Full credit to Aeromen for the original Type-001 frigate.

The Ashdown-class (Type-34) frigate is the replacement the New Albany-class, with fourteen ordered for the Saltwater Navy. They are multirole guided missile frigates, capable of operations as a part of a carrier group or alone. They are to form the effective backbone of the Saltwater Navy's escort fleet.

Development

The Type-34 Ashdown-class frigate was first designed in 2033 as a replacement for the increasingly obsolete and worn-out New Albany-class frigates of the Saltwater Navy. The new vessels were to be larger and more stealthy, with more advanced radar, in order to guard the carrier group and itself against increasingly advanced anti-ship missiles and submarines. The innovative design has reduced the RCS by up to 92%.

The first Type-34, the SWS Ashdown, was laid down in April that year and launched later in the year. In sea trials the ship proved its worth, tracking the submarine SWS Conqueror for three hours and "sinking her" twice. She also fought off a simulated missile swarm without a scratch.

Fourteen ships of the class are planned, with the first twelve replacing the New Albany-class and the other two serving to bolster the escort fleet. Each ship is projected to cost $890 million.

Design:

At over 130m in length the Type-34 is substantially larger than the New Albany-class and features more advanced radar, increased autonomy and weapons loadout, as well as a stealthy design and more advanced countermeasures suite which render it considerably less vulnerable to anti-ship missiles. The Sampson-Advanced radar system is completely above the rest of the ship, enabling enemy aircraft to be tracked at range from any angle. The ASEA radar can track up to 600 targets at any one time and can engage twelve at once.

The Ashdown-class is propelled by two 40,000hp gas turbines driving two shafts. They allow the ship to reach speeds of up to 31 knots. It can endure at sea for up to 38 days without resupply.

For anti-submarine operations, the Type-34 is equipped with a single HXE-112 helicopter, as well as an anti-submarine rocket launcher and two torpedo launchers, each with three torpedoes. The Ashdown-class also carries two 12m RHIBs in two enclosed docks in the aft superstructure. The RHIBs can be replaced by midget submarines or drones if necessary.

One feature of the Type-34 frigate is that the aft VLS tubes can be removed and replaced with modular mission packs for a variety of different missions, including mine disposal, troop transport, operations as a tanker, operations as a hospital ship and operations as a dedicated air defence ship.

Just forward of this area is the Starstreak missile launcher, which can fires laser-guided Starstreak MANPADS for close-range anti-aircraft defence. It is manned by a crew of four, with two launcher operators and two laser designators.

Despite the increased size of the ship the crew remains the same as the New Albany-class (150 men) thanks to increased automation in weapons handling and targeting.

Armament:

• x1 127mm naval gun, rate of fire 25rpm;

• x2 30mm Goalkeeper close in weapons systems, 4200rpm;

• x1 multirole rocket launcher, mix of land-attack and anti-submarine rockets;

• x32 VLS cells with Sea Ceptor surface to air missiles;

• x24 VLS cells with Perseus cruise missiles;

• x8 VLS cells with SPEAR 3 cruise missiles;

• x1 quad Starstreak surface to air missile launcher with reloads;

• x6 homing torpedoes;

• x1 infra-red dazzler anti-missile system.

Electronic systems:

• Sampson-Advanced multipurpose radar;

• SwingScan search radar;

• Multiple IRST systems;

• Navigational radar;

• Missile early warning radar;

• Electronic countermeasures;

• Satcom, Datalink, radio, GPS and other antennas;

• Fixed and towed sonar;

• Torpedo decoys;

• Infra-red countermeasures;

• Chaff.

Specifications:

Name: Type-34 Ashdown-class
Role( s ): Anti-submarine warfare, air defence, land attack, anti-surface warfare
Number built: 14
Crew: 150 + 14 air group
Maximum speed: 31 Knots ( 37mph, actual speed twice this )
Builder: SMC Marine
Propulsion: Split shaft gas turbines
Operational ratius: 3900 nautical miles
Endurance: 38 days
Price per unit: 890 million USD per unit
Project cost: 5.5 billion USD

Controls:

AG-1: Activate BAe Systems 127mm cannon.
- VTOL+TRIM to aim.

AG-2: Activate rear right Goalkeeper CIWS.
- VTOL+TRIM to aim.

Secondary function: Brake and reverse ( Brake)
- VTOL+TRIM

AG-3+VTOL and TRIM UP: anti-submarine torpedo tubes activate and rotate.

AG-4: Activate IR dazzler system.

AG-5: Activate rear left Goalkeeper CIWS.
- VTOL+TRIM to aim.

AG-6: Arm multirole rocket launcher.
- VTOL+TRIM to aim.

AG-7: Arm Starstreak missiles.
- VTOL to rotate launcher.

AG-8: Activate heli-pad lights.

THROTTLE and YAW for movement.