Kandake-class Amphibious Assult Ship

I spent a long time wracking my brain over how to properly celebrate reaching gold. In the end, I thought “I should thank them by putting my heart and soul into something. To give them more of what drew them to my posts.” So I set about this project several weeks (read: months) ago.

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Acknowledgement

To the members who helped me make this build great with their suggestions and comments.
To those who helped me reach this point through their help, comments, upvotes and appreciation.

Without further ado

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Design

The Kandake-class LHD, although based on the design of the Wasp-class Amphibious assault ship, was an ambitious design exercise to boost Winolian fleet power. As such, several designs were drawn up which all contributed to her final specification. Several desired features came from foreign examples which Winolian engineers studied extensively, both from afar and up-close.
The class displaces 40,000 tonnes and is classified as both an LHD and a CVL in the Winolian navy. This makes her capable of carrying and sortieing a mixed fleet of over 30 helicopters and purpose-designed fighters, such as the Paternian F-45. Alternatively, she can carry 24 fighters and perform full duties as an aircraft carrier. Due to this, her island is designed with an enlarged flight control tower for greater C&C.
The class is fitted with a well-deck for amphibious operations. This deck is capable of carrying up to 4 LCAC’s, several Landing craft or over 40 amphibious vehicles for amphibious operations. The class is also quite heavily armed with 3 Short-medium range SAM launchers and 2 multipurpose mounts for CIWS or LAWS. She is also protected by a personal, self-jamming and EW suite to protect from attacks.

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Features and Controls

There’s also a little surprise if you look inside the main bridge. Nothing too fancy, just a simple little bonus. And I think the working radar sets are a nice touch.

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Lore

The Kandake or Candace class LHD is the first large “flat-top” operated by the navy since the retirement of the CVL RNS Pearl of the Ocean in the early ’90s. As such, its design represented a quantum leap in technological sophistication and amphibious capabilities, breathing new life into the much-maligned Winolian Royal Marine corp.
The class derives its name from the four Kandake’s of Winolian legend. Four female rulers of lands that now constitute modern-day Winolia. The first ship, RNS Kandake, is followed by the others named after famous queens.
The RNS Kandake was laid down in the fall of 2010 and launched just 6 years later, followed closely by RNS Shanakdakete just two years later. Because of the surge in Winolian naval engineering and government funding, the class was built rapidly. Additionally, Lancia Aquari, the company contracted to build it, would establish several connections globally through the project.

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Conclusion

This is most certainly my largest build in terms of size and mass. It isn’t completely finished but adding more detail was becoming impossible for my device.

Please enjoy my gold celebration. I hope to continue entertaining everyone with my builds for longer.

For those who cannot download this version, here is a scaled-down version a third of the size and with interesting handling. Also no diorama.

https://www.simpleplanes.com/a/013PBP/Kandake-class-LHD