I would like the the CA to get them too.
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ASW can also get help from aircraft like helicopters.
I one game I was making 1965+ AV or CL with ~ 4 helicopters and various ASW gear. CAs cant get all the bits. A CL could.
Below is a 1968 Small CL with an ASW 20. It was a bonus one I sent into the design competition. I imagine that if built in the real world they would be damn annoying to subs largely as with 4 helicopters they could keep 2 patrolling for subs. On detection there is enough helicopters to keep constant helicopter contact as they cycle in from the ship. The ship having weapons ASW rockets and homing torpedoes are a bonus if the sub got through the helis.
CLP 1968 LR ASW Patrol
by b1laxson@yahoo.com
forum Brygun
CLP designation referring to cruiser light patrol though more specifically cruiser long range anti-submarine patrol.
With growing submarine threats some nations are fielding very large submarine forces. The CLP design counters with advanced anti-submarine technology including an air wing of a several helicopters. Size, thus cost, is kept down, allowing moderate numbers to be built creating multiple chances by patrolling more seas.
Operational doctrine is to group five CLP into a division, set them to trade protection duties then sail them where the area overview reports a large number of submarines. In the “Battle of the Atlantic” while many destroyers were escorting the convoys there were roaming hunter killer teams moveing between convoys and sighting reports. This new design shares this idea as shifting anti-submarine force.
Construction in broad strokes is a light cruiser front with the aft as as a carrier with wide hanger with a tall interior and a flight deck roof. An elevator moves between the hanger and flight deck. Having dedicated helicopter workshops and stores makes them the beloved of nearby destroyers whose own facilities are far more limited.
Air group sizing of four (4) promotes that on any given day multiple helicopters being available even if some are grounded. In persecuting a contact freshly rearmed helicopters can repeatedly relieve each other over and over. A truly frustrating situation for any submariner. Helicopters carried are anti-submarine or adaptable types.
While specialized designs, like “Cobra” style gunships, could fit the need for specific maintainers, armorers, tooling and parts make it more appropriate to have formation CLP carry the general types. This then frees a larger aviation vessel to handle more of such specials.
Ship borne ASW equipment includes a variety of sonars, bow fired ASW rockets and under water tubes for wire guided acoustic torpedoes. Minelaying equipment is typically used for laying a swath of area denial anti-submarine mines. Speed while suitable for cruising is starting to be outpaced by the newest submarines but none of them will out run the helicopters.
A set of heavy anti-ship missiles keeps enemy warships “honest”. They are supplemented with auto-loading dual purpose 4 inch guns. This caliber balances flak generation with light armor penetration.
Though lacking surface to air missiles a small scale attack may be thwarted by radar directed 40 mm anti-air, CIWS mountings and chaff launchers. These make it unlikely for missile submarine to easily sink the CLP unless it uses up a larger portion of its munitions meant for high value targets. The multiple launch trails would make it obvious to flying helicopters where to make their own counter attack. This deters such an attack from occurring in the first place.
Armor is light by cruiser standards. The full length of the waterline is given armor plate against splinters and light weapons of non-state actors. Turrets and the conning tower are protected against destroyer grade guns and light missiles. Defenses against underwater explosions are present though limited by the ship’s affordable size. A single torpedo or mine strike should be survivable long enough to get to a friendly port.
Colonial service loading of manpower and equipment includes translators, signals intelligence, a surgery suite, marine teams and prisoner cells. Special forces teams can be attached on a per mission basis. Newly invented RHIB speed boats provide an alternate means of movement to the helicopter’s excellent abilities in search, inspection, boarding, anti-piracy and logistics. The helicopters also make them attractive for amphibious operations and disaster relief. A division of five of these ships provide a surprising concentration of twenty helicopters. Depending on helicopter specifications that is a capacity of one to two hundred people per sortie.
Studies considered the possibilities of larger sizes. Deck space was found to be the key limiting factor. Increasing from 4 to 5 helicopters would take an increase from 4,000 tons to 4,400. (RTW3 gave no ASW increases for the extra helicopters). Adding a pair of light SAM rails would take a tonnage of 5,600 with the original 4 helicopters. 2 of LSAM and 5 helicopters 6,300 tons or to 6 helicopters at 6,900 tons. If instead 2 of MSAM rails were added to the four helicopters a tonnage of nearly double of 7,700 tons was needed with just the base 4 helicopters.
In summary to the review bureau is the use of these light patrol cruisers for strategic anti-submarine hunter-killer squadrons. They are also for efficient foreign service or augmenting larger formations. This design also shows the possibilities at the far high end of technologies compared to the 1890s. For the proposed role the 4,000 ton is the most economical with the 2 LSAM 5,600 ton as an alternate.
