Aviation Naval Warfare Land Systems Small Arms Space By Flag By Year By Tag

FGS Brandenburg (F215)

1994 MODERN NAVY

History

Compared to the Hamburg-class destroyers that preceded the Hamburg-class destroyers of the West German Navy during the Cold War, which accelerated construction by abandoning more modern systems and weapons, the Brandenburg-class ships of the subsequently reunited German Navy were full Modern ones have been warships from the very beginning. The class, which replaced the four-person Hamburg ship in a one-to-one fashion, was built by various German shipyards between 1992 and 1995.

This group is also known as the "F123" or "Type 123" class.

Ordered by the German government in June 1989 (then called the German class), the Brandenburg class eventually included the FGS Brandenburg (F215), FGS Schleswig-Holstein (F216), FGS Bayern (F216). F217) and FGS Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (F218).

The group's first ship, FGS Brandenburg, was laid by the construction company Blohm und Voss on 11 February 1992 and launched on 28 August 1992. She officially entered service on October 14, 1994 and is still in service at the time of writing (2017).

After the Hamburg class was retired in the early 1990s, the Brandenburg class served various roles in the German Navy in the mid-1990s. Due to their design, these frigates were intended for deep-water travel and as submarine hunters - the main enemy at the time was the Soviet Navy. A time-saving modular approach was used during the construction phase, which will facilitate long-term maintenance of the ships on the road, and was carried out by Brandon using the same propulsion scheme as the Bremen-class guided-missile frigates (eight of which will be built) Denburg class adopted.

The new breed has some stealthy properties, with an all-steel construction forming its vital hull components.

FGS Brandenburg is powered by a CODOG (combined diesel or gas) unit, where different pairs of engines are selected to perform different maneuvers such as jumping and cruising - basically an economical for such a large vessel measures. This arrangement consists of 2 MTU 20V956 TB92 diesel engines and 2 GE LM2500 gas turbines, both connected to 2 Renk BGS 178 Lo drivetrains driving 2 axles under the stern.

Under ideal conditions, the speed can reach more than 29 knots, and the range can reach 4000 nautical miles.

Displacement is 3,600 tons under load, reaches 455.5 feet in length, 55 feet in beam and 21 feet in draft.

Internally, the ship had a crew of 219, including 26 officers. The ship carries Thales LW08 D-band air search radar, F-band Thales SMART-S air surface surveillance radar and two Thales STIR 180 series fire control (FC) radars. There is also a hull mounted sonar and a towed sonar array.

In section, the battleship maintains a relatively low profile, with the bridge superstructure concentrated in the forward part of the midship. There is a deck gun with a turret for sale above the front building. The chimney is installed in the design center aft of the bridge superstructure, which completes the stern section, just in front of the helipad above the stern.

The main mast has a closed pyramid design. The closed nature of this structure and the plate-side nature of the upper hull structure help reduce radar signatures.

Weapons are carried by 1 x 76mm OTO-Melara Mk-75 Dual Purpose (DP) deck gun with turret in A position. There are also 2 automatic rapid-fire guns for close range defense (ie anti-air/anti-missile). The ship is equipped with 1 x Bank Mk 41 Mod 3 Vertical Launch System (VLS), which can accommodate 16 x Sea Sparrow anti-aircraft missiles. There are also 2 x Mk 49 launchers firing 21 x Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM).

Also carries 4 x MM38 Exocet anti-ship missiles, and 4 x 324mm torpedo tubes with Mk 46 series torpedoes.

All in all, the FGS Brandenburg is capable of far beyond its intended anti-submarine role, being able to engage in fleet defense, airspace interdiction, and against enemy surface ships and submarines when needed. For frigate-type warships, a multi-mission approach has always been a priority.

Before the arrival of the more advanced Saxony-class (Type 124) ships, the Bradenburg-class was the most advanced surface warship of the German Navy.

At the stern, the vessel can support up to 2 Sea Lynx naval helicopters (medium range) which can be equipped for submarine hunting missions to further expand the capabilities of Brandenburg.

With the entry into service in the mid-1990s, the modernization of the FGS Brandenburg and her class was inevitable with the arrival of the FuWES (FAF) project. The goal of the program is to improve warships' battle management systems (CMS), bringing them closer to more modern Western products and improving situational awareness.

Thales Nederland's TACTICOS system as well as the new IFF (Identification of Foe or Foe) system will also be installed.