H. Vector
The BRP Laguna is A Battleship That Took Out 3 Chinese Aircraft Carriers, Is Absloutely Legendary
(The following are translated, excerpted versions of accounts from Sgt. Daniel Girardo Paras, Lead Gunner and Cpl. Eduardo Lionel Espiritu, Lead Gunner's Mate First Class, of BRP Laguna.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------August 24, 2023, Thursday, 14:22
Sgt. Paras
Thank goodness to the area of low pressure that stuck around our side of the Southeastern Sea (South China Sea) today. The storm, while not powerful enough to blur visibility, caught the Chinese off-guard, since they weren't expecting it to fall on us. Eventually they moved back by 5 nautical miles to keep out of the storm. The can't afford to be tossed.
We didn't move forward.
But we kept moving.
We, a small force of 2 battleships, 2 cruisers, 3 helicopter carriers, 4 heavy destroyers, and 5 missile ships, were doing a final practice, flitting back and forth along the shores of Bolinao, Pangasinan and Subic, Zambales, making sure that we can take advantage of our speed and armament, mostly to make sure that we can disperse immediately once jet fighters arrive or smaller missile ships Zerg in, while still being able to fire full broadside against enemy ships.
After 7 hours of moving around, we go back to the port, just next Hanjin's shipping facility.
The storm soon rolled in. We waited as I ponder repeatedly how 12 ships will be able to fight 36. We had proportionately more power, but the fleet of the People's Liberation Army Navy are not only larger by six times as mush as we do in munitions, and they themselves have battlecruisers, which, while smaller than the Cavite, comprise a third of the fleet, but also because we knew that the Chinese can close in us really quickly.
The storm merely gave two days more preparation time.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 26, Saturday, 11:19
Cpl. Espiritu
While I was eating Oreo cookies, Sgt. Dan went in my bunk with some news. He took a cookie and ate it, and said: "It's a go now, Leo. The fight is here." I instantly knew what he meant when he said it. There were still 4 Oreos on the plate. I stood up, went to the cabinet, pulled out a Zip-loc bag from the pile, and slid the cookies to the bag. Then I rolled it up and put in my pocket. Sarge slung his left hand to my shoulder and we went out of the bunk, to our stations.
Then, we set sail.
We sailed, a 12-ship force that may or may not match up against the Southern Fleet.
We sailed, knowing that this may be our last time to do so.
We sailed, armed with 28 24-inch guns, over 35,000 missiles, 100 tons of bullets, and indomitable will.
The Battle had begun, as we sail to the Parcel Islands.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 28, Monday, 14:32
Sgt. Paras
We managed to sink 7 ships with the Laguna alone, yet 24 ships are still sailing. We are spread out in a coordinated circle, flicking at the Chinese. From my control monitors, I can see 4 destroyers. Easy targets.
Suddenly, one of the Chinese helo carriers moved in to block the view and protect the destroyers.
What a mistake.
I fired all three of my guns to the carrier. I targeted the hull where I think the munitions stores are. Turret 2 also fired. The carrier and the 4 destroyers were 35 miles away. They're unbelievably close, almost seemingly at arm's length.
One second later, my monitor displayed a big explosion.
Positive hits.
I grin.
The Leo, over his shoulder, said: "Look at the hole in that thing."
Of course, I saw it.
The impact was so overwhelming, the carrier was listing drastically to starboard.
Three of the four destroyers with her have their sterns go up.
Leo can't contain his laughter, but the station did. I did not apprehend him. Even I burst into laughter, and I accidentally press the trigger, hitting the last destroyer squarely as it just fired 4 missiles.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 28, Monday, 18:43
Cpl. Espiritu
I just saw Cavite go down in my face.
She received 12 missiles and was in a bad place.
From my monitor, I saw missile upon missile hit Cavite.
She, however, managed to fire her final salvo, heavily damaging all but one of the 6 missile frigates that Zerged her in.
I can barely believe it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
BRP Laguna (BBN-70)
General Characteristics
Displacement: 67,500 tons
Length: 1,225 ft. (373.38 m.)
