Cassin Young-class aircraft carrier

Cassin Young Class
WNS Cassin Young (NCB-11) awaiting sea trials following construction at Eddington Naval Base.
General Information
Class Name	Cassin Young
Ship Type	Aircraft Carrier
Operated By	Wiltshire
Constructed By	Eddington Naval Base, Wiltshire
In Service	April, 3020
Compliment	Ship's Company: 3,310 Airwing: 2,100
Number Existing	1 (another planned)
Specifics
Maximum Range before Refueling	Unlimited distance
Powerplant	2 A-5 Type Nuclear Reactors 4 steam engine turbines
Aircraft/Spacecraft Carried	75+ fixed wing aircraft and helicopters

Cassin Young Class (or the NCB-11 Class) is a class of aircraft carrier commissioned by the Wiltshire Navy in service from April 3020. The lead ship was laid down in April 3020 and, upon the completion of her construction on April 18, is awaiting sea trials. Her sister ship, the WNS Kitty Hawk, is expected to begin construction shortly.

The Cassin Young Class will lead the Wiltshire Navy's two new Carrier Strike Groups, which will operate in service for the next few years. Along with the new class of carrier, the Prince Class and a, currently unnamed, new class of Frigate will also join the Carrier Strike Groups.

History

The idea of a Wiltshirian aircraft carrier was first posed all the way back in 3017 with the Government's Defence Review. Defence Minister Jack Kinnock launched the review with the comment "Wiltshire's defence relies in her ability to command confidence on land, in the sea and in the air". This was a bold statement by the Minister, which was undercut by the review recommending that Wiltshire abolish its naval force. This was agreed by the National Assembly, seeking to make cuts in a time of economic instability, and by 3018 the last Wiltshire warship was decommissioned.

The review did, however, make the following comment;

"Though an Aircraft Carrier would considerably extend Wiltshire's militaristic capabilities, the cost of such a project is too high and made worse by the proposals for an overall reduction in naval capability due."

This was sidelined and the Government of the day did not take up the project. Later, in 3019, the Conservative Government of Samantha Schroder proposed a joint Novanite Federation Navy. Many believed that Wiltshire would be a prime candidate for the construction of such a navy which, some believed, would eventually include a new aircraft carrier. It did not, and with the Novanite Federation's fall the same year, the prospects of an aircraft carrier was increasingly less likely. This changed, however, when President Gaius Selan said in February 3020;

"Wiltshire's defence in this time of panic and danger around the world is paramount. That is why we will commission a new Wiltshire Navy. Sailors and shipmates will work together in the common defence of our country..."

This, followed by the Navy Act of 3020, founded the Wiltshire Navy. Later, in March 3020, it was announced that the new WNS Puddle and WNS Coleman would be a light helicopter carriers. The original plan was for these two small carriers to join the five Prince Class destroyers. However, the Puddle's construction was delayed and eventually cancelled. The Navy Admiralty Committee for the construction of new vessels announced on March 30 that the Puddle Class would be replaced by a new class of Supercarriers. These aircraft carriers would be constructed based off a new, state of the art design which was originally sidelined in February but re-commissioned.

Eddington Naval Construction was granted the contract to construct the two carriers in early April and on April 8, the first of the class was laid down.

Ships of the class

Two ships will be constructed of the new class. The first being under construction as of April 3020. The second is planned to begin on May 2, 3020.

Name	Pennant No.	Builder	First steel cut	Launched	Status
Cassin Young	NCB-11	Eddington Naval Shipyard	April 2, 3020	April 19, 3020	In Service
Kitty Hawk	NCB-12	Eddington Naval Shipyard	April 18, 3020	April 26, 3020	In Service

TBA: To be Announced.

Naming

Once the class was announced to be replacing the Puddle Class, speculation on the name of this new supercarrier class started immediately. Some expected the name would follow the Puddle Class' planned names; Puddle and Coleman, however, on April 13, 3020, the Navy announced that the name of the class, and the ships, would be decided via a public poll. The Navy also announced that the names Puddle and Coleman would be taken by the planned class of Frigates, which are expected to join the Carrier Strike Group.

An online submission forum was opened. The Navy selected the following names for consideration;

• Demeter
• Kitty Hawk
• Etalon
• Montgomery
• Yorktown
• Vigilance
• Murray*

*Murray is the name of the fourth planned Prince Class Destroyer.

After further online discussion, debate and submissions, the Navy announced a shortlist of 4 names;

• Kitty Hawk (after 20th century American Aircraft Carrier)
• Montgomery
• Essex*
• Cassin Young*

*Essex and Cassin Young were late entries which gained popular support and so were added to the shortlist.

The name chosen for the class was Cassin Young. The first two ships of the class will be Cassin Young and Kitty Hawk.

WNS Cassin Young with her first name plaque.