Chapter 972 Dreadnought-class and amphibious assault ships

For ordinary warship modifications, the increase in displacement is mainly achieved by enlarging the hull. For example, the domestic 052DL enlarges the displacement from 7,000 tons to 7,500 tons by increasing the length of the hull. However, If the appearance of the hull is not increased, the displacement can still be increased. This is of course achieved by increasing the draft.

 The difference between the standard displacement and the full load displacement of a warship is the difference in draft.

Now we want to improve the existing modern-class hull and add a lot of equipment, which will inevitably lead to an increase in draft, thus increasing displacement.

This is actually a common improvement method. Take a look at the American aircraft carriers. Take the Nimitz class as an example. The initial production model had a displacement of 91,478 tons. Later, based on the defects exposed in the use of the first batch, they were made Many improvements have been made, such as adding 63.5 mm thick Kevler armor to the sides, adding box-type bunkers to protect the ammunition depot and engine room, etc., and the full load displacement has increased to 97,000 tons. In the third batch, the deck below the flight deck was further strengthened, and the full-load displacement increased to 102,000 tons, making it the first aircraft carrier in the world with a displacement exceeding the 100,000-ton mark.

 What drawbacks will this cause to warships?

 The biggest problem is of course the speed of the warship. Under the same power, the deeper the draft, the greater the resistance the warship will encounter and the slower the speed will be. This cannot have both fish and bear's paws.

Fortunately, the modern class uses steam power. It is equipped with four high-pressure boilers and two steam turbines with a power of 50,000 horsepower. This power system allows the modern class to reach a high speed of 32 knots, and at this speed , the fuel consumption is quite satisfactory, there is no need to worry about wasting too much.

I just don’t know if these boilers were scrapped due to Lao Maozi’s brutal operation. If they were scrapped, it would not be easy to repair them.

Thinking of this, Qin Tao continued to speak: "I don't know whether you plan to use the current Type 956 destroyer for us to transform, or whether to use a retired warship. If it is a retired warship, I don't know what the power system is like. If it needs a major modification, , do you need to replace the east and west systems as well?”

Nicholas pondered for a moment: "Before the collapse of the Red Empire, we obtained a total of 17 Type 956 destroyers. Currently, 8 have been decommissioned, one has sunk, and four are undergoing overhaul. Currently, only four destroyers are still in service. We definitely cannot use these destroyers for renovation, and the overhauled destroyers are not easy to move, so we can only find suitable ones from decommissioned destroyers for renovation.”

Later generations also said that there were a total of 21 modern-class ships, including the four ships ordered by Dongfang. There were only 17 ships in the Lao Maozi Navy, and most of them were retired in 1997 and 1998. It was also the most difficult time for Lao Maozi. As for the ship that sank, of course it was Qin Tao who had done it.

 Now, they can only use decommissioned and mothballed warships to transform them.

“As for the power system on the warship, we cannot guarantee that it is intact.” Nikolai said: “But it is not necessary to modify it with a gas turbine. That would be too expensive and we cannot afford it.”

Just cutting off the superstructure and changing the whole top will cost a lot of money. If the power system below is also modified, we don't know how much blood will be lost. They don't have that much money. Even if Dongfang can It is also unaffordable to continue cutting down trees in the Far East in exchange for construction funds.

 So, it can only be kept simple.

“Then let us inspect and repair the boilers that can be repaired. If they cannot be repaired, replace them.” Qin Tao said: “Can your supporting boiler factory still produce boilers?”

Of course not, the supporting boiler factory has closed down long ago. Nicholas shook his head: "Qin, use your boiler."

 Qin Tao felt happy. In this way, another problem was solved.

When the 003 aircraft carrier decided to switch to nuclear power, superior leaders began to worry about the boiler. If there are no boiler orders, will the relevant domestic supporting factories give up the boiler business in the future? Then when 001 and 002 need to be overhauled in the future, what will happen if there are no qualified boilers?

 Now, when you check the boiler for Lao Maozi, you must have a high sense of responsibility. As long as there is a slight problem, you have to replace the boiler. This way, you can order boilers from domestic supporting factories and continue to maintain the operation of the naval boiler production line.

"Okay, then let us solve it." Qin Tao said: "Next, you need to select a retired modern-class destroyer to come over and accept our modification. Let's try to modify one first and see how it works. Yes Now, do you only plan to modify the modern class?"

"Qin, if there is a modification plan for the Type 1155, you can also take a look at it. Our Type 1155 anti-submarine ships can also be renovated." Nicholas said: "We have 13 Type 1155 anti-submarine ships, and these warships are in good condition. .”

