Gallipoli Class DDG
In this timeline, growing regional tensions and a shifting Indo-Pacific security environment during the 1980’s-1990s compelled the Royal Australian Navy to seek an urgent replacement for its ageing Perth-class DDGs by their final decommissioning in 2001. Rather than in our timeline where the incoming Adelaide-class FFG’s were deemed sufficient for fleet air defence, Australia negotiated the acquisition of three Kidd-class guided missile destroyers from the United States, each undergoing a tailored New Threat Upgrade (NTU) refit before entering RAN service.
These formidable ships were commissioned as the Gallipoli class, each named to honour defining moments in Australian military history. Though retaining their American hulls and silhouettes, the ships were extensively modernised below decks and re-equipped to meet Australian standards.
The fourth ex-US Navy Kidd-class destroyer is still sold to Taiwan as their new flagship or used as a parts hulk by the RAN, the manpower requirements would already be high for the three ships taken into service by the RAN.
- HMAS Gallipoli (DDG-42)
- HMAS Kokoda (DDG-43)
- HMAS Long Tan (DDG-44)
While their real-world counterparts operated Seasprite helicopters, these Australian variants field the S-70B-2 Seahawk, in line with actual RAN practice. This brings significant enhancements to ASW and utility capability, and is the primary visible change from stock units.
- SM-2MR Block IIIA (RIM-66K) long-range SAMs
- Harpoon Block II (RGM-84L) anti-ship missiles
- 2 × Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS Block 1B for close-in defence
- SPS-48E NTU radar suite with time-shared illumination
- 2 x S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopter (ASW/ASuW) – (Does not include the Hellfire missile loadout, not in RAN service for several years until the Romeo is acquired)
With powerful area defence missiles, a modern sensor suite, and robust self-defence systems, the Gallipoli class represents a major leap in RAN destroyer capability — ideal for defending task groups or operating independently across contested maritime zones from the Indian Ocean to the South Pacific.
✅ Realistic alternate-history RAN destroyers
✅ Historically consistent helicopter upgrade (Seahawk)
✅ NTU weapons and radar suite implemented
✅ Strong Commonwealth narrative tie-in
✅ Unique Australian pennant number texture for each ship
✅ Designed to complement the HMAS Melbourne and/or HMAS Australia ’98 mods as a high end AAW escort
New Threat Upgrade – by nuclearstonk
S-70B-2 Seahawk with AGM-114 ‘Hellfire’ Missiles – by Pog Frog
^And a special mention for Jason Simpson of Simpson’s Virtual Slipway who is the creator of the original Seahawk model
Please let me know of any issues!
You will need to look up the below videos on Youtube, unfortunately links are messing with content checking at the moment:
Simple Install Guide by Skyblazer
Sealifter and Anchor Chain guide by Brothermunro
Please note: I left the Seasprite as an allowed aircraft in the hangar, so if you don’t want to bother with the Seahawk you can customise the air wing before starting a mission. I have not tested this though, I don’t know if it will break the mod without Sealifter etc.
Required items:
Click the title to search on this site.
Anchor Chain — Steam Workshop
SeaLifter — Steam Workshop
New Threat Upgrade — Steam Workshop
Revisions:
Old revisions of this mod are available below. Click the link to download.
