Perennial-Class Corvette
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Perennial Class
Perennial-Class Corvette
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| Ship | |||||
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| "F013 Goldenrod" | |||||
| Role | Heavy Corvette, Multirole | ||||
| National Origin | PLAID | ||||
| Production History | |||||
| Designer | PLAID | ||||
| Unit Cost | 140000(√) | ||||
| Number Built | 70, 24 on order | ||||
| Service History | |||||
| In Service | |||||
| 2206 - ongoing | |||||
| Used By | PLAID Novenad Luminor | ||||
| Vessel Characteristics | |||||
| Displacement | 1057 Tons | ||||
| Length | 89.8 m | ||||
| Beam | 17.3 m | ||||
| Height | 15.3 m | ||||
| Draft | 3 m | ||||
| Max Speed | 32 kn (15 m/s) | ||||
| Operational Range | 2400 km | ||||
| Complement | 200 (24 officers, 176 enlisted) | ||||
| Sensors and Processing Systems | SNOOP-R STIR-BRAVO SEEKER-SC Sonar |
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| Armament | x1 76mm Naval Gun x2 Phalanx CIWS x2 Mk49 Launcher x8 4-cell AshM Launcher x66 VLS cells |
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The Perennial-Class Corvette is a class of guided-missile corvettes currently in service with multiple nations, working as an affordable multi-mission vessel capable of filling any possible surface combat role.
Development
The Perennial-Class Corvette began development in 2205 under PLAID's Suface Intercept Forces Engineering division. Intended at first to be a light corvette to fill Hearthia's request for a smaller warship than the Mythic FFG and as a squadron leader for Pavise NCPVs, the first design spec entered production in 2206 at a cost of $120,000 pesos. Featuring a large helicopter bay and a tremendous ASUW battery of 32 ASHMs, the ship met all design goals and was deemed perfectly suitable for the fleet. However, it was quickly determined by PLAID engineers that the superstructure could hold more equipment, and a large sea drone bay, crane, and 32-cell full-bore VLS bay was added to the center of the ship, raising costs to $140,000. The first batch of four ships delivered to PLAID were upgraded to this specification while under construction, and the upgrade package was deemed cost effective and retained, with the ships being redesignated as heavy corvettes to befit the dramatically expanded armament.
Design and Armament
Designed as a reliable surface combatant intended to do any single mission independently, the Perennial-class's defining feature was the extremely large small craft capability, with a helicopter bay large enough to fit four Izinyo heavy attack helicopters and a drone bay able to store six sea or air drones. These drones, designed specifically for the Perennial, can be used for surface bombardment, land fire support, radar picket, ISR, and ASW warfare, among others.
Sensor systems were left nearly identical to the preceding Pavise NCPVs, with SNOOP-R search radars and STIR-BRAVO illuminators. Befitting the original air warfare spec of 24 ESSMs, the ship was only equipped with two STIR illuminators, and this was not upgraded when the midships VLS cells were added, leading to some concerns that the ship could be saturated.
In order to maintain effective submarine hunting capability and enable rapid redeployment of the corvettes, the Perennial-class is equipped with a massive PLAID SVK-45 gas turbine powerpack, allowing the ships to reach 33.2 knots fully loaded. This powerpack composes an entire third of the ship's hull cost.
For a corvette, the Perennial-Class is extremely heavily armed. Her antiship battery of 32 RGM-84s or LRASMs is mounted beneath the bridge inside the superstructure, protected by retractable doors. On the aft upper deck are 24 ESSM cells for point defence- these are backed up by two Mk49 RAM mounts located fore and aft, for a total of 66 self defence weapons. After the Bravo specification was put to sea an additional 32 cells for RIM-66 or SA-35 Surtur was fitted centerline, bringing her AAW missile total to 98. Two Phalanxes provide final missile defence.
All of this equipment in the upper superstructure makes the ship dangerously top-heavy and vulnerable to capsizing under battle damage.
Foreign Sales
In 2205 following release of the design specifications, Novenad placed a 750k contract for eight Perennials. The order was delivered at the end of 2206 with stellar reviews.
Despite initial interest from the Hearthian Boat Organization, the IRN undercut the PLAID offer by delivering four Helios-class Corvettes free of charge to the Hearthians, filling their budget. Interest remained in the event the HBO sustained losses.
In 2207, Luminor placed a 6M order for 30 Perennials, which was delivered at the end of the year. The order came with sixty anti-submarine drones for the Perennial's mission bays.
Service History
Four Perennials were initially ordered for PLAID's Surface Interdiction Groups, with an immediate followup order of four more.
