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| Evolution : Endurance 171 |
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| Endurance 171 w/ Anti-Missile Missiles and CIWS |
The facts
Taking an existing design from ST Marine, the Endurance class 160 Multi-Role Support Ship - proposed incorporating a STOVL (Short Take Off Vertical Landing) capability, in the near future operating the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter.
The Endurance 160 is a Helicopter Landing Dock platform. The flight deck accommodates five medium lift helicopter, capable of lifting an Infantry Company in one bound.
The well dock loading space has the capacity of disembarking one battalion size Armoured Amphibious Assault TO&E (Table of Organisation & Equipment). Hospital facilities with 05 operating theatres, 12 ICU beds, 42 medium dependency beds, triage area and laboratory/X-ray facility, including a morgue, etc. This man-Of-war vessel with the spacious well dock and built-in medical/surgical facility is well suited for humanitarian disaster relief and evacuation role as well.
The fun stuff
With the view that air cover is of paramount importance in today's naval combat. This post explore some ideas on how to incorporate a fix-wing run way on an existing heli-pad design.
This is NOT an aircraft carrier. This 14,500 ton LHD is not an aircraft carrier. By adding a fix-wing ski jump run way is by no means making it an aircraft carrier. The design does not include expanding the hanger facility to accommodate the F-35B. The design does not even include an elevator sized for the JSF fighter! Without a proper hanger, the combatant fix-wing fighters are not meant to sail with the ship, with shelter, maintenance, repair and tender loving care. The F-35B can land and take off, do refueling, ordnance, toilet break for the pilot but that is about it, also to reassure our good neighbours.
Got air cover better than no air cover. Remember Prince of Wales and the Repulse? The 5th generation stealth F-35B STOVL version of the Joint Strike Fighter song and dance, all that hype, if you believe, is truly a mini game changer. At over US$100,000,000 US$200,000,000 a piece (!!!), it better be. You are not supposed to see it until it sees you. Unprecedented situational 360 degree awareness and bringing network information in a whole new presentation to the pilot. By the time, the adversarial is hopefully blown to smithereens by the F-35B long range A-to-A missile.
Four is not enough ! Need to emphasis again that the improvised LHD is not an aircraft carrier. It does not do power projection. This little red dot of an island republic do not aspire to do power projection, hearsay. Four is what the improved LHD can accommodate on its flight deck with minimal disruption to routine run of the mill heli-ops. For the second point, see above - Got air cover better than no air cover.
Sea Control. Not power projection is the name of the game. Securing a free SLOC ( Sea Lanes Of Communication ) and protecting of merchant ships. The LHD may be stationed out at sea for extended period of time. A tactical Lily Pad? The F-35Bs' can conduct operations in conjunction with the Air-Sea Integration doctrine at further ranges with aerial refueling and they can be assured of "lily pads" for emergency or planned landing out at sea.
Why from 160 to 171? With the addition of a ski jump, the slope of the ski ramp starts to ascend on the stern positioned heli-pad to achieve an optimal angle of 12.5 degrees for certain combat load of the JSF. This construction negates a possible landing/take-off on a gradient, thus effectively reduces the heli-lift capability in a single bound from five to four helicopters. A "minor" inconvenient for air transport logistician and a "slight" disruption to high tempo heliborne infantry operation. Extending the stern by another 11m the 5th heli-pad can be reinstated and everybody is happy. While 03 Chinooks would probably lift an Infantry Company in a single bound but not certain if there are areodynamic issues with multiple of them taking off from the Endurance 171 flight deck.
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| Stealth and Fire Power |
Perhaps the RSN should increase the size of the Endurance 160 at both ends to about 180 meters like the Chakri Naruebet?
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