Gemstone class destroyer

Gemstone-class destroyer
Outboard profile of D-9050 Alexandrite
Class overview
Name	Gemstone-class destroyer
Builders	Federal Shipbuilding, Lynch & Murphy
Operators	Tol Galen Royal Galenic Navy
Cost	± $1,100,000 (2018)
Planned	34
Built	34
Active	34 (Tol Galen)
General Characteristics
Type	Guided missile destroyer
Displacement	7,100 tonnes (7,000 long tons; 7,800 short tons) (full load)
Length	155 metres (509 ft) (overall)
Beam	20 metres (66 ft)
Draught	5.3 metres (17 ft) (mean)
Propulsion	CODLOG
Power	70,000 shaft horsepower (52 MW)
Speed	>30 knots (56 km/h)
Range	5,850 nautical miles (10,830 km) at 20 knots
Endurance	60 days
Capacity	250 permanent berths
Complement	25 Officers, 150 ratings (core crew)
Sensors	•SAMPSON MFR (Batches 1-3) • CEAFAR 2 MFR (Batch 4) • SMART-L VSR (Batches 1 + 1A) • Sharpeye navigation radar • CEAMOUNT FCR (Batches 1-3) • ARTEMIS IRST
Sonar	• UMS-4110 (Batches 1, 1A, 3 and 4) • SQQ-90 (Batch2) • CAPTAS-4 towed-array (Batch 2)
ECM	• NOLQ-2-derived ECM/ESM system • AAR-54-derived MAWS • CIRCM-derived optical-countermeasures • 2x Chemring Centurion dispensers
Armament	Guns: • 1x Mk45 127mm/62 gun • 1-2x SAMOS CIWS • 4x Seahawk LW 20mm RWS Missiles: 1x 64-cell Mk41 vertical launch system •SM2-MR •SM-2ER •SM-3 •SM-6 •HyStrike •Sea Lance 1x 16-cell Mk41 vertical launch system •ESSM •Nulka 2x Seastreak LML sextuple launchers Torpedoes: 4x 400mm tubes lined to 324mm
Aviation & Flight Deck
Helicopters	1x Strikehawk (Batches 1A and 1B) 2x Wildcat (Batches 2, 3 and 4)

The Gemstone-class destroyer is a type of guided missile destroyer designed and manufactured in Tol Galen to replace a variety of ageing classes. Whilst the class is orientated towards the role of anti-aircraft warfare and missile defence, there are distinct variations within the class such as, the Batch 2 boats which are dedicated anti-submarine warfare platforms or the Batch 3 and 4 boats that are operated as flotilla leaders.
The Gemstones were built to replace the a variety of ageing classes of destroyers and frigates, initially it was intended for there to be forty vessels constructed, this was however reduced to thirty on the basis of quality over quantity. There have been four follow-on vessels constructed which form Batch 4, these vessels differ from earlier vessels with the substitution of SAMPSON for CEAFAR as well as minor structural improvements.

Origins

The initial origins of what would become the Gemstone family started at a time of heightened tensions with the FSR. Tol Galen had sought to procure a new class of destroyers in collaboration with several other GA nations under the GFR-90 project; however, the varying requirements of the different countries led to the project being abandoned in the early 1990s. Tol Galen then joined New Tyran, France and Italy in the development of the Horizon-class frigate; however, the souring of relations between the Global Alliance and Able Vigil Accords as well as differing requirements to those of New Tyran, led to the both Tol Galen and New Tyran withdrawing on 26 April 1999 and starting their own own projects. Initially Tol Galen had partnered with New Tyran to procure what would end up as the Type 45, disagreements over work-share and technology transfer led to the partnership dissolving in mid-2001. Several companies tendered designs between 2002 and 2004 with Lynch & Murphy offering a modified version of an existing design that they had been offering to various nations since the late 1990s. It would be this design that the Galenic Government chose for what would come to be known as the Gemstone-class.

