The CARN (cruiser gun armor, nuclear powered) will need to adapt the principles of the ‘armored citadel’ concepts developed a century ago for battleships to the needs of securing the two, possibly three, nuclear reactors aboard and their associated pumps and other equipment.
It would be a new over 25,000 ton armored cruiser.
Depending on the amount of power twelve railguns firing broadsides will require, two or three of the standardized nuclear plants.
The primary use of the CARN will be to accompany the fleet’s carriers to provide defensive AAW (anti-aircraft warfare) capabilities.
12 railguns mounted in six dual mounts. In the attached sketch A and B mounts are placed forward of the bridge while C, D, E and F mounts are located starting roughly amidships and extend back to the helicopter deck. Dual mounts are suggested since the large size of the capacitors that need to be located directly below each railgun will in practice utilize the full 120 feet of beam provided. Obviously if the capacitors are even larger than this, then single mounts will have to be employed. Let’s hope not as doubling up makes for a much more efficient ship class.
36 VLS (Vertical launch system) tubes capable of a varying load out of ASW, SM-2, SM-6 and long-range strike missiles as the mission at hand calls for.
4 CIWS with one located in the bow, a pair port and starboard amidships and one aft, just behind F mount.
2 ISR drones if VTOL capable. None if VTOL capability is not available
2 Seahawk helicopters
An online set of designs for railgun ships is at Nationstatess.net
A carrier group with 12 ships have layers of railgun and missile defences.
1 CVN
1 CVLN
1 CG (Ticonderoga class)
1 CARN
4 DDG (Arleigh Burke)
4 FF (the new ASW frigate under development)
2 squadrons of F-18s
6 EA-18G Growlers
1 squadron of F35s
1 squadron of strike drones
15+ ISR drones
4 E-2D Hawkeyes
2 S-3 Vikings
6 refueling drones
15+ Fire Scouts
10+ Seahawks
75+ buoys with UUVs or a dipping sonar installed and a radar/infrared lure
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