When Lao Maozi was originally designing, the Dauntless class and the Modern class fought together. It can be seen from the weapons equipped on them that the Modern class is equipped with medium-range air defense missiles, the Dreadnought class is equipped with short-range air defense missiles, and the Modern class is equipped with Sunzhi missiles. For anti-ship missiles, the Dreadnought class is equipped with quartz anti-submarine missiles. In this way, the combination of a modern class and a Dreadnought class has air defense, anti-submarine, and anti-ship effectiveness greater than the sum of the two Spruance-class destroyers.

However, when the Yankees' Aegis warships appeared, they relied on their advanced number of vertical hairs to immediately trample the two combinations under their feet, especially the Dreadnought-class anti-submarine ship, an eight-thousand-ton warship. There are no anti-ship missiles!

Therefore, after Lao Maozi built 12 Dreadnought-I destroyers, he began to make improvements, such as replacing quartz anti-submarine missiles with Sunburn anti-ship missiles one-to-one, and replacing two AK-100 100 mm naval guns. Merged into a double-barreled 130mm naval gun, four AK-630s were merged into two sets of chestnut shells and cannons into one air defense system. After such improvements, it became the Dreadnought II. It was originally intended that this anti-submarine ship would be mass-produced and become the main force. Who It can be imagined that the Red Empire is gone, and the only ship, the Admiral Chabanenkov, has become a swan song.

Of course, Lao Maozi actually has the Dreadnought III that continues to develop on this basis. It is said that this anti-submarine ship plans to install Sky Sentinel radar and a large number of vertical hair systems to become a professional air defense ship, but there is no chance of this thing being realized. . (There is also a saying that this is just an illusion by military fans, and there is no such project at all.)

 Now, Lao Maozi is seriously short of warships. The new frigate project is progressing slowly and requires a large amount of funds. Now the only way to improve combat effectiveness is by modifying old ships. However, how to modify them is still a big problem.

"We don't have such a modification plan. After all, we don't have any design drawings of the Dreadnought-class destroyer at hand. However, we believe that there should be no big problem in modifying it according to this modern-class plan. Cut off the entire superstructure and directly Replace the equipment and fill up the tail. If you want to save money, some of the radar equipment on it can be removed and continued to be used. By the way, the naval guns must be replaced, but when we transform the modern class, we will remove the tail of the ship. The 130 naval gun is removed, and if it is intact, it can be installed on the Dreadnought class."

Compared with the modern class which lowers its freeboard downwards starting from the anti-ship missiles at the bow, the fearless class does not lower its freeboard until the rear of the hull, so it will be easier to complete the hull. If the old man is reluctant to spend money, the roof radar above You can dismantle it and continue using it later.

Although we have never come into contact with the fearless class, the entire upper layer has been cut off, so how difficult is it to transform it?

This would only be troublesome if the original layout was used. Now we can quickly cut the mess and cut off the upper layer to build a new one. Cable laying and the like will become simpler.

The only problem is the naval guns. After all, the Dreadnought-class uses two 100mm naval guns, which takes up too much space. However, this is not a big deal. The Modern-class will definitely have to dismantle one naval gun, and just transplant the dismantled old naval gun. come over.

Nicholas nodded: "Well, we will also send over the design drawings."

Even after finishing talking about the improvements of the two warships, Qin Tao glanced at the excited Nikolai and couldn't help but continue: "Nicholas, I think I have an obligation to tell you that after such improvements, I'm afraid it will not be better than the new one." How much cheaper is it, and have you really decided to just renovate the old ships instead of continuing to build new ones?”

 Nicola's face showed embarrassment.

"Yes, of course we also know that it would be better if we could build a new one, but if we build a new one, the procedures would be too troublesome, and there are still many people watching. So far, there has been no movement on the newly built frigate. We have tried to get it several times. When we go to the East for outfitting, some people will target us and say that we are traitors. In comparison, it is easier to renovate old ships, and there are successful examples." Nicholas said: "Qin, the development of our navy refers to I’m waiting for you, I hope you can make our navy stronger!”

"We have no obligation to refuse." Qin Tao said: "As long as you bring over the design drawings and drag the decommissioned warships over, we can transform them. Even if we lose money, we still have to do this kind of business. After all, we need a powerful Da Mao. Only in this way can the navy face the complex and changing world situation."

“That’s right, no matter how the world situation changes, we will always be good friends, good friends forever!” Nicholas said excitedly.

“Let’s go, for the sake of our friendship, let’s go have a drink.” Qin Tao suggested.

