher. The decoy is initiated automatically after launch, propelling itself to a preset depth between 10 and 300 meters, where it hovers and listens for the torpedo transmissions. Active acoustic transmissions are detected and analyzed resulting in decoy selectivity and generation of the appropriate deception signal for transmission including Doppler effects, target highlights and target self-noise. If no torpedo transmissions are detected, Seesirene-N incorporates generic responses, which are transmitted to counter passive homing torpedoes. The decoy’s “threat library” can be customized for each user’s particular requirements. At the end of life the decoy sinks, and all software is erased.

Seemücke decoy launcher

For the launch of anti-missile decoys, the Type 120 utilizes four Seemücke decoy launchers. These decoy launchers can fire up to twenty 118 mm decoy rockets of various types each. The system has a rapid reaction time, and can both seduce and distract incoming anti-ship missiles through the use of various decoy types. As decoys are expended, the system must be manually reloaded.

Seegeist

The Seegeist is a 118 mm seduction/distraction chaff rocket designed to be used with the Seemücke system. The chaff is designed to be effective against the radar bands commonly used in anti-ship missile seekers.

Seestern

The Seestern is a 118 mm seduction/distraction IR rocket designed to be used with the Seemücke system. The Seestern uses flares to simulate the IR signature of the protected ship, and can be fired into the chaff cloud created by Seegeist rockets in order to create an effective chaff/flare combination.

Seesturm

The Seesturm is a 118 mm active RF decoy, designed to seduce anti-ship missiles, causing them to miss the targeted ship. The decoy is programmed before launch. Once at the limit of where the rocket can take the decoy, a parachute deploys, keeping the decoy in the air for up to ten minutes, while the solid-state multi-beam array transmitters (MBATs) conduct coincidence jamming in the direction of the recieved threat, covering 360° in azimuth, enabling an immediate, powerful wideband response. The system is powered by a thermal battery, wipes all software at end of mission, and then sinks, making recovery of the decoy as difficult as possible for enemy forces.

RESM/RECM

RESM

RESM duties are handled by the Seal RESM system. Consisting of six RESM sensors connected to one another in a hexagonal fashion with the bulbous sensors protruding out of each face of the hexagon on the ship's superstructure, the Seal system provides wideband radio frequency coverage with a high probability of intercept of incoming signals. All of the signals that have been detected and DFed by the sensor system are transmitted to the system's main computer, where they are then processed, providing fast and unambiguous threat identification exploiting all of the measured emission parameters. This information is then provided to the system operator, via their multi-function console. The sytem can also provide automatic warning of high priority emitters, with priority being set by operator feedback. Fire control radars would be one example of a high priority emitter.

RECM

RECM duties are handled by the RAMSES (Reprogrammable Advanced Multimode Shipborne ECM System). RAMSES is a modular naval ECM system designed principally to provide protection for ships against I/J band (8-20 GHz) radar threats. It is an integrated responsive jammer capable of long-range jamming of search radars and the deception of missiles once launched. The system's normal mode of operation is to be connected to, and controlled by, the ship's combat control system, thus removing the need for a dedicated system operator. It is also capable of being connected directly to, and controlled by, the ship's RESM system to provide an integrated Electronic Warfare solution. RAMSES operates in I/J band and is capable of high-pulse and continuous wave effective radiated power. Multimode jamming operation is possible with multi-target handling capability. The system is reprogrammable and power management is provided. The antennas are fully trainable (port and starboard each through 180 degrees) and are stabilized for roll and pitch.

CESM/COMINT

For CESM and COMINT purposes, the Type 124 uses the Seeohr system. Utilizing various antennas that feed to wide-band recievers, it is capable of very fast scanning of frequency bands & activity detection in the HF, VHF, and UHF bands. The system has an automatic Direction Finding and "FIX", signal classification, and identification capability. It can also focus on signals of interest by activating various filters and criteria (azimuth sector, signal type, etc.). High-capacity Digital Audio & IF Wideband Recording capabilities are also included in the Modular, flexible, and future-proof system.

