Susa-class aircraft carrier

Susa-class aircraft carrier

KP Imperial Will (Imperial Constancian Navy), lead ship of the Susa-class, in sea trials in the Gulf of Aqaba.
Country	Nouvelle Alexandrie  Constancia
Type	Aircraft carrier
Manufacturer	Pontecorvo Firm
Displacement	100,000 long tons (full load)
Length	1,092 ft (333 m)
Beam	134 ft (41 m) (waterline), 256 ft (78 m) (overall)
Draft	39 ft (12 m)
Propulsion	2 × AlduATOM A1B nuclear reactors, 4 × shafts
Speed	In excess of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range	Unlimited distance; 20-25 years
Complement	Ship’s company: 2,600; Air wing: 2,480
Aircraft carried	75+ fixed wing and helicopters
Armament	Surface-to-air missiles, Pontecorvo CIWS, PCRV 38 25 mm machine gun system,
Armor	Classified
In service	1728 AN
Notes	Features electromagnetic catapults, advanced arresting gear, and stealth design elements.

The Susa-class aircraft carrier is a class of nuclear-powered fleet carriers designed and constructed by the Pontecorvo Firm, a leading shipbuilding company and defense contractor in Nouvelle Alexandrie. Initially developed in 1686 AN for the then-independent Republic of Alduria, the project was cancelled after the 1685 Aldurian coup d'état. In 1718 AN, the Imperial Constancian Navy awarded the Pontecorvo Firm the contract to build the Constancian flagship, KP Imperial Will, which was commissioned into service in 1729 AN. In 1728 AN, the Federal Forces of Nouvelle Alexandrie procured 4 Susa-class aircraft carriers, HMS Imperio del Sol, HMS Alkhiva, HMS Liberté, and HMS Atabeyra. This class of aircraft carriers is named after the ancient city of Susa, Alduria, symbolizing strength, resilience, and strategic importance.

Operational History

The lead ship, KP Imperial Will, was procured by the Imperial Constancian Navy) in 1718 AN, entering service in 1729 AN. In 1728 AN, the New Alexandrian Department of Defense procured four Susa-class aircraft carriers, the first of which is expected to enter service in 1735 AN, the HMS Imperio del Sol.

The first sortie out of port for the Constancian carrier, Imperial Will, would take place between XII.1729 AN and II.1730 AN in Exercise Southern Shores, a training mission where learning carrier operations would be combined with a generous dose of defence diplomacy, with various stops at ports between Arâk and Port Félix.

Carrier air wing (CON)

Attached from Fleet Air Arm, Imperial Constancian Air Force

• 21x R-1 Whirdlebird, attack rotorcraft;
• 8x VT-UAV 1 Tadpole, unmanned artillery spotter drone.

Attached from Federal Air Force of Nouvelle Alexandrie

• 21x F-21 Heavenscream, STOVL strike aircraft.

It is perhaps ironic that the Constancians operate an aircraft carrier without carrier aircraft whilst the New Alexandrians were, as of 1729 AN, operating carrier aircraft without an aircraft carrier. Nonetheless, facilitated by Trans-Euran Command, the Federal Air Force of Nouvelle Alexandrie was able to acquire vital experience operating of carrier flight decks, whilst the Constancians were able to host meaningful naval aviation sorties. In the process, the cooperation would facilitate the development of naval doctrines that would be of benefit to both nations.

Planned carrier air wing (NAX)

Attached from the Federal Air Force of Nouvelle Alexandrie

• 24x F-21 Heavenscream STOVL strike fighters;
• 14x H-3 Bucaneer ASW/ASuW helicopters;
• 14x H-2N Siren maritime patrol helicopters;
• 1x AEW-1 Buscadora, navalised airborne early warning radar aircraft;

It is further intended that the carrier air wing will include various configurations of experimental unmanned aircraft capable of maritime patrol, extended range maritime strike, land attack, reconnaissance, and air-to-air refueling missions.

Procurement

Country	Ordered	Delivered	Ships
Constancia	1 (1718 AN)	1 (1729 AN)	KP Imperial Will
Nouvelle Alexandrie	4 (1728 AN)	2 (1734 AN)	HMS Imperio del Sol, HMS Alkhiva, HMS Liberté, HMS Atabeyra
Oportia	2 (1731 AN)	0	ONS Oportat, ONS Souverain

See also

• Pontecorvo Firm