The ship transformation of the Mao Navy has been finalized. Except for the Glory class, all of the main warships of the Mao Navy will be renovated in the hands of the Mingzhou Group, and the changes will be drastic!

To this end, Damao needed to send the detailed design drawings of the warship to the Mingzhou Group. After receiving this news, the Northern Design Bureau immediately went into a panic.

  No, our design drawings must not be handed over to Orientals!

 That’s right, we asked to take over this design task!

If an Oriental makes a request, it will cost money!

Facing the quarrel among the people, the official who came to inform them only said one sentence: "Do you want money? These modification contracts are all paid for with trees. You can go to the Far East to cut down trees at any time to make up for your loss." The design bureau is short of funds.”

 Everyone was speechless.

 Chopping down trees in the Far East? Are you kidding me, we are running from St. Petersburg to the Far East, from the far west of Da Mao to the far east? Who doesn’t know where it is the most primitive and the most difficult place?

 “If you don’t want to, forget it.”

Seeing that the official who came was about to leave, Shishkin quickly stopped him: "Excuse me, can we participate in this project? Just like the Ruby Design Bureau."

When the Kirov-class cruiser was being refitted, Mao sent someone to the Mingzhou Group to be the deputy chief engineer of the refit. However, the strange thing was that he did not send someone from the Northern Design Bureau who originally designed the Kirov-class cruiser; Go to someone from the Ruby Design Bureau who builds nuclear submarines!

According to what was said at the time, the modification was a power system or all-electric propulsion, which was very similar to a nuclear submarine. But later, everyone found out that they were wrong. The people from the Ruby Design Bureau went there and did nothing. They were just making soy sauce. They obviously went there. Earn some travel expenses.

 Now, both the Modern-class and the Dreadnought-class must be modified. These modification projects also need to be supervised by Damao, and someone from their Northern Design Bureau must be the deputy chief engineer of the project! "Of course you can. You need to send someone to send the blueprints. The person you send can stay there and collaborate on the modification together. These travel expenses can be borne by the navy."

“Okay, let’s send fifty people there.”

 “No, no, five people at most.”

Soon, everyone in the Northern Design Bureau began to compete for these five places. His face was red, and looking at the appearance of his subordinates, Shishkin felt powerless again. Is this the sunset of the empire? When will our side be able to recover?

 While they were arguing, Nikolai was in Moscow, reporting to the boss.

"Currently, we plan to send four retired Type 956 and four retired Type 1155 anti-submarine ships for modification. It will take about four years to complete these modifications. In this way, the main force of our navy will be restored to what it was in 1994. , Moreover, these modified warships have strong attack power and protective power, and will become the elite force of our navy."

 The modification project has to be approved by the boss in the end. I don’t know what the boss’s attitude is?

 Nicholas was still afraid that the boss would refuse, but the boss simply asked: "Do you need us to pay?"

 “No need, let’s cut down trees from the Far East to pay off the debt.”

“Okay, let them do the modification. Remember, in the modification contract, it must be written clearly that if the modification fails, they need to compensate us for a high enough amount.”

Nicholas was stunned for a moment, then nodded: "Okay."

 It turns out that the bottom line of a big boss is no longer the technology, but whether he can spend money or even make money!

But if you think about it, the confidentiality of the modifications of these warships will be even lower.

  The Kirov-class cruiser is the strongest warship of Mao except the heavy-duty aircraft carrier cruiser. These warships have been transformed by the Easterners, not to mention the cheap modern-class and fearless-class warships?

 The Modern class was originally sold to Easterners, and Easterners all know the technology on it. As for the Dreadnought class, it is just an anti-submarine ship, and the weapons and equipment carried on it are not even advanced. It doesn't matter if Easterners know about it.

On the contrary, after the modification is completed, the strength of Damao Navy will be able to reach a new level. The only issue that the boss is concerned about is funds.

Now that the project was finalized, Nicholas took a long breath and then talked about the next project.

"For our navy, it has been a long time since we received a brand-new warship." Nikolai said: "The 22350 has not moved yet, and its service is far away. Our navy wants to deal with future threats and only retrofits existing ships. Some old ships are not good enough, we need brand new warships, especially..."

Nicholas carefully looked at the boss's face: "Amphibious assault ship, this kind of assault ship has a large displacement and advanced equipment. It is a weapon for cross-sea landings. Our navy needs this kind of advanced weapons and equipment. Now, our country's economy It has improved and should be able to support our plan to order new amphibious assault ships, which can also serve as a supplement to the aircraft carrier."

 “Amphibious assault ship?” The boss also looked at Nikolai seriously.