Propulsion

The main power plant of the ship is the SNR-2020g Pressurized Water Nuclear Reactor. Providing 60 megawatts of power, the steam from the reactor drives steam turbines that generate electricity, which is then provided to both power the ship's systems, as well as the electric motors that turn the ship's twin propulsion shafts, utilizing twin Controllable Pitch Propellers to propel the ship through the water. Once the steam from the reactor has passed through the steam turbines, it is taken to condensors, which cool the steam back into water, preparing it to go through the two-loop reactor's heating loop once more. As a Pressurized Water style reactor, water is used to moderate the reaction, which provides natural stability.

Silver-indium-cadmium alloy (80% Ag, 15% In, 5% Cd) control rods are used for reactor control as well as protection; in the event of a loss of power they will automatically scram (insert to the bottom of the core, shutting it down completely). This can also be done by the operator or by automatic action in the event of other casualties as well. Additional safety features include automatic filling of the reactor, should the core become depressurized and risk becoming uncovered, which would mean a lack of coolant and would allow for potential meltdown. With this, significant release of fission-product contamination external to the hull of the ship is guarded against.

The reactor can operate at up to 10% power without powering it's reactor coolant pumps; this natural circulation can be used for both decay heat removal and low power operations, making the reactor plant relatively quiet, but this natural circulation also provides for power transient-response and is not suitable for combat operations. As they are easy to cool without operator action or electrical power, the reactor design is remarkably safe when shutdown. This also means that the reactor plant can perform a battery-only start-up, which is highly valuable for combat scenarios or a loss of all reactor plants simultaneously. The reactor also utilizes an Emergency Core Cooling system, which pipes primary-system water via a thermal driving head to heat exchangers that use seawater. Like others, this system requires no power and initiates automatically.

Radiation shielding is required and makes up the outside of the reactor compartment, which houses the reactor, boiler units, coolant loops, reactor coolant pumps, pressurizer, and filtration system. The shielding is made up of borated polyethylene, water tanks, steel, and lead. It also has photovoltaic cells lining the inner wall to provide a trickle-flow of electricity to power the ship's battery and auxiliary reactor-plant batteries. With the reactor at power this trickle flow can be used to maintain a supply of electricity to critical components. Entering this reactor compartment while the reactor is at power is considered to be deadly, but the layered shielding is so sufficient that personnel working in the propulsion plant will receive less radiation than those working on the weatherdecks of the vessel.

In the event of a loss of power, emergency diesel generators can provide auxiliary power. They are primarily designed to support the reactor plant's automatic fill protection system, but they can also be aligned to the common electrical distribution system for propulsion or other power needs.

Manning

The design of the Type 120 allows for 370 crew members to be accommodated comfortably, with space for another 30 crew, naval infantry, or passengers if necessary. The helicopter hangar can also be used as a living space or medical bay in emergency situations, such as evacuations or search and rescue operations. Crew accommodations are split into six separate bunks per room, while the officer accommodations have two bunks per room, with each bunk measuring 200x120 cm. The Captain has the only truly private stateroom, as standing Ordenite Kriegsmarine custom prevents even The Leader from displacing a warship's captain. The executive officer's stateroom has a second bunk, which specifically caters to high-ranking VIPs. This arrangement is made less for altruistic reasons, and more because the Commanding Officer's cabin has special security measures allowing the ship's CO to review orders and other classified information sent from higher command in complete privacy.

For every 15 sailors there is at least one head, to include four showers, four toilet stalls, and four sinks, with both hot and cold water, calculated for a standard crew size of 370 personnel. These are often of stainless steel construction for sanitary reasons, and the shower-stalls are curtained off, though some may include a hard vanity door. Each shower or toilet stall includes stainless steel railing, in case of either rough seas, or the ship making hard turns. The bottom of the shower stalls include a non-slip surface, which is intended to protect against accidents.

