Empress Azura Junko class battleship
The weight of the naval treaties lead to great dissatisfaction in the Antaran navy, and the Second Presdon Naval treaty which, at first restricted battleship guns to 14" in 1337, was once again changed to 15" after several countries still refused to sign the treaty. Antara's emperor, still trying to 'maintain the peace', of course signed every treaty that was thrown is country's way. The anger among the navy boiled over and some of Antara's admirals conspired to violate the treaty in secret. The two Fleet Admirals Nicholas Doyle and Frederich Bradford, as well as two other subordinate admirals, initially discussed the idea of constructing a battleship class that would clearly exceed the tonnage and main gun caliber limit to make up for the supposed weakness in Antara's current series of warships. The Queen Ericas, while being armed and armoured pretty well by Antaran standards, was not fast considered fast enough to escort the navy's new carriers which were rated over 30 knots. The navy could not construct an improved version of the Ericas, let alone a repeat due to the main armament restrictions.
Fleet Admiral Doyle informed Grand Admiral Cole of the proposal, who was convinced and accepted. In 1338 the Admiralty held secret negotiations with the director of the Bureau of Naval Construction, under the nose of the king, about ideas on an ideal battleship which disregarded the treaty. Erin White's 60k tonne battleship with 3x3 406mm guns, 33 knots and very well armoured design won. The Bureau and the Admiralty managed to convince Minister of the Navy Jacobs to allow the design to go through, all whilst under the nose of the king. The fear of prosecution for treason was high among the members involved in the project, but it was assured by the Minister that she would receive most of the blame in the event the project was found out.
The Entarro State Shipyards was chosen for the new warship as the yards were already being expanded to allow for the construction of fleet carriers due to begin in 1340. Minister Jacobs assigned the name Empress Azura Junko for the first vessel, as well as a dummy 35k tonne version to cover the budget. The second dummy vessel was not named until 1939, where the the second vessel was to be named King Eisen Junko. Azura was laid down in 1340, the same year Emperor William VI stepped down and his daughter inherited the throne. Taking advantage of the new queen's lack of knowledge and experience, Minister Jacobs revealed the construction of the battleship and received approval to continue with the project at last.
Eisen Junko was laid down months before the start of the World War in 1342, when dockyards were available for a ship her size, after Azura was commissioned. A third Azura Junko was planned, but abandoned in favor of more fleet carriers.
As laid down, the class displaced 60400 tonnes standard. She was by far the most armoured warship the navy had built, with a 406mm main belt, with 127mm ends, 203mm upper belt and 155mm main deck.
Ships in class
Empress Azura Junko - preserved as museum ship, 1394
King Eisen Junko - scrapped, 1994