Beam: 200 ft. (60.96 m.)
Draft: 35 ft. (10.66 m.)
Speed: 65 kn. (74.8 km/h)
Complement: 3,000 officers and men
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Propulsion system:
Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors (x2)
HyperMotiva HN-5880 turbine (300 MW) (x2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sensors and processing systems:
AN/SPS-48E 3-D air search radar
AN/SPS-49(V)5 2-D air search radar
AN/SPQ-9B target acquisition radar
AN/SPN-46 air traffic control radars
AN/SPN-43C air traffic control radar
AN/SPY-1A/B multifunction radar
AN/SPS-49 air search radar
AN/SPG-62 fire control radar
AN/SPS-73 surface search radar
AN/SPQ-9 gun fire control radar
AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare Suite
AN/SQQ-89(V)1/3 - A(V)15 Sonar suite, consisting of:
AN/SQS-53B/C/D active sonar
AN/SQR-19 TACTAS, AN/SQR-19B ITASS, & MFTA passive sonar
AN/SQQ-28 light airborne multipurpose system
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Armament (here's where I need notes):
24"/95 caliber Mk.3 Radar-Aimed, Electronically-Fired Naval Gun (NG-RAEF) (x12)
152mm R44 Rapid Heavy Machine Cannon System (x6)
M335 Multiple Missile Launcher (x1)
RockeTower Multiple Rocket Launcher(x2)
M280 Rapid Rocket Boxes (x3)
FDV-2 Torpedo Tubes (x10)
4x96 cell Mk 41 VLS
Hayze CIWS, firing 50mm caliber API rounds (x12)
Enhanced Skadi Aerial Target Shooter (ESATS) (x34)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Armor:
Material: Pt-Ti-Chobham alloy
Belt: 30 in.
Bulkheads: 28.5 in.
Barbettes: 24-27 in.
Turrets: 27.5 in.
Decks: 20 in.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carries 4 Huey HFA-90 endurance attack helicopters when the M335
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Credit to James for rendering this ship. Thank you so much, man.
The BRP Laguna is A Battleship That Took Out 3 Chinese Aircraft Carriers, Is Absloutely Legendary
(The following are translated, excerpted versions of accounts from Sgt. Daniel Girardo Paras, Lead Gunner and Cpl. Eduardo Lionel Espiritu, Lead Gunner's Mate First Class, of BRP Laguna.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------August 24, 2023, Thursday, 14:22
Sgt. Paras
Thank goodness to the area of low pressure that stuck around our side of the Southeastern Sea (South China Sea) today. The storm, while not powerful enough to blur visibility, caught the Chinese off-guard, since they weren't expecting it to fall on us. Eventually they moved back by 5 nautical miles to keep out of the storm. The can't afford to be tossed.
We didn't move forward.
But we kept moving.
We, a small force of 2 battleships, 2 cruisers, 3 helicopter carriers, 4 heavy destroyers, and 5 missile ships, were doing a final practice, flitting back and forth along the shores of Bolinao, Pangasinan and Subic, Zambales, making sure that we can take advantage of our speed and armament, mostly to make sure that we can disperse immediately once jet fighters arrive or smaller missile ships Zerg in, while still being able to fire full broadside against enemy ships.
After 7 hours of moving around, we go back to the port, just next Hanjin's shipping facility.
The storm soon rolled in. We waited as I ponder repeatedly how 12 ships will be able to fight 36. We had proportionately more power, but the fleet of the People's Liberation Army Navy are not only larger by six times as mush as we do in munitions, and they themselves have battlecruisers, which, while smaller than the Cavite, comprise a third of the fleet, but also because we knew that the Chinese can close in us really quickly.
The storm merely gave two days more preparation time.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 26, Saturday, 11:19
Cpl. Espiritu
While I was eating Oreo cookies, Sgt. Dan went in my bunk with some news. He took a cookie and ate it, and said: "It's a go now, Leo. The fight is here." I instantly knew what he meant when he said it. There were still 4 Oreos on the plate. I stood up, went to the cabinet, pulled out a Zip-loc bag from the pile, and slid the cookies to the bag. Then I rolled it up and put in my pocket. Sarge slung his left hand to my shoulder and we went out of the bunk, to our stations.