Characteristics

The Gemstones are 155m in length, with a beam of 20m, a draught of 5.3m and a displacement of approximately 7,100tonnes. This makes them significantly larger in all dimensions than any of their predecessors. The design of the Gemstone-class brought with it higher levels of radar and infra-red signature reduction to the Royal Galenic Navy. Deck equipment and life rafts were concealed behind the ship's superstructure panels and panelled railings where possible leading to a very "clean" look when compared to previous vessels.

The Gemstones are noteworthy for being as far as feasibly possible gender-neutral with living spaces tailored to accommodate both male and female crew members. Communal sanitary facilities have given way to individual cubicles, cabins for junior ratings are now far more flexible enabling the accommodation of a mixture of male and female sailors.

Capabilities

Anti-Air warfare

PAAMS

The Batch 1 and 1A Gemstones are equipped with a variant of the PAAMS system (SAMPSON and S-1850M), unlike the existing PAAMS system the system used by the Royal Galenic Navy utilises CEAMOUNT phased-array directors to provide guidance for Sea Sparrow and Standard missiles.

LAMS

The Batch 2 and 3 Gemstones are equipped with a scaled back air-defence system more suited for the local and self-defence role. Like the Batch 1 and 1A vessels they utilise SAMPSON and CEAMOUNT but unlike the Batch 1 and 1A vessels they lack the volume-search radar.

GAAWS

The Batch 4 Gemstones are equipped with an octagonal mast structure bristling with arrays for the CEAFAR family of radars, they feature arrays in X, S and L-band as well as a VHF/UHF communications system, ESM and surveillance systems. The Batch 4 vessels are seen as being mid-way in capability between the Batch 1 and Batch 3 vessels with greater anti-aircraft warfare capabilities than those vessels lacking the large volume-search radar but still somewhat behind those equipped with it.

Batches Compared

• Batch 1 and 1A: SAMPSON Multi-Function Radar (MFR) and S-1850M Volume Search Radar (VSR).
• Batch 2 and 3: SAMPSON Multi-Function Radar (MFR).
• Batches 1 through 3: Sharpeye S navigation, surface-search and helicopter-control radar.
• Batch 4: CEAFAR2-X, CEAFAR2-S, CEAFAR2-L Multi-Function Radars (MFR)

Guns

Main Gun

All vessels built thus far have been equipped with variants of the Mk 45 127mm gun, initially in its 54-calibre form, and more recently its 62-calibre one. Those vessels initially fitted with a 54-calibre gun have been retrofitted with the longer gun during light refits.

CIWS

All vessels built thus far have been equipped with the 30mm SAMOS gun/missile CIWS. Batch 2 and 3 vessels were initially completed with only one mount atop their hangar due to budgetary constraints but have since been fitted with their forward mounts. The SAMOS mounts themselves have undergone considerable changes since entering service including, improvements to their fire-control sensors and improvements to their guns. They have been qualified to fire Starstreak, Starburst and Martlet with qualification of a 70mm MHTK derivative under-way.

Batches Compared

• Batches 1 through 4: 1x Mk 45 Mod 4 (HE-PD, HE-PFF (FREMEN 127 Fuze), Excalibur N5 and HVP)
• Batches 1 through 4: 2x SAMOS gun/missile CIWS, 4x MSI Seahawk Lightweight RWS (20mm)

Missiles

All vessels built thus far are equipped with a block of 64x strike-length Mk 41 cells forward and 16 self-defence length Mk41 cells amidships.

