 HMAIS Lightning (L81) | |
| Class overview | |
| Operators: |  Atlantic Islands Navy
|
| Built: | 2000-2010 |
| Completed: | 4 |
| Active: | 4 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Cruiser |
| Displacement: | 12,000 long tons |
| Length: | 613 ft (186 m) |
| Beam: | 69 ft (21 m) |
| Draught: | 19 ft (6.02 m) |
| Propulsion: | 2 x shafts 4 x TM3B gas turbines |
| Speed: | 34 knots |
| Range: | 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km) |
| Complement: | 500 |
| Armament: | 8 x 6inch MK V naval guns 2 x Harpoon launchers 2 x Sea Viper systems 2 x DARDO systems |
The Empire class is a class of Cruiser currently in service with the Atlantic Islands Navy. The first ship of the class, HMAIS Lightning, was launched on 5 June 2004 and commissioned on 5 August 2004. All ships were built by Anderson & Hawthorn Limited between 2000 and 2010.
Design[]
The Empire class are unique in that they are the last fully gunned Cruisers to be produced. Each ship is armed with eight 6inch MK V (150mm) naval guns in four Remote Power Control (RPC) turrets. Each of the four RPC systems are linked to the ships gunnery computer. This gives the computer the ability to aim each turret and gun individually and track moving targets. The 6inch MK V naval gun has an effective range of 18 miles.
Each ship of the class is also armed with two quadruple Harpoon launchers. The Harpoon launchers are the ships longest range weapons with an effective range of 60 miles. They double the ships capabilities within an 18 mile radius due to the addition of the 6inch MK V naval guns.
For anti-aircraft and close range purposes the ships are also armed with two Sea Viper air defence systems and two DARDO systems.
Ships[]
- HMAIS Legion (L82)
- HMAIS Lightning (L81)
- HMAIS Lookout (L84)
- HMAIS Loyal (L83)