(1) activates 76mm Mk 77. (2) activates Mk 15 Phalanx gun. (3) activates navigation lights. Throttle to control speed, Yaw to steer, and LandingGear to change direction. VTOL and Trim to control Mk 77, Pitch and Roll to control Mk 15.

Credit to Dllama4 for the Phalanx gun.

Overview

The Joyce Abe-class frigate is a Paternian stealth multirole frigate designed for littoral operations. Despite the long and problematic development, the result was the Joyce Abe-class.

The lead ship is named after Lt. Joyce Abe (1922-1946), a Medal of Valor awardee who was killed in action during the Paternian Civil War (1931-1947).

Development

While the Paternian Navy knew they had an excellent warship in the Smith-class frigate, they recognized its deficiencies in littoral operations.

The Terrace L. Smith-class was designed as an escort for merchant vessels in blue-water conditions, but was thrust into littoral waters. Experience in West Africa confirmed this. It was decided to develop a larger frigate optimized for such operations.

The replacement, known as FFG-2000, was to be a larger, at 410 feet versus the 363 feet of the Smith-class. It would have the ability to embark two helicopters, feature significantly reduced radar cross section, and integrate unmanned vehicles. It was envisioned that the FFG-2000 would be able to replace the Smith-class and supplant the then-new Endurance-class.

Development began in 2000, but was fraught with difficulties with stealth technology, changing requirements, and cost overruns. As an interim measure, a program to upgrade the Smith-class frigate was undertaken.

This resulted in the Alexander Hope-class frigate. The Hope-class retained much of the external appearance of the superstructure and hull, but featured systems found on the larger Endurance-class guided missile destroyer.

However, the same deficiencies in littoral combat was still present. It was decided to retain the Hope-class alongside FFG-2000, in order to provide more comprehensive coverage in capabilities.

In 2010, the FFG-2000, now the Joyce Abe-class, was launched. 40 ships were planned, but this was later cut down to 30, with the provision for an additional 20 later. Construction of the initial 30 will be complete by 2020.

Capabilities

The Joyce Abe-class frigate features various improvements over the previous Smith-class and Hope-class frigates. of unmanned vehicle integration, automation, firepower, and stealthiness.

The Joyce Abe can carry a large variety of unmanned vehicles, including the Searcher USV, Bluefin-21 ROV, QH-68 DASH, and the ScanEagle. Alternatively, she can carry up to two manned utility helicopters and two manned RHIB. Up to two 7-meter RHIBs or one 10-meter and one 7-meter RHIB can be carried and launched in the boat ramp.

The Abe-class doesn't lack in firepower however; with up to 25 VLS tubes, a 76mm Mk 77 cannon, and a Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS, the vessel packs a lot of firepower. Additional M2 Browning heavy machine guns and M60 GPMG can be carried.

She features a new set of radars, namely the AN/SPY-2 phased array radar and the AN/SPQ-92 multi-function phased array radar system. Combined with the AN/SYK-205 Data Processor and the Aegis Combat System, the Abe-class is poised to be a potent warship for the foreseeable warship, and a worthy successor to the Smith-class and Hope-class.

Operations

The Paternian Navy procured 30 Abe-class to replace the 20 remaining Smith-class frigates and supplant the 30 Hope-class frigates currently in service. The Smith-class will be retained in reserve until 2025, where they will either be converted to the Hope-class, sold off, or scrapped.

In 2027, the Paternian Navy opted to procure an additional 20 ships, as per contract. These were to replace 15 Hope-class frigates and five Endurance-class destroyers, which were moved into Naval Reserve.

In 2032, the Paternian government approved the sale of 10 Abe-class frigates to the Sakartvelo Navy in a $5 billion dollar agreement.