Name Brandenburg class Built 1992–1995 | Operators German Navy | |
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Builders Blohm + Voss
Howaldtswerke
Nordseewerke
Bremer Vulkan Preceded by Hamburg-class destroyer Succeeded by Baden-Württemberg-class frigate | ||
The F123 Brandenburg class is a class of German frigate. They were ordered by the German Navy in June 1989, and then completed and commissioned between 1994 and 1996 to replace the Hamburg-class destroyers. These frigates primarily carry out antisubmarine warfare, but they also contribute to antiaircraft warfare defenses, the tactical command of squadrons, and surface-to-surface warfare operations. Their design includes some stealth features.
Contents
Currently the F123 class is being upgraded under the auspices of the Fähigkeitsanpassung FüWES (FAF) project. The primary component being upgraded under this program is the Combat Management System, for which a version of the Thales Nederland TACTICOS system will be used. The ships will also receive an IFF upgrade, to the EADS MSSR 2000 I secondary radar system. However, its primary radars, specifically its long-range 2D search radar, the Thales Nederland LW08, and its medium-range 3D surveillance radar, the Thales Nederland SMART-S, are to remain. The ships were to receive low-frequency active sonars under the Franco-German LFTASS programme but the French withdrew in 2000 and are now using a derivative of the British Sonar 2087; Bayern received the prototype TASS 6-3 sonar but it seems unlikely that more units will be ordered in the current budget environment.
List of ships
All ships of the class are named after German Bundesländer and are based in Wilhelmshaven as 2. Fregattengeschwader (2nd Frigate Squadron) of the German Navy.
Kiel Canal Incident
On the morning of Wednesday 9 December 2015, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was involved in a collision with the container ship Nordic Bremen causing damage to both vessels. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern suffered a 4 metres (13 ft) gash along her bow at the level of the main deck, whilst Nordic Bremen fared better, having only to offload two damaged containers before continuing its voyage. The cause of the incident is currently under investigation, though some reports suggest it was caused by wind conditions.