Improved, Enhanced, and Ready to Throw a Punch

The Minerva-class frigate has become a backbone of the Saltwater Navy, with hundreds of examples plying the seas screening battlegroups and launching raids in the name of the Emperor of Saltwater. The Flight IC variant builds upon the good qualities of the previous vessels, whilst making up for prior weaknesses and enhancing the ship's performance as a fleet escort and picket.

Whilst highly capable budget warships, the earlier flights of Minerva lacked their own effective radar systems, a deficiency corrected in the Flight IC with the addition of the large Sparrowhawk radar array over the bridge in a reconfigured sensor suite that also increased the number of available fire control radars and the addition of a second towed array for mine detection. Prominently, two large jamming systems were placed in blisters on the sides of the superstructure, allowing the Minerva to project an electronic warfare screen around itself and accompanying vessels, as well as improving threat detection capability.

Further improvements included the addition of a temporary hanger, stowable below decks when not in use, to allow for the short-term embarkation of a medium-lift utility or anti-submarine warfare helicopter as well as the support of spotting UAVs. The boat bays, previously limited to small seaboats, were extended to allow for the operation of larger raiding craft and unmanned surface and underwater vehicles, which enable the ship to deploy sensor nodes, mine countermeasures systems and attack drones well-away from the vessel itself.

Additionally, the close-range firepower of each ship was improved with further pintle and turret-mounted machine guns and dual-mount 40mm autocannons, which although crew-served rather than remotely-operated allow the vessels to better defend themselves against incoming small craft.

In regards to the main armament, the 203mm Lightweight Stand-off Naval Gun System, a new capability was added in the Flight IC version with the ability to fire gun-launched surface-to-air missiles, namely a member of the IRIS-T family of air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles, enclosed within a low-velocity shell that splits open after launch to allow the missile to engage its target. This supplements the existing guided air defence artillery shells with a more agile and capable missile system.

The frigate has also received further hard-kill defence against torpedoes, with four deck-level MU90 Hardkill anti-torpedo torpedo launchers amidships that supplement the eight lightweight torpedo launchers that also carry MU90 torpedoes for use against submarines and torpedo threats.

Overall, the Flight IC enhancement allows the Minerva-class to serve not only as a distant raiding force, but also as an integral part of SWN battlegroups, where their doctrinal role sees them forming distant screens of four to five vessels against submarine, surface and air threats, providing the first line of defence before an enemy force reaches the main fleet of destroyers, frigates and cruisers.

In such a role, the Minerva-class has seen much action, including opposing Chinese forces off the Seychelles, raiding and harassing German ports, and facing down Texan forces off Bermuda.

Controls:

1. Elevate main gun to 50% elevation, lock onto air target with IRIS-T, switch targeting mode to air-to-ground, press AG1. This will launch the gun-launched surface-to-air missile from the LSNGS.

2. AG2+TRIM+VTOL operates the RIM-178 Arrowhead point-defence missile system.

3. AG3+TRIM+VTOL operates the close-defence machine guns and autocannons.

4. AG3 also releases the towed USV. PITCH+ROLL operates the USV. Crashing into the target at sufficient speed will detonate the warhead.

5. AG4 fires the deck-mounted anti-torpedo torpedo launchers.

6. AG5+TRIM+VTOL operates the Phalanx close-in weapons system.

7. Activate AG6 and slide VTOL up to retract the temporary hanger. Press AG7 with VTOL up to push the hanger away from the superstructure. Deactivate AG6, and slide TRIM up to lower the hanger into the deck. Slide VTOL down to complete the process. Deactivate AG7 and return the sliders to their normal positions. Reverse the process to deploy the temporary hanger.

8. AG8+TRIM+VTOL operates the 203mm Lightweight Stand-off Naval Gun System main gun.

9. THRUST+YAW controls the ship itself.

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