"Yes." Nicholas knew that this matter was important and continued to introduce it eloquently: "We are not only the country with the largest land area in the world, we are also a large maritime country. Our maritime border is more than 37,000 kilometers long. In comparison, our land border is less than 21,000 kilometers, and we have a huge territorial sea area, exclusive maritime economic zone, and numerous islands. These require a powerful navy to protect, and we have more and more With so much maritime transport trade, our Arctic shipping lanes need a powerful navy to protect them, especially in the Far East and the Bering Strait. We must protect the safety of shipping there. Once a war breaks out, our troops need to be able to quickly deliver to Go there, so amphibious assault ships are important."

Aircraft carriers are important, but not necessary for Lao Maozi, because their maritime activities are close to the land, and they can take off and land aircraft from land at any time. Compared with aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships are an important The mission is to be able to project forces and transport a large number of personnel and equipment, which is very important to them.

 In short, Damao needs an amphibious assault ship. They do not have this equipment, so they need to order it.

 Hearing what Nicholas said, the boss started thinking.

The room fell into temporary silence. After a minute or two, the boss continued: "So, how do we obtain an amphibious assault ship? Can our own shipyards build such ships?"

Nicholas shook his head: "No, we can't even repair warships, let alone build them."

“In other words, we can only outsource?” The boss looked at Nikolai: “Nicholas, can you recommend where is the best place to order?”

Needless to say, it must be the Mingzhou Group, which has been building various aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships and has the most experience! Nicholas subconsciously wanted to say it, but when the words came to his lips, he suddenly woke up and quickly stopped.

"I don't know where is the best place to order this. I think we should invite bids to determine the best procurement targets. Please also send a special working group to participate in the bidding work with our navy. After all, this project It requires money from the government,” Nicholas said.

The boss nodded: "Okay, regardless of whether it is built or not, the bidding process can be started. If we get detailed design drawings during the bidding process and we are capable of building it ourselves, we can also put it in our shipyard."

"Okay, I've finished my report. Do you have any other instructions? If nothing happens, I'll go out."

After leaving the boss's office, Nicholas felt the sweat on his back wet his clothes. Up to now, there are still many people accusing Nicholas of being too close to Dongfang. Nicholas himself also You have to always remind yourself that although this is for the sake of the entire navy, you must also pay attention to the impact, otherwise it will always arouse suspicion.

 The boss has agreed, and the next step is to invite tenders.

The Mao Navy was going to order amphibious assault ships, and it was ordering two at once. The news spread quickly around the world, and the shipyards who got the news were all excited. Among them, the Brest Shipyard in France was even more happy. From the looks of it, this order is simply tailor-made for them.

"Da Mao needs amphibious assault ships, and the Mistral-class we are about to build is their best choice." Duquesne said: "Now, we need to negotiate with the Navy to submit the design drawings of our Mistral-class amphibious assault ships. Take it over and participate in Da Mao’s bidding!”

"There will definitely be no problem with the Navy. After all, if the bulk purchase is made, there will be more Mistral-class orders, which will help share the cost. As long as we offer the Navy a slightly lower price, the Navy will definitely agree." Mistral Feng Lucas, the designer of the class amphibious assault ship, said: "The only problem at the moment is that we don't know what Da Mao's needs are, and how much displacement they need for an amphibious assault ship."

   The first indicator of an amphibious assault ship is its displacement. Different displacements will have different combat effectiveness and different prices. As suppliers, they naturally hope that the larger the order, the better.

“We can build it as big as they want it to be,” said Cadina. “We can just expand it based on the existing northwest wind level.”

“Yes, it’s okay to expand the hull, but what about the power system?”

 These days, all-electric propulsion is popular, so the French also follow the trend and use this power system on their Mistral stage. However, the French do not have advanced gas turbines, which greatly restricts their power system.

The French have always liked to use diesel engines for their warships, even if the speed is lower, because they do not have suitable gas turbines on hand, and if they use them, they have to import them.

The northwest wind class uses three sets of Vasilan 16V32 diesel generator sets as the main generator sets, each with a power of 6.2 megawatts, plus a Vasaa18V200 auxiliary diesel generator set with a power of 3 megawatts. Just do the math. All the power systems together only have about 20 megawatts, which is only the power of one LM2500 gas turbine.

It uses two MERMAID rotatable pod electric thrusters provided by Rolls Royce Group, each of 7.5 MW. Under this power, the maximum speed of a northwest wind class with a displacement of more than 20,000 tons is only 18.8 knots, but relying on Due to the fuel-saving characteristics of the diesel engine, the range can reach 10,000 kilometers at a speed of 15 knots.

 (End of this chapter)