Paix-class Destroyer

The EUFN Orion

The Paix-class destroyer, officially the DD-M4, is a class of light destroyers designed and operated by the United European Federation in the mid-22nd century. The class is primarily built for torpedo-based anti-piracy warfare, and is built around the ES Integrated Point Defence Array (IPDA), RATTER long range radar system, and the Fackel laser-guided radar system. The first 12 ships were assembled in Cadiz Shipyard around Earth orbit. The first ship, La Unité was launched on July 1st 2129

The Paix-class has been described as the "workhorse of the European Federal Navy", and is widely regarded as one of the best ships in the European Navy. Admiral Willem Spaaij has claimed that the ship is capable of engaging more than 12 fighter craft without suffering any hull damage, with its extensive PDC network. Plans for its replacement with the upcoming Torche-class destroyer have been delayed until 2161 owing to its above average performance in the line of duty. It is unknown if the EFN intends to lend lease this ship class to minor nations upon its obsolescence,

The Paix-class destroyer was designed to replace the Liberté-Class Destroyer, which had served in the Jovian Wars, with the last Liberté-Class being decommissioned in 2138. Its intended purpose was to commit to anti-piracy action, rather than engage in combat with ships equivalent or greater than its weight class. Therefore, many anti-capital armaments have been stripped from the Liberté-Class, most notably 4 400mm cannons on the midship section, as well as the Dämmerung lance being greatly reduced in power. Despite these modifications, it is very much capable of engaging in combat with an equal ship

## Design

The Paix Class was designed to address the flaws that prior EUFN destroyer models presented - first and most importantly, the ability for atmospheric flight. With an uptick in tensions worldwide after the Jovian conflict, it became important for warships to gain the ability to fly in Earth's atmosphere in order to conduct high-altitude airstrikes. Its Dämmerung lance has been especially commended for its ability to conduct strikes from orbit, leading to it being retained from the old Liberté-class

An additional flaw that was addressed was the Liberté's lack of heat tolerance, meaning it was unable to operate below the orbit of Venus. However, with the redesign, the Paix has an operational range well within the orbit of Mercury, with the few piratical outposts in the region now being unable to conduct effective operations.

### Construction

The Paix took advantage of the pre-existing infrastructure in place for the construction of the Liberté-class owing to its similar hull profile. It also made use of several shipbuilding contractors, from the US, Luna and Europe itself. The destroyers were constructed in 2 different shipyards

## Characteristics

The Paix-class destroyer is 120.3m in length, and between 12.5m - 52.5m in width, and a mass of approximately 7920 tonnes at 1g, making them slightly smaller than the Liberté-Class, with a mass of 8660 tonnes. The Paix-class takes on the classical "arrowhead" design present in other destroyers of a similar weight class. It is designed to limit the visual profile the ship presents to any adversaries, while also maximizing firepower within that profile; with it featuring 14 tiered 220mm torpedo launchers along its sides. This however limits its ability to maximize its firepower when facing more than one target.

The Paix is fitted with 4 main hydrazine thrusters across its stern, along with numerous other supplementary thrusters for maneuvering and atmospheric flight. It is also fitted with a small fusion reactor within the core of the ship, responsible for powering the ship.

The Paix's distinct "hammerhead" on its bow is primarily made up of heavier armour, and is designed to protect the vital components that run down the center of the vessel from being penetrated with a direct hit

## Weapons, countermeasures and other systems

### Trident Torpedo Launcher System

The Trident TLS, designed by Stevan Lee LLC, is a weapons system designed to launch 10 220mm torpedo rounds at a target. To support it is the latest Fackel laser-guided radar system, which is capable of tracking a target accurately from over 450,000km away

#### Rhodes Guided Torpedo

The Rhodes Guided Torpedo is a long-range cruise missile designed to target and destroy enemy vessels. Built around the SMART algorithm, the torpedo is able to accurately identify and penetrate critical systems within a ship. It features 2 stages of detonation: a shaped charge to pierce through layers of armor, followed by a less focused explosion to cause maximum damage.

#### Crete SR Torpedo

The Crete Solid Rocket Torpedo is a short range ballistic missile designed to target and intercept incoming targets, rather than act as an offensive weapon. It is significantly lighter than the Rhodes torpedo; and runs on a solid rocket propellant, capable of sustained acceleration for 50 seconds; making its effective range between 600m-550km. It also features several monopropellant RCS thrusters for greater control over the vector of travel. It features 2 methods of interception: explosive and chaff, with explosive interception being preferred in closer ranges, chaff being used for wider area denial.

### 40 x Barrière PDC Cannons

The Barrière PDC Array, designed by Koch-Klein Systems is an omnidirectional network of 20mm point defense cannons (PDCs), designed to intercept torpedoes, missiles, small strike craft and enemy personnel . They are positioned such that any position at least 10m from the ship is covered by at least 4 PDCs; and any position over 50m from the ship is covered by at least 10 PDCs. This makes their effective range around 50m-10,000km, depending on a target's capability for maneuvering.

### 2 x Dämmerung "Lance" Fixed Heavy Artillery

The Dämmerung "Lance" artillery system is the primary anti-capital armament of the Paix, designed to propel 400mm shells to speeds of over 5000m/s. Due to the shells being unable to maneuver off their set path, the lance is generally considered to have a range of under 500km for mobile targets; although this range dramatically rises when engaging static or slow-moving targets. As such, the lance is generally utilized for ground support in armed conflict

## Historical deployments

### Vesta Mediation

In 2137, months before the news of the discovery of true FTL travel broke, small scale clashes began between the Russian Federation and Indian Republic over mining rights on 4 Vesta, owing to its large mineral content. In the following weeks, government security forces on the asteroid fought, prompting Indian and Russian ships to burn towards the asteroid, despite protests from the ISA and UN. Tensions briefly spiked when the civilian vessel *Звездный свет* was seized by an Indian patrol craft which had reached the asteroid early. Finally, the UEF decided to intervene as a mediator, using a squad of 3 Paix destroyers to escort a government craft to the asteroid where ambassadors from both sides could finalize a deal to end the conflict. When the treaty was agreed, a stipulation was that at least one UEF destroyer remain around the asteroid permanently, both to deter piracy and ensure conflict does not begin again.

### 4th Gulf War

In 2146, Iraq invaded Jordan and Kuwait, leading to another coalition war to contain Iraqi aggression. With Iraq's severe lack of orbital capabilities, coalition forces quickly deployed their home fleets to act as high air support, with 12 Paix-class destroyers being the UEF's contribution to the task force. Over the 11 week conflict, Paix destroyers engaged in at least 140 different airstrikes on Iraqi forces, and are estimated to have inflicted 21,000 casualties.