Shipbucket

Updated West Florida with:

- Added in link to wiki!!!
http://shipbucket.com/wiki/index.php/West_Florida

- Vigilance Class OPV

A modified derivative of the Independence Class Corvette, the Vigilance class is designed for counter-narcotics and anti-piracy roles in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Designed to replace the Reliance class, the Vigilance class will be forward deployed in Key West, Yucatán, and Puerto Rico as part of efforts to counter illegal efforts. She differs from the Independence Class with the removal the fore OTO 76, removal the amidship NSM AShM missiles in place of cargo capacity, replacement of the Phalanx CIWS with SATCOM sensors, and adding more extensive firefighting equipment.

Interesting. Why does a Coast Guard-operated OPV need to be armed with torpedoes? I don’t see any hull-mounted sonar, is there a towed array or some other method by which this vessel can track and pursue a submarine contact?

Rainmaker wrote: ↑December 27th, 2023, 7:23 am Interesting. Why does a Coast Guard-operated OPV need to be armed with torpedoes? I don’t see any hull-mounted sonar, is there a towed array or some other method by which this vessel can track and pursue a submarine contact?

I kept the torpedoes as the original design is based off of the Type 056 corvette with its combat and Coast Guard version. China opted to keep the torpedoes on its Coast Guard ships as they are quickly able to convert between roles if the time comes, and I plan for that similarly with the Coast Guard vessels and the Independence class itself in case of conflict with Cuba.

Yes the method of sonar is via towed array. I typically show the system in my drawings such as the corvette challenge, but I couldn't get it to fit to the template without looking off

Updated West Florida with:

- T-38C

Primary jet trainer for the WFAF, around 50x were inherited by various means during the collapse of the United States. The aging trainer is set to be replaced in TJ-X competition due to the ongoing spare parts issues. Several proposals have been made for the A-29B Super Tucano to succeed the T-38C in the primary training role as a cheaper alternative to a new jet type. The specific jet shown participated in training with the Taiwan and Yucatán.

Updated West Florida with:

- M113V

West Florida inherited hundreds of M113s of various different variants during the period of collapse. Although West Florida utilizes the Bradley IFV for the most common roles of military use, the M113 fills the backline roles. The M113 is expected to be replaced by the indigenously-built LAV-series APC.

Updated West Florida with:

- Hurricane Class Patrol Vessel

The Hurricane class patrol boat is 5 ship class of former Louisianan Naval units surrendered to the West Floridian Navy in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The Hurricane class were produced in Bollinger shipyards in Louisiana originally for the United States during the 1990s, however were ceded to Louisiana due to lack of availability to transfer to the USN. After West Florida inherited the vessels in 2005, they saw regular service, replacing the trio of Asheville class gunboats acting in an offshore patrol role. In 2015, the boats were upgraded with RIM-116 (RAM) missile launchers to standardize and upgrade the AAW capabilities from the previous Stinger missile. Although the Hurricane class can be fitted for the AGM-176 Griffin PGM, none of the class has been fitted for them, with the stockpiles being limited.

- Navarre Class Submarine

The Navarre class submarine is a joint venture between Saab Kockums and PT Marine for the procurement of 3x A26-derived attack submarines for the West Floridian Navy. There are currently 3x units on order, with 1x in sea trials while the remaining 2 members of the class are currently under construction. The Navarre class is designed to complement the S2 midget submarine in the Gulf of Mexico, however it is expected to be able to deploy into the Caribbean and into the Atlantic Ocean. West Florida initially ordered 4x units to counter Cuba's 3x Type 035s and Venezuela's pair of Type 209s, however due to cost overruns the order was reduced to 3x.

I have updated all of my posts to include the lore for each vehicle as to not have to refer continuously to page 1.

Updated West Florida with:

- De Havilland HU-25A MPA

After the collapse of the United States in the '90s, West Florida inherited the x2 De Havilland E-9A Widget surveillance aircraft based at Tyndall AFB. The aircraft were pressed into service with the West Floridian Air Force initially thanks to their capable AN/APS-143(V)-1 Airborne Sea Surveillance Radar. In 1999, the West Floridian Naval Aviation branch of the West Floridian Navy was officially established. Although having spent limited time flying with the WFAF, the pair of E-9As were transferred to the WFN alongside the former US Coast Guard HU-25s. The West Florida Naval Aviation patrol squadrons of VP-1 and VP-2s were based at the newly transitioned NAS Hurlburt Field (formerly Hurlburt Field AFB). In 2005, the E-9A designation was dropped and changed to HU-26A in line with the HU-25 designation of the former USCG units. In 2017, the WFN signed a MoU with De Havilland Canada for the procurement of 4x additional MPA-D8 units, these units would be designated HU-26Bs due to their similarity to the HU-25As. The HU-26A has seen service across the Caribbean typically in a counter-narcotics role, but also a key unit for searching for lost vessels and overboard sailors thanks to its powerful sea-search radar.