Usual Missile Complements

Whilst operational requirements dictate the actual make-up of a vessel's ordnance, there are standard outfits which are:

Batch 1 + 1A

• 8x Tsetse Fly hypersonic anti-ship missiles
• 6x Sea Lance anti-submarine missiles
• 4x SM-3 Block IIA anti-ballistic missiles
• 12x SM-6 extended-range surface-to-air missiles
• 12x SM2-ER extended-range surface-to-air missiles
• 22x SM-2MR medium-range surface-to-air missiles
• 48x ESSM medium-range surface-to-air missiles

Batch 2

• 16x Tsetse Fly hypersonic anti-ship missiles
• 16x Sea Lance anti-submarine missiles
• 12x SM-6 extended-range surface-to-air missiles
• 8x SM2-ER extended-range surface-to-air missiles
• 12x SM-2MR medium-range surface-to-air missiles
• 48x ESSM medium-range surface-to-air missiles

Batch 3

• 16x Tsetse Fly hypersonic anti-ship missiles
• 16x LRCSW low-observability cruise missiles
• 12x SM-6 extended-range surface-to-air missiles
• 8x SM2-ER extended-range surface-to-air missiles
• 12x SM-2MR medium-range surface-to-air missiles
• 48x ESSM medium-range surface-to-air missiles

Batch 4

• 10x Tsetse Fly hypersonic anti-ship missiles
• 10x LRCSW low-observability cruise missiles
• 12x SM-6 extended-range surface-to-air missiles
• 12x SM2-ER extended-range surface-to-air missiles
• 20x SM-2MR medium-range surface-to-air missiles
• 48x ESSM medium-range surface-to-air missiles

Aviation

On-board Facilities

Both the Batch 1 and 1a vessels have hangar and maintenance spaces suited to the operation of a single Strikehawk plus a flexible number of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) whilst the more general-purpose Batch 2, 3 and 4 vessels feature a revised hangar layout capable of accommodating a pair of Wildcats plus UAS. The flight-deck is equipped with an Aircraft Ship Integrated Secure and Traverse (ASIST) system for safer recoveries with tram-lines to the hangar bay. All vessels feature a workshop to carry out basic level maintenance on their embarked aircraft.

UAVs

The Gemstone-class were always envisaged to be capable of operating some form of unmanned system although at the time of their construction no such system had been procured. Currently there are a three systems qualified for use on the class, these are:

• ScanEagle long-endurance surveillance UAS
• Camcopter S-100 rotary-wing surveillance UAS
• Fire Scout (Development is ongoing on a locally-produced derivative using the Fire Scout architecture but based on a Bell 427)

Optical Sensors

The Gemstone-class are equipped with a variety of optical sensors. Common to all vessels are:

• 4x Artemis IR surveillance systems
• 2x SeaFLIR 380-HLD Fire-Control Systems
• 1x SeaFLIR 230 for helicopter operations

Countermeasures

Countermeasure Dispensers

The Gemstone-class are equipped with a pair of Centurion revolving countermeasure dispensers capable of deploying a variety of countermeasures and weapons. They are usually equipped with three to four types of decoy / countermeasures which are:

• CHIMERA Mk.4 (Dual-Mode IR/RF Decoy)
• Seagnat 214 (RF Seduction Decoy)
• TALOS (Infrared and EO/Laser Decoy)
• PIRATE (Infrared Seduction Decoys)

Electronic Warfare

All of the gemstones are also equipped with a pair of multi-face NOLQ-2-derived ECM/ESM systems capable of both ELINT and defensive-jamming. In addition, (excepting the Batch 4 vessels) all Gemstones are fitted with a Vigile-DPX ESM system. Batch 4 vessels are fitted with a Vigile 400 system.

Communications and Other Systems

The Gemstones are all fitted with a derivative of the Thales FICS system with:

Tactical Data Links:

• TCDL
• Link 11
• Link 22
• Link 16

Satellite Communications:

• 2x OE-538-based wide-band antennas on telescoping masts built into the rear uptake structures
• 4x Syntonics nested SATCOM arrays (2 each, port and starboard) WSC-6(V)6 + (V)X (SHF) and WSC-6(V)7 / (V)9 in (X-band)
• 2x OLE-82-class high-elevation SATCOM antenna (port and starboard)

Whips + Dipoles:

• 2x AS-2537C/SR HF whips
• 4x AS-3772B/U HF whips
• 2x AS-5078/SR LF-receive antenna
• 2x VAS-1016A VHF dipoles
• 2x AS-2809 VHF dipoles
• 2x AS2810C/SRC UHF dipoles
• 2x VMB-11512-N V/UHF dipoles

Batch 4-Specific

• Thales ICAS-derived system embedded into the octagonal foremast structure.

