Chapter 159: Fleet Combat Multiplier!

Gradually, the German and Japanese navies figured out that all-round fast combat support ships carried more fuel and more ammunition than the largest munitions ships in the world today. At the same time, it can also carry most of the supplies that can be carried by ordinary supply transport ships.

Under normal conditions, the ship can carry 177,000 barrels of fuel oil (BBL, 119 liters per barrel), 2,150 tons of ammunition, 500 tons of dry cargo and 250 tons of refrigerated supplies. There are a total of 15 supply stations on the ship, including 9 on the port side (4 liquid cargo supply stations, 2 missile supply stations and 3 general cargo supply stations) and 6 on the starboard side (2 liquid cargo supply stations and 4 dry cargo supply stations).

In addition, there are 3 twin-hose fuel receiving stations and 5 single-hose fuel receiving stations. Some refueling stations use a dual-hose dual-probe refueling system, which can simultaneously deliver marine and aviation fuel to aircraft carriers. The ship is equipped with two 5-ton cranes and one 15-ton crane.

In addition to its impressive loading capacity, the class can also receive fuel, ammunition and supplies from ships shuttling back and forth in wartime, which can then be redistributed to combat ships in carrier battle groups, enhancing the ship's sustained combat capability by reducing the time it takes to dock.

The all-round fast combat support ship adopts a flat-deck structure, with cargo holds, ammunition tanks and oil tanks all located below the open deck. The part above the open deck is divided into five areas: at the foremost is the bow area, where defensive combat weapons are installed; The stern of the ship is a helicopter platform, which can carry two S-60 Sea Hawk helicopters; Behind the bow area and before the aft helicopter platform, there are two sections of superstructures, including the wheelhouse, the officer's quarters and the hospital. Soldiers' quartering cabins, fire control rooms and helicopter hangars are located in the rear superstructure.

The chimney is located in front of the rear superstructure slightly to the right, and the middle of the ship is a complicated supply operation area, with 6 large supply masts, which are equipped with a variety of advanced navigation supply systems, with up to 15 dry cargo and liquid cargo supply stations, and the left and right sides can carry out navigation replenishment on both sides of the combat ships at the same time.

The supply operation area seems to be messy, but the division of labor is clear, the skilled crew operates in an orderly manner, and the supply operations of each supply station do not interfere with each other. In addition to missiles and other ammunition, lifts or conveyors are used for vertical transportation of materials in the cabin, and pallet handling devices and forklifts are used for lateral transportation.

A high-speed automatic conveyor system is used for replenishment operations at sea. The system is controlled by hydraulic technology. The diameter of the pipeline is 150-175 mm, the speed of oil transfer is 400-700 tons/hour, and the dry cargo replenishment is transmitted once every 90 seconds, each transfer is 3000 kg, and the dry cargo replenishment volume is 120 tons per hour.

The two longitudinal partitions divide the whole ship into three parts, cargo and oil are loaded on both sides, ammunition is loaded in the central part, and the ammunition compartment is made into a vertical wall without curved surface, which increases the effective volume of the ammunition compartment.

As part of the aircraft carrier formation, the "Almighty" class fast combat support ships must be equipped with strong firepower (for self-defense) and perfect communication equipment (target detection and liaison with the formation) in addition to high speed. At the beginning of its construction, the class was equipped with four twin 76-mm 50-caliber naval guns, two 76-mm naval guns in the bow and two 76-mm naval guns behind the chimney.

The "Almighty" class fast combat support ship is essentially a large "granary". If other ships are replenished at the dock, this process is called "taking over the replenishment", of course, its main function is navigational replenishment, that is, accompanying the voyage of the aircraft carrier task force to carry out one-step replenishment for the ships in the formation. Usually, each aircraft carrier task force is equipped with one "all-round" class fast combat support ship.

In its role as an oil tanker, the "all-round" class can carry (95% full) 5.2 million gallons of marine oil and 2.7 million gallons of aviation fuel, delivering approximately 60 million gallons of fuel annually to other ships; In the role of an munitions ship, it can replenish an aircraft carrier with all the ordnance it needs in 3 to 4 hours, and also carries a wide variety of ammunition for cruisers and destroyers, up to 6,000 tons when fully loaded;

In the role of a refrigerated transport ship, this class of ships can carry up to 1,000 tons of frozen or dried food. In fact, the ships can carry up to hundreds of types of supplies. Mail is as important to the crew as food, and the class can transfer mail weighing about 45,300 kilograms to troops at sea during a single deployment.

