Lafayette-Class Corvette
The Lafayette-class Corvette is a class of cutters of the Confederate Coast Guard. 26 of the class were built, of which 7 remain in commission. Their hull numbers are RSCG-71 through RSCG-77.
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Lafayette Class
Lafayette-Class River Corvette
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| Ship | |||||
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| RSCG-77 Yarborough after her Coast Guard refit | |||||
| Role | Coastal Patrol | ||||
| National Origin | Zokesia | ||||
| Production History | |||||
| Produced | |||||
| 2131 - 2140 | |||||
| Designer | Bayl Ironworks, Bayl, Schrschnell | ||||
| Unit Cost | 131,408(√) | ||||
| Number Built | 26 | ||||
| Service History | |||||
| In Service | |||||
| 2142 - ongoing | |||||
| Used By | Zokesia Confederate Coast Guard Aontas Ilishira Rovolia Surnay Fegeland | ||||
| Vessel Characteristics | |||||
| Displacement | 604 Tons | ||||
| Length | 33.6 m | ||||
| Beam | 8.8 m | ||||
| Height | 16.7 m | ||||
| Draft | 1.8 m | ||||
| Propulsion | 2x Kaxual-Valentina V16 – 16RP200[2] or 2x Logi diesel engines |
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| Max Speed | 29 kn (14.5 m/s) | ||||
| Operational Range | 1800 km | ||||
| Complement | 16 (2 officers, 14 enlisted) | ||||
| Sensors and Processing Systems | AN/SPS-73 radar ASW Sonar |
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| Armament | x1 76mm Autocannon x2 Twin 12.7 Cal machine guns x1 250MW Lazer |
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| Boats Carried | x1 25ft Swiftboat | ||||
Overview
The 110 foot (34 metre) Lafayette-Class Corvette are a Confederate modification of a highly successful Zokesian-designed Mamb River Patrol Vessel built for Rovolia, Surnay, and Treposia. With excellent range and seakeeping capabilities, the Lafayette class, all named after Confederate rivers, replaced the older 95 feet (29 metres) Bosmythe-class cutters. These corvettes are equipped with advanced electronics and navigation equipment, and are used in support of the Confederate Coast Guard's maritime homeland security, migrant interdiction, drug interdiction, defense operations, fisheries enforcement, and search and rescue missions. The cutters have 100 tons worth of space and weight reservations for additional weapons.
The Lafayette-class corvette started life as a Mamb patrol vessel that was initially built in 2130, when the Zokesian shipbuilding boom was in full swing and the war with Gallante was brewing. The nations surrounding Zokesia were quick to purchase the Lafayette, and several dozen were built. The type found its way into Zokesian service as well, serving as an escort and screen ship for the new Morser-Class battleships. Being river patrol vessels, the Lafayette was origfinally armed with four CIWS turrets, a RIM-116 missile turret, and two defensive lazers to protect larger ships and outfight any smaller vessels encountered in shallow water battles. As a result, the small vessel suffered from limited stability and poor range. Her displacement on paper was 380 tons, but would routinely exceed that in practice.
The Lafayette-class saw service in the Zokesian Civil War, though never saw combat. Shortly thereafter, the ships were found to be horribly outdated, and by the breakout of the Reclamation were put into ordinary or sold for scrap.
Conversion
As built, these vessels were all 114 feet (35 m) in length. In 2149 as part of the Coast Guard Rearmament Act, the Confederate Coast Guard began refitting some of these vessels, removing 3 feet (1 m) from the stern and an extention of the bow vertically to enable open ocean sailing. The vessel also received an aluminum superstructure, advanced electronics, and defensive armament.
Seven of the Lafayette-class would be sold to the Confederate Coast guard post conversion, with a further ten going abroad. The refit became extremely popular amongst its crews, and the type has served for nearly 70 years in its role as coastal patrol craft.
Transfers to foreign operators
The Confederate Coast Guard has transferred several partially built ships to foreign navies and coast guards via the Confederate Security Cooperation Agency's Office of International Acquisition's Excess Defense Articles Program (EDA). Orders shot in almost immediately, and demand was so high production was restarted in 2160 to meet demands from various coast guards globally.
In May 2193, the Confederate government pledged to provide Ilishira at least two Island-class patrol vessels which was agreed by both sides, as it was offered alongside two Cyten-Ward C-24 Mastodon aircraft during the president's visit to Ezekialgrad. The recipient of the transferred vessels will be the Ilishiran Navy.
