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Cassin Young Class (or the CGN-11 Class) is a class of aircraft carrier commissioned by the Wiltshire Navy in service from April 3020. The lead ship of the class is WNS Cassin Young and her sister ship, WNS Kitty Hawk, comprise the Wiltshirian carrier-strike capability. The two aircraft carriers have been significant command posts for allied-command in the East during the IDO/NCR war and have consistently been described as the most powerful tool of the allies in fighting the NCR.
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 Tony Beck 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
| Name | Pennant No. | Builder | First steel cut | Launched | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cassin Young | CGN-11 | Eddington Naval Shipyard | April 2, 3020 | April 19, 3020 | In Service |
| Kitty Hawk | CGN-12 | Eddington Naval Shipyard | April 18, 3020 | April 26, 3020 | In Service |
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 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.