Then, we set sail.
We sailed, a 12-ship force that may or may not match up against the Southern Fleet.
We sailed, knowing that this may be our last time to do so.
We sailed, armed with 28 24-inch guns, over 35,000 missiles, 100 tons of bullets, and indomitable will.
The Battle had begun, as we sail to the Parcel Islands.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 28, Monday, 14:32
Sgt. Paras
We managed to sink 7 ships with the Laguna alone, yet 24 ships are still sailing. We are spread out in a coordinated circle, flicking at the Chinese. From my control monitors, I can see 4 destroyers. Easy targets.
Suddenly, one of the Chinese helo carriers moved in to block the view and protect the destroyers.
What a mistake.
I fired all three of my guns to the carrier. I targeted the hull where I think the munitions stores are. Turret 2 also fired. The carrier and the 4 destroyers were 35 miles away. They're unbelievably close, almost seemingly at arm's length.
One second later, my monitor displayed a big explosion.
Positive hits.
I grin.
The Leo, over his shoulder, said: "Look at the hole in that thing."
Of course, I saw it.
The impact was so overwhelming, the carrier was listing drastically to starboard.
Three of the four destroyers with her have their sterns go up.
Leo can't contain his laughter, but the station did. I did not apprehend him. Even I burst into laughter, and I accidentally press the trigger, hitting the last destroyer squarely as it just fired 4 missiles.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 28, Monday, 18:43
Cpl. Espiritu
I just saw Cavite go down in my face.
She received 12 missiles and was in a bad place.
From my monitor, I saw missile upon missile hit Cavite.
She, however, managed to fire her final salvo, heavily damaging all but one of the 6 missile frigates that Zerged her in.
I can barely believe it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
BRP Laguna (BBN-70)
General Characteristics
Displacement: 67,500 tons
Length: 1,225 ft. (373.38 m.)
Beam: 200 ft. (60.96 m.)
Draft: 35 ft. (10.66 m.)
Speed: 65 kn. (74.8 km/h)
Complement: 3,000 officers and men
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Propulsion system:
Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors (x2)
HyperMotiva HN-5880 turbine (300 MW) (x2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sensors and processing systems:
AN/SPS-48E 3-D air search radar
AN/SPS-49(V)5 2-D air search radar
AN/SPQ-9B target acquisition radar
AN/SPN-46 air traffic control radars
AN/SPN-43C air traffic control radar
AN/SPY-1A/B multifunction radar
AN/SPS-49 air search radar
AN/SPG-62 fire control radar
AN/SPS-73 surface search radar
AN/SPQ-9 gun fire control radar
AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare Suite
AN/SQQ-89(V)1/3 - A(V)15 Sonar suite, consisting of:
AN/SQS-53B/C/D active sonar
AN/SQR-19 TACTAS, AN/SQR-19B ITASS, & MFTA passive sonar
AN/SQQ-28 light airborne multipurpose system
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Armament (here's where I need notes):
24"/95 caliber Mk.3 Radar-Aimed, Electronically-Fired Naval Gun (NG-RAEF) (x12)
152mm R44 Rapid Heavy Machine Cannon System (x6)
M335 Multiple Missile Launcher (x1)
RockeTower Multiple Rocket Launcher(x2)
M280 Rapid Rocket Boxes (x3)
FDV-2 Torpedo Tubes (x10)
4x96 cell Mk 41 VLS
Hayze CIWS, firing 50mm caliber API rounds (x12)
Enhanced Skadi Aerial Target Shooter (ESATS) (x34)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Armor:
Material: Pt-Ti-Chobham alloy
Belt: 30 in.
Bulkheads: 28.5 in.
Barbettes: 24-27 in.
Turrets: 27.5 in.
Decks: 20 in.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carries 4 Huey HFA-90 endurance attack helicopters when the M335
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Credit to James for rendering this ship. Thank you so much, man.