Hikaze Class Destroyer
The Hikarinokaze ("Wind of Light") class is a type of Guided Missile Destroyer developed in Zalkent to be fielded in the Royal Zalkentian Navy for multi-mission profiles.
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Hikarinokaze Class
Prj. 2184 "Hikarinokaze" Large Multi-Mission Guided Missile Destroyer
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| Ship | |||||
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| RZS Hikarinokaze DDG-01 testing its Anti-Air Systems c. 2199 | |||||
| Role | Multi-Mission Guided Missile Destroyer | ||||
| National Origin | Zalkent | ||||
| Production History | |||||
| Designed | |||||
| 2184 - 2190 | |||||
| Produced | |||||
| 2197 - N/A | |||||
| Designer | Nakirō Heavy Industries | ||||
| Unit Cost | 192,869 - Unarmed(√) | ||||
| Number Built | 4 | ||||
| Service History | |||||
| In Service | |||||
| 2199 - N/A | |||||
| Used By | Zalkent | ||||
| Vessel Characteristics | |||||
| Displacement | 2,257 tons | ||||
| Length | 119.3 m | ||||
| Beam | 19.7 m | ||||
| Height | 25.5 m | ||||
| Propulsion | 3 P-310 "Herring" Propeller 1 NHI GT-77 Gas Turbine |
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| Complement | 178 | ||||
| Sensors and Processing Systems | Type 78 Radar System Type 81 Sonar System |
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| Armament | 48 VLS Cells 1 5"/127mm Mod 4 Naval Gun 3 Oerlikon Millennium Cannons 2 250MW Type 99 Directed Energy Weapon |
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| Aircraft Carried | 1 Rotary Wing Aircraft | ||||
Design
The design of the Hikarinokaze was based on observations of foreign naval fleets and the necessity for an escort type ship within the newly formed Royal Zalkentian Navy. The task of designing and producing a "Large Escort Destroyer" was delegated to Nakirō Heavy Industries (NHI). This ship features advanced sensors for Anti-Aircraft and Anti-Missile engagements in the form of the Type 78 Radar System, and personnel reducing technologies that gave the ship class a small crew of 178.
Development
With the establishment of the Royal Zalkentian Navy in 2182, the Naval Ordinance Bureau commissioned NHI to develop a Multirole Guided Missile Escort. Designated internally as "Project 2184 Large Missile Escort", later renamed to "Project 2184 Large Multi-Mission Guided Missile Destroyer", the development was faced with numerous technical issues due to this being the first ship indigenously developed in Zalkent since the Burr War. Many parties have argued that this ship fits the role and description of a Guided Missile Cruiser better, and should be classified as a light capital ship instead of an escort, but this is not the case which has been reflected by its usage.
Service History
The first ship of the class, RZS Hikarinokaze DDG-01 was commissioned on June 12th, 2199 and the second ship, RZS Narikaze DDG-02 being commissioned on December 19th, 2199 as part of the 1st Fleet Program. RZS Harukaze DDG-03 is expected to commission in January or February of 2200, with RZS Mizukaze DDG-04 being expected to finish construction around the time that Harukaze is finished with commissioning. The fifth ship of the class, designated hull number DDG-05, is currently unnamed and planned to be laid down sometime in 2200, with construction finishing in 2201 or 2202. These five ships are expected to primarily serve the role of Air-Defense Escort for the flagship RZS Masahiro Ashigaru in the Zalkentian 1st Fleet, but they have Anti-Ship and Shore Bombardment capabilities built in as part of their Multi-Mission profile.
Ships
| Name | Laid Down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate | Operator |
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| RZS Hikarinokaze | March 17th, 2197 | November 21st, 2198 | June 12th, 2199 | Active | Royal Zalkentian Navy |
| RZS Narikaze | April 11th, 2198 | July 1st, 2199 | December 19th, 2199 | Active | Royal Zalkentian Navy |
| RZS Harukaze | September 29th, 2198 | November 15th, 2199 | N/A | Commissioning | Royal Zalkentian Navy |
| RZS Mizukaze | June 9th, 2199 | N/A | N/A | Pending Completion | Royal Zalkentian Navy |
| Unnamed Hull DDG-05 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Planned | Royal Zalkentian Navy |