Worcester Class
-1948/1953-1984 CL81 Fokke (Named after Bernard Fokke/Flying Dutchman)
-1948/1953-1986 CL82 Eschels (Named after Jens Jacob Eschels a nautical captain that is the author of the oldest known captain's autobiography in German)
The Americans loaned both Worcester class ships to the Royal Fryssian Navy per 1948 (commisioning date).
There was more need for cruisers in the European Theatre during the cold war and Fryssia lacked modern ships after WW2.
They also loaned 2x Clevelands during the same period.
Around the 1950-1953 period the Fryssians started talking about "buying"the vessels and fully incorporate them into their navy.
Around this same time period the Fryssians started to complete their own two cruisers (Hulls from ww2 albeit not completed till after ww2)
The USNavy accepted this (The ships where strangers compared to other classes anyway).
After a long service time of around 15 years, the navy was seeking for a modification on their cruisers. The Clevelands joined the Providence Command/AAW rebuild in the USA.
The Worcesters where selected to become Multipurpose Aviation Cruisers. Seeking more ASW/Amphibious support (LPH styled) and AAW.
Their mission would change their loadout in the hangar.
The rebuilds however where doomed to be more costly than envisioned, making the ships prone to maximum usage. This resulted in the ships ending up as training cruiser till the 1980s.
Also as a result to their rebuild cost, the Fryssian build cruisers never saw a full rebuild as envisioned to double ended AAW cruisers.
Their rebuilds where set to remove 5 of the dual 6 inches and all of the 3inches on both ships.
The addition of a large hangar on the aft of the ship in place of D/E/F turrets.
The addition of storage for vehicles in her aft ex seaplane hangar, making this the hangar for the tow vehicles and spare parts storage for the carried aircraft/helicopters.
The addition of a Terrier missile system in A/B location.
New radar and esm suite and the modernisation of the command centre.
New Communication systems.
Addition of refueling capability and addition of aviation fuel stores.
Enlargement of the conning tower and modernising upper bridge deck with a flat solid roof.
Addition of an extra Radiocentre location aft of conning tower.
Creation of an aft bridge for aviation operations.
New lifeboats and safety measures for the crew.
Highering of the bow to break waves for the Terrier installation.
Before Rebuild:
6x Dual 6-in/47 Mk16 DP
11x Dual 3-in/50 Mk33
2x Single 3-in/50 Mk34
After Rebuild:
1x Dual Terrier Mk10 GMLS Mod 5 (40 missiles)
1x Dual 6-in/47 Mk16 DP
4x Dual 40mm Oto Melara Dardo
6x Dual 20mm Bofors
A mix of:
AAW/ASuW:
3x Fisker Aerospace AV-30 Waverider VTOL Fighter/bombers
3x Seakings
/or
Amphibious support:
4x Hueys
4x Huey Cobras
/or
TTH/ASW:
3x Seaking
3x seasprite
During their lifetime as Aviation cruisers they both started to carry VTOL aircraft when they arrived in the navies inventory.
The Fryssian navy has the Ex HMS Centaur converted to a VTOL carrier in the period the Worcesters came back into service.
The first testing of the VTOL aircraft was thus also on the Worcesters and proved effective (carrying 3x Fisker Aerospace AV-30 Waverider)
They would operate during various times on both Worcesters in support of fleet when the VTOL Centaur Carrier is in maintenance.
Both ships where replaced by LPH's between 1984-1988, taking their role as Amphibious landing supporters.
Their role as AAW where taken over by DDG's/FFG's.
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Fryssian AU with Lt.Maverick 114
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=9802&p=193331#p193331
Embarked on: HNLMS Karel Doorman A833
To do list:
-Zeven Provincien class cruiser
-Joint support ship all sides
-F124 Sachsen class frigate
-F125 Baden-Württemberg class frigate
-Clemencau class aircraft carrier
-Zeven provincien class frigate
-Poolster class AOR
-Amsterdam class AOR
-Minas Gerais aircraft carrier