Recreational facilities have also been provided for the Type 120, including both crew and officer mess facilities, along with shared kitchen facilities and, a locker sized library. Board games, and video games can be played in both crew and officer mess facilities, and both mess facilities also have access to (approved) satellite television and radio stations. A satellite phone is located just outside of the crew's mess facility, allowing contact with family using a pre-paid phone card purchased either in the ship's store, or at port facilities. Access to the satellite phone, television, and radio can be cut-off during combat or other sensitive situations, in order to enforce EMCON conditions.

The ship has independent air-conditioning plants allowing the ship to operate at a preset temperature and moisture level, while an oil-fired hot-water boiler provides the ship's heating. The units also keep the air pressure inside the ship five millibars higher than on the outside to prevent the drawing in of NBC (nuclear, biological, or chemical) contamination. The frigate is also fitted with seawater fire-fighting pumps and sprinkler systems, which are also ready to wet down the warship's ammunition magazines. In addition, a Carbon Di-oxide fire-extinguishing system protects the gas turbine and diesel engineering areas. The galleys are fitted with a foam fire-extinguishing system, and the flight deck and hangar are also protected with a foam fire-extinguishing system.

There are secured lockers onboard the ship, which are suitable for holding both firearms for the ship's crew to defend themselves with at need, as well as ammunition for these weapons. These lockers are equipped to hold pistols, sub-machine guns, and assault rifles. Only the ship's officers know the combinations to open these lockers.

Fresh water is provided by reverse osmosis units. This water is provided to the galleys, messes, and drinking water supplies, and it is also used for cooling the guns, the air-conditioners, and the engine room, in addition to that used for washing the helicopter and other sanitary purposes. Water pumped to the guns, sensors, and air-conditioners is chilled by two water refrigerators. The hot water for the galley and mess facilities comes from a 600 liter, 45 kilowatt electric geyser.

Ancillary Craft

The Type 120 has a landing pad and hangar space for two AS565 SA Panther (or similar) multi-role helicopters, capable of assisting the ship with ASW, ASuW, AEW&C, transport, medevac, and other roles. In order to launch and recover helicopters in conditions up to and including sea state six, the Type 120 utilizes the Twin Claw-Aircraft Ship Integrated Secure and Traverse (TC-ASIST) system.

The TC-ASIST system employs a sophisticated electro-optic tracking system which detects a laser beacon-equipped helicopter. The system tracks the helicopter and provides real time helicopter position simultaneously via visual cues to the pilot. A computer-controlled rapid securing device will also be driven by the position data to track the helicopter at low hover. Once the system has detected that the helicopter has landed on the deck, the securing device automatically approaches the helicopter and secures it.

The Rapid Securing Device (RSD), fitted with a pair of claw arms designed to capture and secure the wheel spurs of the aircraft, tracks the helicopter position with the capture arms at a ready position at either end of the RSD. The claw arms are spring loaded and held in the down position until tire sensors contact each tire as the arms are brought in. Upon contact, spring force rotates the claw arm upwards until it contacts the wheel spur. Each claw arm acts independently, but they are mechanically interlocked to ensure simultaneous operation.

Once the aircraft is secured, it is ready to be aligned/straightened for traversing from the designated landing area to the hangar or any intermediate location. All deck handling operations can thus be accomplished without the need for personnel on the flight deck.

The Type 120 can also hold and utilize a pair of Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) of up to 7.24 meters in length. These RHIBs can be raised and lowered from special compartments inside of the ship, and allow the ship an over the horizon surface capability, such as would be required for visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) teams, or special operations personnel.

Calculated to protect up to 110% of the ships crew size, twenty-five man Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention compliant life rafts are stored in weather-proof containers on deck.

Export

While the secretive nature of the Ordenite Government means that the ship is not known to have been exported, it is known that the unit cost of the Type-120 is one billion five hundred million standard dollars. Prices for DPRs to the Type 120 would need to be negotiated with the Ordenite Government.

The Corgi-Hawk Hybrid of Lamoni

Edited:

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