Additional Capabilities

Flagship Capabilities

Batch 3 and 4 vessels are outfitted with extra command facilities to operate as flotilla or task group leaders, which usually involves an additional 50 or so personnel.

Embarked Military Force

All vessels built thus far are capable of permanently embarking a small force of Royal Galenic Marines for VBSS and coastal-assault operations.

Variants

Batch 1

Batch 2

Batch 3

Batch 4

Ships in Class

Pennant Number	Name	Builder	Commissioned	Status
Batch 1
D-9050	Alexandrite	Lynch & Murphy	1st July 2006	Active
D-9051	Amazonite	Federal Shipbuilding	29th September 2006	Active
D-9052	Amethyst	Lynch & Murphy	28th December 2006	Active
D-9053	Aquamarine	Federal Shipbuilding	28th March 2007	Active
D-9054	Azurite	Lynch & Murphy	26th June 2007	Active
D-9055	Bloodstone	Federal Shipbuilding	24th September 2007	Active
D-9056	Cinnabar	Lynch & Murphy	23th December 2007	Active
D-9057	Citrine	Federal Shipbuilding	22th March 2008	Active
Batch 1A
D-9058	Corundum	Lynch & Murphy	29th August 2008	Active
D-9059	Crystal	Lynch & Murphy	27th November 2008	Active
D-9060	Diamond	Lynch & Murphy	25th February 2009	Active
D-9061	Emerald	Federal Shipbuilding	26th May 2009	Active
D-9062	Heliodor	Lynch & Murphy	23rd August 2009	Active
D-9063	Haematite	Federal Shipbuilding	22nd November 2009	Active
D-9064	Lodestone	Lynch & Murphy	20th February 2010	Active
D-9065	Malachite	Federal Shipbuilding	21st May 2010	Active
Batch 2
D-9066	Moonstone	Lynch & Murphy	18th October 2010	Active
D-9067	Morganite	Federal Shipbuilding	16th January 2011	Active
D-9068	Nephrite	Lynch & Murphy	16th April 2011	Active
D-9069	Neptunite	Federal Shipbuilding	15th July 2011	Active
D-9070	Onyx	Federal Shipbuilding	13th October 2011	Active
D-9071	Peridot	Lynch & Murphy	11th January 2012	Active
D-9072	Rhodolite	Lynch & Murphy	10th April 2012	Active
D-9073	Ruby	Federal Shipbuilding	9th July 2012	Active
Batch 3
D-9074	Sapphire	Federal Shipbuilding	7th October 2012	Active
D-9075	Sardonyx	Lynch & Murphy	5th January 2013	Active
D-9076	Sérandite	Federal Shipbuilding	5th April 2013	Active
D-9077	Sunstone	Federal Shipbuilding	4th July 2013	Active
Batch 4
D-9078	Tantalite	Lynch & Murphy	5th October 2014	Active
D-9079	Thulite	Federal Shipbuilding	31st December 2014	Active
D-9080	Tigereye	Federal Shipbuilding	26th March 2015	Active
D-9081	Titanite	Lynch & Murphy	24th June 2015	Active
D-9082	Tourmaline	Federal Shipbuilding	22nd September 2015	Active
D-9083	Turquoise	Lynch & Murphy	21st December 2015	Active

Operators

• Tol Galen
  • Royal Galenic Navy

See Also

List of active Royal Galenic Navy ships