By using a variety of methods such as longitudinal, horizontal, and vertical replenishment, the "all-round" class provides one-step logistical support capabilities, and greatly improves the tactical effectiveness of aircraft carrier battle groups and amphibious readiness groups in any operational sea area.

For example, an "all-rounder" class ship can provide logistical support for a conventionally powered aircraft carrier carrying a full flight wing, as well as three cruisers and destroyers, so that these ships can travel 10,000 nautical miles continuously and carrier-based aircraft fly for 4,000 hours, and also fill the ammunition compartments of each ship with ammunition.

Voyage longitudinal replenishment refers to the longitudinal parade of the supply ship and the receiving ship, and the material transmission to the receiving ship through the longitudinal replenishment system, which is more suitable for replenishment of liquid cargo; Voyage lateral replenishment is the horizontal parade of the supply ship and the receiving ship, and the material transmission is carried out through the horizontal replenishment system.

The "all-round" class mostly uses transverse replenishment by sailing, which can transmit both liquid and dry cargo, and the replenishment speed is faster than longitudinal replenishment. In order to carry out the replenishment operation, it is necessary to first raise the supplies in the cargo hold to the supply deck, and there are a total of 7 lifts and 1 equipment conveyor on board the "Almighty" class, of which 1 to 6 lifts serve the 4 ammunition compartments, and the 7th elevator and equipment conveyor serve the supply compartment.

The horizontal movement of ammunition and other supplies is carried out by 33 forklift cranes of different types and sizes, which are fast to load and unload cargo and can accurately locate the cargo.

The "All-round" class is equipped with 7 sets (4 sets of heavy and 3 sets of standard) with a higher degree of automation of the "Standard Lateral Replenishment System". Fuel oil and other liquid cargo are replenished through 4 double hoses and 2 single hoses, all of which are 178 mm in diameter, and the fuel is poured into the hoses by large turbine-driven oil pumps, each tube can carry about 500 tons of oil per hour, a process known as "marine refueling". The dual-hose refueling line uses a dual-probe refueling system that can simultaneously deliver marine fuel and aviation sleeves to the aircraft carrier.

Vertical replenishment is another way for the "Omnipot" class to deliver ammunition, supplies, mail, and personnel. The ship carries two S-60 Seahawk utility helicopters, but three can be accommodated in the hangar, which means that the number of aircraft can be increased in wartime.

With a take-off weight of up to 9,925 kg, the helicopter is capable of delivering cargo to the flight deck of the receiving ship at a replenishment speed of 9,000 kg/min. The vertical replenishment capability allows the "All-Rounder" class to resupply ships in evacuation formations, as well as resupply a variety of supplies over a longer distance. In addition to the S-60, ships of this class can also carry other types of helicopters for vertical replenishment.

As a combat support ship, the "all-round" class must not only complete the task of sailing and supplying, but also must be self-sufficient in all aspects, so this class of ships is also a floating sea city, with all kinds of combat and living facilities, and 600 officers and men are well-trained and skilled in all kinds of technical skills to repair, maintain, and operate all the shipboard equipment.

The officers and men on board the ship are divided into seven departments, including piloting, engineering, operations, supply, medical, aviation, and administration. The ship has a hospital that provides medical and dental care to its crew. In addition, there are premium cabins, a gym and a library for busy crew members to use in their free time.

What logistical replenishment means for the fleet is well known to the navies of any country. The navies of various countries are also constantly designing and developing the most suitable ocean-going supply ships, but so far, no country's maritime supply ships can be compared with the all-round fast combat support ships manufactured by Donghui.

On more than one occasion, the German Naval Advisory Group and the Japanese Naval Advisory Group in Donghui submitted written reports to Hitler and Hirohito, making it clear that no matter what the cost, Germany and Japan would also receive all-round fast combat support ships. Moreover, it is solemnly requested that this kind of all-round fast combat support ship must not be obtained by the navies of other countries.

Because, the all-round fast combat support ship will be a powerful combat multiplier for any fleet!