Kalistani Major History

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Hutorian Broadcasting Channel
National News

Royal Hutorian Navy Embarks on Massive Naval Expansion and Modernization Program


Admiral Erik Steuart-Naval Base, outside of Axminister, Hutori's largest Naval Base
ooc: rl source; https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c...C_2012.jpg

Following the passage of a massive Military Procurement Bill in Parliament as it rose for the sitting, the Royal Hutorian Navy has begun to embark on it's largest construction project begun in modern history.

The so called 50th Century Naval Requisition Act, is a fair reaching Naval Expansion plan, which will see the Royal Hutorian Navy retire a chunk of it's older vessels, to be replaced with newer designed vessels, some older and modernized vessels, and modernizing the vessels that would remain in service that wouldn't eventually be retired and mothballed. The highlight story of the bill was the retirement of six of Hutori's eight Graham class Supercarriers, with only the HMHS-Emperor Alexander I and the HMHS-Neal MacDougall remaining in active service. The six older vessels included two that have been in active service since just after the Great Terran War, would go through a long tear down cycle, while the Alexander I and MacDougall would be entering into a massive modernization program to bring their systems up to snuff. While six are being retired, inside the bill is an order for two additional Aircraft Carriers, currently unnamed, and one each being constructed at Axminister Naval Yard and Prosperity Ironworks in Port Prosperity. While currently unnamed, its widely believed that Queen Sarah VI is one name being selected and Eric O'Riley, being the other. Queen Sarah VI and Eric O'Riley were the Head of State and Minister of National Defence respectively during the Macon War a century ago, and Hutori traditionally picks Aircraft Carrier names from notable Monarchs, Presidents and wartime leaders as a tradition.

In addition to the Alexander I and MacDougall, all four of Hutori's Merrick class Amphibious Assault Ships would be placed in the Naval Modernization Program, following the Carriers, to bring the mainstay of the Hutorian Royal Marine Corps ability to project overseas up to the modern age. While the prospect of replacing the Merricks was apparently mused at Hutorian High Command, it was ultimately judged that the Merricks still performed their duties admirably and would not need to be replaced during this Construction Phase.

Other ships being replaced into the Modernization Program include all eight of Hutori's Bunker class Auxillary Replenishment vessels, twenty of Hutori's Liberty class Destroyer, and 20 of Hutori's Bekenial class Frigates. This constant cycle of modernization is expected to keep the workers at both of Hutori's major ship yard employed for the great part of the next century. Most of the modernization efforts haven't been spoken about, being listed as classified, but it's expected it's electronic warfare suites, weapons platforms, and detection systems are being targetting first and foremost for the modernization efforts.

On the chopping block to be retired on the other hand are, as mentioned previously, six of Hutori's Graham class Supercarriers. In addition to the Supercarriers, considered the most complicated jobs of the lot, the remaining 20 Bekenial class Frigates are being mothballed, along with Hutori's entire fleet of Sutton class Coastal Patrol Vessels, and four of Hutori's Sentinel class Submarines. When asked, the Department of National Defence noted that the Bekenials and Suttons that were being retired were eventually going to be replaced with new vessels being developed underneath the 50th Century Naval Development Program, under the working names of the 5000 class and CPV50 class respectively. The 5000 class has mostly already been designed, with finalized efforts being placed to have the Frigates being the first to be replaced, while the CPV50 class of Coastal Patrol Vessels, has already been designed, and will be amongst the first smaller vessels to be built. The CPV50 class, as it's current working name goes, has been apparently designed for years, but was never put into service from lack of funding, planning, and for needs of the greater Navy. With Terra currently in relative peaceful times, it was decided jointly now would be the time to introduce the new class. Both the 5000 class and the CPV50 class will have official names being given later. The Department of National Defence confirmed that under the Procurement Bill itself twenty, 5000 class were ordered, to replace each Bekenial being retired, while twenty four CPV50 class were being ordered, to give greater flexibility to the Royal Hutorian Navy in patrolling it's home waters.

The biggest news from the program were the announcement of two joint projects that Hutori would be developing with international partners. The first was the 4900 class Submarine, being listed simply as a nuclear attack submarine. The 4900 class is being co-developed with the Kingdom of Dorvik, considered amongst the best Submarine producers on Terra. Unlike the retiring Sentinel class Submarines, which Hutori primarily used as a nuclear delivery vehicle, known popularly as a "Boomer" the 4900 class is being designed as a nuclear powered fast attack submarine, with modern technologies to avoid detection and being able to deployed anywhere in the world for lengthy amounts of time. The project with Dorvik has been a quiet cooperation for close to 10 years, since the Monarchists first came to power in Bekenial. Few details are being offered on the 4900 class, other then vague details, but it's expected the first of it's class to be unveiled within the next three years. The Department of National Defence noted that since Hutori is winding down it's nuclear capabilities, it has less need for the Sentinels, but wanted to maintain its edge in submarine warfare, with the 4900 Attack Sub being the answer to that.

The second co-development project is with Kalistan, in which Axminister Navalworks, a Government Crown Corporation, is developing a Guided Missile Cruiser with. Under the current working title of the 5100 Class, the new Cruiser is widely expected to be constructed in Kalistan, with Kalistan shipyards provided the hull, powerplant and other system, after which point they would be sent to Hutori for the installation of the weapons systems, electronics gear, and critcally, Hutori's acclaimed AEGIS Combat System, which Hutori and several of it's allies uses for tracking and destroying enemy targets all of types.

Under the Naval Procurement Program, Hutori is expected to order and construct sixteen 4900 class Submarines and sixteen 5100 class Cruisers.