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KNS Icena FF4-5

The Icena-class frigates are dedicated anti-submarine warships with the singular purpose of protecting larger vessels and convoys from underwater threats. Despite this focus, their heavy torpedo armament makes them potent surface combatants as well. Large for their type and heavily armed, the defining feature of the class is its pair of 280 mm weapons; low-pressure, short-barreled howitzers designed to fire flat-nosed "diving" high-explosive shells at submerged targets. Though intimidating in appearance, these weapons are ineffective against larger surface combatants due to their low velocity and poor penetration. The substantial weight of the mounts also contributes to a noticeable rolling tendency in rough seas.

The Icena-class frigates is the culmination of lessons learned from the navy's destroyer line. The existing Khertland destroyers have been heavily tailored towards a heavy torpedo broadside for anti-ship work. More recent destroyers have been addressing the fleet's insufficient anti-aircraft capabilities. However, the anti-submarine mission had been largely neglected, with naval leadership placing misplaced confidence in deep-diving torpedoes as sufficient deterrents. The Naval Advisory Board decided to put this assumption to the test in a live war game exercise. The results were reportedly disappointing which prompted a emergency ship building program to address this deficit.

A key lesson learned in the aforementioned exercises was the limited arcs of the torpedo launchers on the destroyers. Ships were unable to engage submarines effectively outside of the broadside arcs. Additionally, ever since the Alguhas launchers were cancelled, the fleet had lacked any close range anti-submarine weapon system. The navy revived an old program that were to succeed the Alguhas launchers. It entailed the deployment of sonar-directed naval short guns with automatic depth-setting reminiscent of radar-directed guns and automatic fuze setters. This will help with both close in defense against submarines and provide greater arcs of fire than torpedoes. Unsatisfied with the rather anemic firepower of the guns alone, the designers also placed one of the torpedo launchers astern so it also has clear lines of fire to engage behind the ship. The amidship torpedoes were also adjusted with 'curve ahead/abaft fire' capability. This involved the use of a adjustable post-launch gyro angle allowing the torpedoes to turn ahead or astern to enhance the firepower of its anti-submarine capabilities at all angles. Furthermore, the amount of noisemakers were doubled along with improved sonar and hydrophone systems to better defend against incoming torpedoes. Overall, the class sacrificed all anti-air defense for a potent anti-submarine capability. As such, it is designed to operate alongside the Uriel-class destroyers and its various subclasses.

The frigate was originally projected to cost 75,000 but has since overran the budget by 33% despite the ships' lightweight construction, incorporating many of the other weight and cost saving measures of the Uriel-class. Despite the cost overruns, the Icena-class maintained strong political support for its completion due to testing suggesting the class to be highly effective in its role and the need for such a ship in the first place. Originally 24 ships were planned to outfit the four planned surface action groups. However, a Uriel subclass, an improved Solaventus-class destroyer, the Teresh was also being built simultaneously. The Teresh-subclass managed to double the operational range of existing Khertland ships along with much improved defensive and anti-aircraft capabilities. The navy all of a sudden had a class of destroyer that opened up more strategic options than had originally anticipated. Khertland naval planners immediately suggested the Teresh-class destroyers would enable a maritime resupply of Izakhia should the narrow land corridor be closed off in a war. Izakhia is the sole coastal city with a natural harbor in Eastern GPYF. Izakhia is connected to the rest of GPYF by a relatively narrow stripe of land, bordered north and south by breakaway states. As such Izakhia is seen as a vital port city that can be used to cut hostile merchant shipping, but also a extremely vulnerable city by land. Should the Khertland army fail to maintain a open land corridor, the navy may be able to send resupply convoys by traveling nearly 9000 km around the continent. The Naval Advisory Board seeing this approved of this plan. However, the Teresh is a anti-surface and anti-air destroyer due to its Uriel design lineage. To also protect the convoy from submarines, the Naval Advisory Board required the Icena to have at least 9000 km operational range. While the class never achieved 9000 km operational range, it was just enough, albeit barely, to reach Izakhia one way. This was considered acceptable for the time being, and a second batch of 20 frigates were ordered to help fill the convoy escort role, making it the largest class of surface combatants to date.

The frigates is organized into pairs so their guns and torpedoes can cover each other in combat. To maintain a high operational tempo, certain ships such as frigates uses a 3-cycle readiness system where one ship is ready to deploy/deployed, one is training or on leave, and another is undergoing maintenance. With this in mind, each Surface Action Group are assigned 6 frigates, so that at least two are always ready for deployment. With four SAGs, this meant 24 ships of the original order. Likewise for the escort group, the navy wants at least two frigate per group. However, the navy also anticipates that during such a long journey, damaged ships may need to peel off and return. These ships also need anti-submarine protection without eating into the minimum of 2 frigates for the main convoy itself. In anticipation of such a inevitability, 4 frigates was decided to be necessary. However, the navy was also concerned that at least one frigate may be damaged or sunk and so for the convoy should have a spare frigate for the return trip bringing it up to 5. With the 3-cycle readiness system, this meant 15 frigates. However, at one point the navy wanted a spare escort group for 5 more frigates. A memo since then have suggested moving those frigates elsewhere in the future.

Ship list:
Icena, Lycene, Sacana, Amacasa, Hyaphene, Omana, Sylena, Viano, Pohaso, Zacuo, Khaelene, Ducanon, Hutoyi, Tanoha, Ancophi, Phioshene, Amisa, Holoshene, Caliphos, Wentil, Unni, Hasphon, Dacona, Duclene (Initial order, 24 ships)
Novard, Kallador, Virethe, Arelisca, Nysar, Eldore, Freskala, Zarafis, Rynsalis, Vothranthis, Zhyravel, Solphar, Glyndor, Xelith, Ryskalon, Navrissa, Marvion, Ryker, Kalnath, and Relvior (Expanded order, 20 ships)

[Ship Overview]
Operators: Khertland Navy
Ordered: May 18, 2025
Laid down: May 20, 2025
Commissioned: May 25, 2025

[Class Overview]
Class: Icena-class
Planned: 24+20
Completed: 44
Preceded by: Yara-class

[General Characteristics]
Type: Frigate
Displacement: 137,009
Volume: 5,810 m^3
Blocks: 3,237
Cost: 98,489
Overall Length: 119 m
Waterline Length: 117.5 m
Beam: 11m
Draft: 3m
Freeboard: 2m
Propulsion: 1 shaft powered by 1x SSE-5 4C/1/1/1/1 Mk.1 1.3k2.2
Speed: 37 knots
Endurance: 8919 km
Turn radius: 374 m

Sensor and Processing Systems:
>1x RSS-YU-5 Mk.1 Surface Search Radar
>2x FCS-5 m5 Mk.1 Fire Control Director
>1x REWR-9 Mk.1 Early Warning Radar
>2x NM-2 Mk.2 Decoy

Armament:
>4x1 280mm L/23 SNG-1 Mk.1A
>2x1 05m L/8 SS-2 Mk.4A Illumination gun
>2x1 50cm L/8 ASM-3 Mk.1A
>3x5 1m L/10 Surtorp-7 Mk.1 (15x 10m Surtorp-6/5)

Other:
>2x 9m Rowing Cutter

Armor:
>Belt: 2m alloy
>Barbette: 1m metal