LHA-98-class amphibious assault ship

LHA-98 Amphibious Assault Ship Corsaire/Johanna Class Amphibious Assault Ship

--- Class overview Name: Builders: - - Operators: - Marine Nationale - Realm Armada Preceded by: Cost: In commission: Planned: Completed: Active:

- General characteristics Type:	Amphibious assault ship Displacement: - 25,800 tonnes (empty) - 33,000 tonnes (full load) Length:	245m (804 ft) Beam:	36m (118 ft) Draught:	7.2m (23.5 ft) Installed power: 60,000 shp Propulsion:	2x 15MW Electric azimuth pods with 5-bladed propellers Speed:	22 knots Range:	Johanna Class - 22,000 km (12,000 nmi) at 16 knots - 12,000 kilometres (6,500 nmi) at 22 knots Endurance: 30 days Well Deck: 100m long, 15m wide, 3m submersible depth aft Capacity: Troops: - 1200 (short duration) - 800 (long duration) Complement: 260 crew + 200 air group Sensors and processing systems: - Navigation Radar - 3D Air Search Radar - Fire Control Radar - Optronic Fire Control - Radio Landing Assist Armament: - 2x 227mm Multiple Rocket Launch systems - 4x Twin 40mm CIWS - 2x 16-cell strike length VLS Aircraft carried: Varies Aviation facilities: 7 helicopter landing spots

History
The LHA-98 program is he result of negotiations between Chezzetcook and Tiperyn for a joint naval program as part of improved relations in the latter years of the twentieth century.

The LHA-98 hull is derived from the Fraternite class CVL produced for Kodeshia, sharing the majority of its hydrodynamic profile, as well as much of the structure in the forward half of the ship. The LHA-98 has a different stern configuration owing to its and vehicle decks.

Aviation
The LHA-98 class is designed with aviation capability in mind as an amphibious assault ship. The flight deck is broadly simmilar between the two sub-variants, with a shallow angle landing path set to the port side, and an elevator outboard on the starboard side just aft of the island. The flight deck can accommodate up to seven medium helicopters simultaneously for improved airlift capability. All aircraft handling elevators to the flight deck are rated at 26 tonne lift capacity. On both ships the hangar deck provides 6.5m of clear height.

For the Realm Armada's Johanna Class a second elevator is placed at the far stern along the center line. The hangar for the Johanna Class spans from the stern to approximately half way, with a large comprehensive hospital forward on the hangar deck. The flight deck includes a 12 degree ski jump for operation of STOVL aircraft and heat-resistant reinforcement in order to recover said aircraft. The hangar facility on the Johanna Class measures 1500 square meters.

The Marine Nationale's Corsaire Class is fitted as a conventional aircraft carrier in order to operate fixed wing aircraft, and has a number of changes from the Johanna Class as a result. Lacking the ski jump and stern elevator, a single 75m steam catapult is fitted to the bow and a shallow angled landing deck with three arrestor wires to recover aircraft. Because of this the Corsaire Class is able to launch and recover most aircraft in use by the Marine Nationale. The hangar is extended forward and the hospital moved down into the vehicle deck, reducing capacity for both vehicles and hospital beds while enhancing aviation capability. A second elevator is mounted outboard on the starboard side forward of the island to access the hangar. As a result the Corsaire Class can accommodate a greater number of more varied aircraft than its sister the Johanna Class, however its landing and hospital facilities are restricted. The hangar on the Corsaire Class measures 3000 square meters.

A typical airgroup of the Corsaire Class includes six Rapace attack fighters, twelve Panther assault helicopters, as well as another four Pather for utility, and up to ten Marsouin heavy lift helicopters. The airgroup may be changed depending on mission however, and as a result the Corsaire Class can put to see with as many as twenty-four Marsouin helicopters or Rapace fighters if required.

Well Deck and Boats
The LHA-98 class is equipped with a large to support a number of landing craft or amphibious assault vehicles. Measuring 100m long by 15m wide the well deck can accommodate a wide assortment of large landing craft. The well deck is fed by small vehicle deck forward of 1500 square meters, capable of taking main battle tanks up to 60 tonnes, or amphibious assault vehicles. Above the tank deck and the well dock is a larger, but lower clear height vehicle deck which feeds to the tank deck by a lower-able vehicle ramp. On the Johanna Class the upper vehicle deck measures 3000 square meters. The aft aircraft elevator provides access to both the hangar as well as the upper vehicle deck, allowing for transfer of vehicles between the two. The upper vehicle deck provides 1000 lane meters of vehicle storage when accounting for the aircraft elevator and ramp to the lower vehicle deck. The Corsaire Class upper vehicle deck is only 1500 square meters owing to the inclusion of various facilities in the forward space. Unlike the Johanna Class the Corsaire Class has no elevator access between the hangar and upper vehicle deck. The upper vehicle deck has a maximum vehicle weight capacity of 30,000kg. The lower vehicle deck has capacity for 600 lane meters, or 36 main battle tanks or amphibious assault vehicles.

There are two inset davits on each side of the ship which allow the carriage of smaller boats or LCVP.

Propulsion
The ship is powered by a combined diesel and gas turbine electric drive. Four diesel generators in the hull provide primary propulsion power with 15,000 shp each, with a 24,000 shp gas turbine mounted in the island to provide higher power output when needed.

Weapons
The LHA-98 class is armed with two trainable launchers to provide fire support to landing troops. Each launcher, mounted on sponsons on the starboard side of the hull, below flight deck level, is supplied with a magazine with up to eight reload pallets each. The MLRS uses a palletized load system providing flexibility in munitions, which allows employment of guided munitions with ranges in excess of 70km, out to 500km with theatre ballistic missile loads. This allows the LHA-98 to provide fire support to landing teams both on the beach and deeper into shore. Because of the placement of the launchers firing arcs are restricted, though technically 360 degree coverage exists. Firing over the port side requires firing over the flight deck and thus can only occur when the flight deck is cleared.

Further, the LHA-98 class is equipped with two 16-cell VLS systems, mounted to port towards the stern. These VLS systems are strike length, allowing carriage of land attack cruise missiles, as well as an assortment of air defense and anti-submarine missiles. Loads may varry, though the VLS is intended to provide a limited land attack cruise missile capability as well as up to 32 short range air defense missiles for local defense.

For close in defense the LHA-98 class is armed with four guns. These are tied into the LHA-98 air defense sensors and can be operated in either manual or automatic mode to intercept sea-skimming missiles or aircraft. One gun is installed on each corner of the ship providing full 360 degree coverage. One known problem with the CIWS mountings is that their height above water, just below flight deck, and limited gun depression, limits coverage very close to the ship. To counter this in low-intensity threat areas, various manually operated small arms such as machine guns can be mounted at various points.