Gracia de Régne: Difference between revisions

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Line 26: \| Ship commissioned = 1 August 1970 \| Ship recommissioned = \| Ship decommissioned = 15 April 2022 \| Ship maiden voyage = \| Ship in service = Line 45: \| Ship captured = \| Ship fate = \| Ship status = ~~Active~~Retired \| Ship notes = \| Ship badge = [[File:GdRShippatch.PNG\|125px]] Line 122: \|} The '''ARC ''Gracia de Régne''''' iswas the lead and only ship of her class, serving as the flagship of the [[Royal Antoran Armada]] ''(Armada de Antora Réal)''. Built in 1968 as ~~a planned~~the first of a planned three new helicopter cruisers for the First Fleet of the ~~ACR~~AAR, budget constraints necessitated only the single ship be finished. Serving as a humanitarian aid escort and the official naval conveyance of King [[Sebastián II de Naranza\|Sebastián II]] in peacetime, the ship ~~is able to serve~~served as a front-line combatant in case of war. It ~~can~~could fulfil a variety of roles, but iswas usually tasked with air defense and anti-submarine duties. After many years of debate over the costs and use of the ship, the ''Gracia'' was decomissioned on 15th April 2022 after over 50 years of service. The ''Antora'' class of helicopter carrier, jointly built by Arsenale Corric and Gilda Varien shipyards, will replace her as the flagship of the Armada. Despite talks in the Armada to replace her with a new class of guided missile cruiser, the ''Gracia'' remains in service in large part due to her aircraft carrying capabilities, which at 10 helicopters is the largest naval aircraft complement in the ACR. == Design & Development == Line 144: The mission profile intended for the ''Gracia'' reflects her multirole capabilities. [[File:Jeanne d’Arc (R 97) hangar 2.jpg\|left\|thumb\|A since-decommissioned H-15 naval aviation helicopter within the ''Gracia''<nowiki/>'s hangar.]] Her Balista-99 missile cells ~~can~~could be loaded for tactical strikes against sea or ground targets up to 150 km away, or for both long-range interception and close-in defense against enemy aircraft or missiles. Her Guacamayo TEA-04 CIWS turrets ~~can~~could provide additional screening air defense capabilities, with the radar and fire control systems capable of tracking up to 10 simultaneous air targets at ranges of 25 km. Along with the crew operated machine guns, the CIWS ~~are~~were effective against medium and soft surface targets. The 100mm HerCan Armas-5 cannons ~~allow~~allowed for tactical engagement and bombardment at a range of 12 km. They ~~are~~were specifically recommended for naval surface combat and cover for amphibious landings. The cannons ~~are~~were rated as a secondary-line air defense if necessary, bridging the gap between the anti-air missiles and the CIWS. The helicopter complement ~~can~~could be used in conjunction with the SSPP 9A sonar for anti-submarine duties, as well as transport of troops and search-and-rescue. The hangar and deck facilities ~~can~~could store up to 6 heavy helicopters, or 10 light ones, and handle launching and landing of up to 3 at a time. Two elevators ~~are~~were built-in to the flight deck to move aircraft between the hangar and the launching pads. The ''Gracia'' ~~can~~could operate as part of a battlegroup, or independently for long periods of time thanks to her large storage capabilities. Her age ~~prevents~~prevented any more modern upgrades to her systems and armaments, which ~~limits~~limited her strategic impact and long-range operating capabilities. == Replacement == The Armada Procurement Bureau has proposed several times to design or commission a new class of warship to replace the ''Gracia'', citing her age and armament. The vessel iswas fully functional and ~~has~~had a proposed service lifetime of up to 2035, but increasing costs of maintenance and the fact that the hull cannot reasonably fit more up-to-date weapons systems has caused some flag officers to recommend the ''Gracia'' be retired. Proposals for a replacement include a dedicated aircraft or helicopter carrier, or a class of guided missile cruisers. In January of 2022, it was officially announced that the ship would be retired in mid-April and replaced by a helicopter carrier/amphibious transport dock combination built in the Varentine League in cooperation by Gilda Varien and Antora's Arsenale Corric shipyards. ~~These initiatives rarely get past the informal proposal stage due to estimated costs far outweighing the current budgetary allowances to keep the ''Gracia'' functioning.~~ == Operational History == Line 180: The second combat deployment of the ''Gracia'' was during the hijacking of the CB ''Minimo'' in 1995. The ship deployed the helicopters tasked with intercepting the merchant vessel. It remained on-station for radar tracking and operational support, during which it dispatched a fleeing pirate vessel with long-range cannon fire. The ship underwent a farewell cruise throughout April, visiting each major port on the Antoran coast and drawing crowds of up to 10,000. Her flags were officially removed in a decommissioning ceremony on 12th April and her hull number was removed from the naval registry on the 15th. She made her last voyage under her own power to the Porto Mañuel Reserve Yards later the same day, where she awaits either purchase or scrapping, as she has been deemed too expensive and large to keep in permenant reserve. [[Category: CyR's pages]] [[Category:Warships]]