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Monday, June 17, 302 AP
Web posted at 1148 UST.
President Okarvits today unveiled the Utanian-designed Caiman-Class mission support ship which would be constructed over the next year in Utania's naval shipyards in the city of Shecker.
The new warship is named "Caiman class" after the crocodile-like Caiman that lives in the jungle rivers of Utania, and the President promises the new ship will have "the same effective and dangerous bite". But, like all defence announcements, this one is also followed by the obligatory emphasises that the ship is primarily for defence and humanitarian missions.
The President said the defence department is planning the construction of two such vessels, with a view to perhaps offering them for sale in two year's time.
Economic Policy
The announcement comes only weeks after the announcement Utania would purchase a
Zartanian aircraft carrier, that this month might later be referred to as "Military
expenditure month". But the government claims these projects have been on the books for
over a year, and only now is there something worth showing -- if only showing the
President's commitment to the defence of the country.
It is not the first time defence policy has defined Utanian politics, with former-President Hope invading the I'ana islands, in September 300ap, in an unnecessary show of force. Yet, as pollsters prove over and over: there is votes in the issue, albeit both negative and postive. However, the President denies this announcement is about votes, instead the culmination of months of design work now ready for the unveiling.
Regardless, what cannot be ignored is the economic benefits: Shecker's shipyards have been increasingly looking empty, and though the car industry has been picking up much of the slack, the loss of one of the country's strongest industries could not be tolerated. Now, the construction, plus the expansion of the shipyards, which have been allocated almost Û2 billion, is likely to add some 110,000 jobs nationwide, say analysts, in steel, mining, defence technologies and ship construction.
Purpose
The warship may look like an aircraft carrier, but it is not. It's what the Navy is
calling a "Operational Command, Communications and Support ship". This means, it will
be the command ship for marine-to-land operations, be they counter-invasions, or
humanitarian missions.
It will be capable of carrying and launching up to 42 helicopters, and 61 amphibious landing craft, and will provide a base for operations, for transporting supplies, for commanding the landing operation, and as a central communications point. The ship will also be equipped with six-operating theatres and a 600-bed hospital.
"There were two possible situations in which the Navy will not, given its current capacity, be able to provide the necessary operational capability", the President explained. One is if the country is invaded: a counter invasion by sea which would allow the Army to cut off the main invasion force from its supply lines and force a quick surrender.
This is a key concept in General Arjaat's Rapid Reaction Defence policy, in which the Army, Navy and Airforce should be capable of repelling a foreign invasion within one full week of its commencement.
Peacekeeping platform
The second is humanitarian and peacekeeping operations, such as that in Dignania, a cornerstone of Okarvits defence policy, where a friendly port is not available.
President Okarvits' commitment to peacekeeping and humanitarian missions makes Utania one of the biggest spenders in this arena per GDP and per-capita. Including this multi-billion pund project expands that role further.
"This ship can provide frontline support to any humanitarian or peacekeeping operation where a friendly port is not available", the President announced. ""We cannot live in the assumption that there will always be good road and rail networks in countries we provide support to, linking the ports to the region in need.
"A sea-based operation may be necessary, and, at the moment, Utania does not have the ability to ferry supplies, humanitarian aid and personnel to shore without a proper port."
The ship would act as the primary command ship for such operations, able to ferry supplies by sea, from cargo ships to land using its many helicopters.
Unique
What makes this warship unique is that it is the first Utanian-designed ship of war,
albeit with substantial Zartanian assistance. Engineers of the Utanian Munitions and
Armaments Corporation (UMAC) conceived of the design in 300ap, but work began in earnest
on the design, after a Presidential order in March last year.
"It is a coming of age for Utanian engineers", claimed UMAC Director General Arjaat, who is also the country's highest-ranking military officer.
It is also a unique design worldwide, with no similar ship in existence, another point of pride for UMAC's Naval engineers.
"The design is unique because Utania has such a strong desire to participate in missions of this kind, that have requirements unlike any other Naval vessel at sea. And since it was not already available, we would just have to buy it outselves."
<Tech>
It should be noted that I have stolen almost every aspect of this design from the US-designed LHD-1 Wasp Class ships, which are amphibious assault ships, that can support the landing of 2,000 marines onto hostile or otherwise shores with landing ships and helicopters. They are, as I describe above, also the command and communications hub of such an operation. An impressive ship all 'round, and I thought far too valuable for peacekeeping and humanitarian missions.
</Tech>
Opposition
Presidential hopeful, and opposition leader, Thomas Kemp questioned the need to provide such an "extravagance" for foreign operations, when "the needs of Utanians MUST come first". He condemned the President's "obsession" with peacekeeping, and said he would recall the Dignanian force in favour of an international operation.
"It is simply not responsible defence policy to take whole responsibility in Dignania, or to stretch the defensive capabilities of this nation across the globe", Mr Kemp told reporters.
Yet, in contrast, another presidential candidate, and Mr Kemp's rival, Governor Hope said he supported the Caiman project, in contrast with many of his Conservative Party collegues.
"I agree with the President that the country should shoulder its international responsibility, and I see the Caiman-class ships as being a critical component of that." Governor Hope did, however, question whether the President was overstretching the country's budget "too far".
Although, Governor Hope is regarded by many on the peacenik-side of politics as a "warmonger", after he sent thousands of troops and dozens of warships in a show of military force to "recapture" the I'ana archipelago before the election 300ap.
Analysts say that if only 20% of the Û4.5 billion Caiman-class project is counted toward humanitarian aid, that Utania will have one of the highest humanitarian commitments per GDP, for a second-world nation, on Vexillium.
Export market
UMAC is expecting the pair of ships to cost between Û1,400 to 1,800 million, each (the entire project's budget is Û4.5 billion) but anticipates that, long-term, the ships could be sold for four hundred million Christianan Crowns.
"We believe these ships will be invaluable to all Governments that have long-term commitments to humanitarian and peacekeeping missions", President Okarvits told the gathering.
Related Websites
UMAC "Caiman-class" project website
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©Zeitgeist Magazine, 300 AP.
<TECH> ©Mike Ham, 2000. All rights reserved. No reproduction without, at least, tacit approval. ;-) |