Description

The Sparrowhawk-class destroyer is a stealth, multipurpose destroyer developed from the Type-34 Ashdown-class frigate. The warship serves as the backbone of the Saltwater Navy, with twenty-two vessels in active service. The ships can effectively serve in a multitude of roles, including air defence, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare and land-attack.
The ships feature a number of upgrades over the previous Ashdown-class, including updated radar and sonar systems, new interfaces in the operations room and an increased number of vertical launch cells. In addition to this, the Starstreak MANPADS launcher has been omitted and replaced with the RIM-178 Arrowhead.
Each warship has a flight deck capable of supporting a CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter and a hanger that is able to house a single NH-90 Caiman anti-submarine warfare helicopter.
Due to improvements in manufacturing techniques, bulk purchasing and experience gained from the Type-34 program, the cost of the Type-38 has been reduced to just $850 million per ship, allowing twenty-two to be purchased for the Saltwater Navy. The ships require a relatively small crew thanks to increased automation in their weapons systems, which means that the vessels can remain at sea for up to 310 days per year, not including maintenance periods.

Specifications

Name: Type-38 Sparrowhawk-class
Role( s ): Anti-submarine warfare, air defence, land attack, anti-surface warfare
Number built: 22
Crew: 150 + 14 air group
Displacement: 8,800 tons
Maximum speed: 30 Knots ( 36mph, actual speed twice this )
Builder: SMC Marine
Propulsion: Split shaft gas turbines
Operational ratius: 9800 nautical miles
Endurance: 38 days
Price per unit: 850 million USD per unit
Project cost: 3.4 billion USD

Armament

• x1 127mm naval gun.
• x1 RIM-178 Arrowhead CIWS.
• x2 Goalkeeper CIWS.
• x1 multipurpose rocket launcher.
• x6 torpedo tubes.
• x96 vertical launch cells with a mixture of:
  - VL-ASROC anti-submarine missiles
  - RIM-188 Alacrity surface-to-air missiles.
  - Sea Ceptor surface to air missiles.
  - Sea Shadow cruise missiles.
  - Perseus anti-ship missiles.
  - SPEAR-3 cruise missiles.
  

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Controls

AG1+TRIM+VTOL operates the main gun.
AG2+TRIM+VTOL operates the Arrowhead CIWS.
AG3+TRIM operates the torpedo tubes.
AG4 activates the lights.
AG5+TRIM+VTOL operates the starboard CIWS.
AG6+TRIM+VTOL operates the rocket launcher.
AG7+TRIM+VTOL operates the portside CIWS.
AG8 controls the flight deck lights.
THROTTLE+YAW for movement.