Aska-class 1st Class Cruiser
The
Aska-class cruisers were a class of seven 1st class cruisers built for Alteias between 832 and 835. They were the first homogenous class of 1st class cruisers built after the signing of the Dezarian Naval Treaty, which limited displacement of cruisers to 10,000 standard tons. Following standard Altesian ship naming conventions, the ships were named after mountains. The class was developed with knowledge gained from testing with the previous four 1st class cruisers built within the treaty limits and would set the standard precedent for Altesian cruiser design for the next fifteen years. The
Aska-class ships were commissioned between 834 and 838. The served extensively within the Mieri Ocean theater during the Third Intercontinental War.
Armament for the class was typical of the time, with eight 20 centimeter 55 caliber Type 28 guns carried in four two-gun Type 27 Model A turrets with two on each end. A 5th turret was considered during the initial design process, but it was decided to increase the thickness of the armor belt instead. The secondary armament was the standard eight 12 centimeter 45 caliber Type 32 dual purpose guns carried in four twin Type 30 mounts with two on each side. Four single 20mm Type 22 cannon would were placed above the reloads for the two 61 centimeter Type 25 Mod-2 triple torpedo tubes. The class was designed to carry three aircraft (one on the catapult fixed to X turret and two on the stowage area immediately forward of X turret), but usually only two were carried. Protection was about average for a cruiser of similar size, with a 9 centimeter belt that thickened to 13cm around the magazines and a 57mm deck. There was an internal bulkhead to protect against torpedoes, but the ships were also given torpedo bulges later in their careers. The ships were also fast, with a maximum speed of 35 knots achieved during trials, although none of the class ever managed to exceed 34 knots during their careers. They had a range of 8,000 nautical miles at 18 knots.
History
The
Aska-class had some of the most eventful careers of any Altesian ship, with the exception of
Kumikarumi, which suddenly exploded while working up in 836 with the loss of 569 officers and crew (the reasons for the explosion are still being investigated today). Before the 3rd Intercontinental War, the remaining six ships were grouped into the 2nd Cruiser Squadron and trained extensively in night fighting. As hostilities began to break out across the globe in late 838, 2nd Cruiser Squadron regularly escorted convoys to ensure that they would not be attacked in Altesian waters.
Yanari received the distinction of being the first Altesian warship sunk during the 3rd Intercontinental War after being torpedoed by a Zemuran submarine, which also brought Alteias into the war.
Immediately after the Altesian declaration of war against Zemur and the other countries of the Torukian League, 2nd Cruiser Squadron was ordered to reinforce 1st Cruiser Squadron which was based in the Altesian territory of Shakikan. These two cruiser squadrons would be thrown into some of the heaviest naval combat of the war. Miraculously, none of the ships of 2nd Cruiser Squadron would be sunk during the first four years of the war. However, luck would run out for
Sankae, which was sunk by a Raventzian guided bomb dropped from a Zemuran plane in mid 844.
Aoki nearly suffered a similar fate, taking a bomb immediately starbord of B turret, but luck and the skill of the ship's damage control team managed to save the ship.
Aoki would subsequently be converted to a training ship, with B turret removed and accommodations for cadets taking its place. As more modern cruisers entered service, the remnants of the 1st and 2nd Cruiser Squadrons were pulled from service to be modernized. Their aircraft and catapults were removed with modern 4cm and 2cm anti aircraft guns being mounted in their place. They were also reorganized into the 1st Mobile Cruiser Force, serving as reinforcements where needed.
After the end of the war in 848, all ships with the exception of
Aoki were mothballed. They would sit in mothballs even through the Karkalum War, and would be sold at a low price to various allied nations in the late 850s.
Aoki continued her duties as a training ship until being decommissioned in 858.
Aska and
Tokazaki were sold to Verstratsia, where they served into the early 890s. The Verstratsian
Aska-class ships were gradually modified with the replacement of the aft 20cm guns with a helicopter hangar, and the replacement of the 12cm guns with light SAMs.
Rana was sold to Maracel, where she served as flagship of the Maracelian navy into the establishment of its dictatorial regime. She would be sunk in 892 by a missile from the Altesian cruiser
Suragi after the Commonwealth of Free Nations declared war.
After her decommissioning in 858,
Aoki remained in reserve as a spare training ship. In 861, she was struck from the naval register and plans were made to move her to the Naval History Museum in Remoris. Before being towed to her permanent berth at the museum, she was used as a set for the popular movie
Off Karkulum, which told the story of a lone cruiser trying to return to its home port.
Aoki began her journey from the Naval Reserve Shipyard in New Heilan on 23 July, 862. She arrived in Remoris on 29 July, and was docked at her final destination on 32 July.
Aoki opened as a museum ship on 18 October, 862. She is still periodically used as a film set for TV shows and movies.
Specifications:
Type: Heavy cruiser
Displacement: 10,000 tons (standard load), 13,240 tons (full load)
Length: 198.12m (wl), 200.4m (oa)
Beam: 19m
Draught: 6.25m
Propulsion:
- 4-shaft geared turbines
- 12 Ekashima boilers
- 120,000 shp
Speed: 33.5 knots
Range: 8000 nmi at 18kn
Complement: 749
Armament:
As built
- 8 x 20cm/55 guns (4 x 2)
- 8 x 12cm/45 guns (4 x 2)
- 6 x 61 cm torpedo tubes (2 x 3), 6 x reloads (2 x 3)
- 4 x 2cm/75 Type 22 cannon (4 x 1)
As of 845 (Aska)
- 8 x 20cm/55 guns (4 x 2)
・1 x 20cm/55 guns (1 x 2) on
Aoki
- 8 x 12cm/45 guns (4 x 2)
・4 x 12cm/55 guns (2 x 2) additionally on
Aoki
- 6 x 61cm torpedo tubes (2 x 3)
- 24 x 4cm/65 Type 42 cannon (6 x 4)
・28 x 4cm/65 Type 42 cannon (7 x 4) on
Aoki
- 16 x 2cm/75 Type 41 cannon (8 x 2)
Armor:
- Belt: 9-13cm
- Deck: 5.7cm
- Barbette: 9cm
- Turret: 9cm face, 2.5cm roof, sides, and rear
Aircraft carried: 3
Aviation facilities: 1 catapult
Ships in class:
Aska (C-5) - To Verstratsia, 857 (Scrapped, 904)
Yanari (C-6) - Sunk by Zemuran submarine, 840
Aoki (C-7) - Museum ship, 862
Kumikarumi (C-8) - Sunk by internal explosion, 836
Sankae (C-9) - Sunk by Zemuran bombers, 844
Tokazaki (C-10) - To Verstratsia, 857 (Scrapped, 895)
Rana (C-11) - To Maracel, 858 (sunk by Altesian missile, 892)