- De Havilland HU-25B MPA

In 2017, the WFN signed a MoU with De Havilland Canada for the procurement of 4x additional MPA-D8 units to replace its aging HU-25D patrol units. The DHC-8 was opted as the primary choice thanks to its great fuel efficiency as well as its compatibility with the current HU-26As in service. A total of 4x units are set to be procured, with the first having arrived at NAS Hurlburt Field in 2019. The official retirement of the HU-25D is set for June 2020, of which by that time the third new HU-26B will have arrived.

Updated West Florida with:

- General Dynamics F-16A/B "Fighting Falcon"

In the Collapse of the United States, the Gulf Coast Defense Force activated its emergency functions of the Southeast Air Defense Sector (SEADS) for a full evacuation of all non-safe air bases that may be under threat of being seized by hostile forces. This notably included most of West Afrikan regions and South Florida that were considered "hostile regions" at the time due to the Black Revolution and the Floridian Divorce attempt by Miami. The F-16s of the 93rd, 134th, 157th, and 159th Fighter Squadrons arrived in few numbers but arrived nonetheless.

Around x60 F-16A/Bs arrived in various states of quality and differing blocks. Due to a preference of the Gulf Coast Defense Force for using the newer and more readily available F-16C/D, the F-16A/B often received very little flight time and were often relegated to rotting away in the corner of various airfields. Out of the three squadrons West Florida former F-16A/Bs, two of Block 10s, and one of ADFs, they would all be officially retired in 2012 to cut costs and free up the aircraft to be used as spares. Both Block 10 squadrons, the 97th and 98th Fighter Squadrons, would be retired in 1999 and 2000 respectively, although they would be upgraded and sold to Yucatán in the early 2010s as part of West Floridian efforts to counter Cuban militarization in the region. The ADF squadron would be retired in 2012 and was shipped to Texas where they remained in dry storage.

No F-16A/B received any combat action, as they served in a primarily air-defense role due to their outdated systems and lack of ground attack capabilities. Some were rumored to have been used as escorts during the preemptive bombing strikes of Operation Grand Calhoun against former US Army assets that were unable to be moved to safe locations, however, this has been yet to be confirmed by the WFAF.

Updated West Florida with:

- General Dynamics F-16C/D Block 40 "Fighting Falcon"

The mainstay fighter of the West Floridian Air Force for 30 years, the F-16C/D Block 40 has a long and tough history with the WFAF; with the type serving during Operation Grand Calhoun, striking Anniston Army Depot, Fort Stewart, and Maxwell AFB. Although controversial, even in the eyes of the remnant USA, the West Floridian Ministry of Defense saw it as a necessary preemptive strike to prevent New Afrikan communist rebels from seizing hundreds of thousands of arms to use against West Florida.

The F-16C/Ds have seen regular service into the 21st century, often intercepting Cuban MiG-29s, striking New Afrikan targets, and participating in various exercises & training missions. West Florida conducted several studies to modernize the Block 40s, conducting an upgrade of their electronics in the late 2000s to dozens of the fighters in the 101st and 102nd squadrons. However, using scrapped USAF plans for a 5th generation fighter in the 1990s with a heavily reduced RCS, West Florida used a new type of RCS-reducing paint, reducing the F-16's cross-section by 15%. The program was however scrapped due to its cost proving to be too expensive.

In 2012 West Florida launched a program to replace the F-16 Block 40, with numerous bids attempting to secure the order of 40x aircraft initially. However even after dozens of offers had come in, West Florida opted to upgrade half of their fleet to Block 60+ standard in Texas. Only half of the active fighter force was modernized however due to cost overruns with the A-29 & F/A-15 programs. The CICFA Pegasus is set to replace the F-16 Block 40 by 2035 fully.



- Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker

The West Floridian Air Force inherited several KC-135Rs as part of the collapse, with them being used as a 'workhorse' of the WFAF strategic assets. The WFAF utilized their KC-135s to help transport cargo and for sustained combat operations, including during Operation Grand Calhoun where it refueled returning F-16s, F-15s, A-4s, and AC-130s from their targets.

The WFAF however began suffering from a lack of spare parts from their KC-135s and half of the fleet was forced into retirement to act as spare for the remaining 3 units. In 2019 West Florida ordered a trio of A330 MRTTs as a replacement, with the KC-135 fleet being retired from WFAF service in 2021 after the arrival of the second KC-30A.