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FGS Bremen (F207)

1982 COLD WAR

FGS Bremen (F207) History

The Bremen class were 8 guided missile frigates in service with the German Navy (originally the West German Navy) in the late Cold War (1947-1991). It was based on the original Dutch design "Kortenaer" (modified by the German Navy) and was intended for "blue water" multipurpose service.

Of the eight ships completed, currently (2018) only two are still in service - FGS Augsburg and FGS Lubeck.

This class is also known as "Type 122". The team was used to replace two aging classes in service with the West German Navy, including the American-built Fletcher-class ships of World War II. The first Bremen-class ships were ordered in 1977, these types were built outside their main shipyards, and the hulls received propulsion adjustments before delivery.

Once hands-on at Bremer Vulkan, the series received weapons and electronics in preparation for the required active sea trials. Some steps have been taken to reduce the acoustic signature, but these are not inherently "stealth" ships.

This capable class ship became the lead ship of the FGS Bremen, and she was assigned the pennant designation "F207" while at sea. It was built by Bremer Vulkan in Bremen and construction began on 9 July 1979.

She was launched for testing on September 27, 1979, and officially entered service on May 7, 1982.

The FGS Bremen was built with a displacement of 3,600 tons, a length of 428.1 feet, a beam of 47.10 feet, and a draft of up to 20.7 feet. Power comes from a proven Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) arrangement with 2 x 10,920hp MTU 20V956TB92 diesel engines and 2 x 51,000hp General Electric LM2500 gas turbines.

These are mated to 2 x Renk STG 150-50 stock transmissions. 4 x Deutz MWM diesel generators provide an additional 1,010 hp when needed.

All in all, the warship can reach speeds of over 30 knots in open water and a range of up to 4,000 nautical miles.

On board were 202 personnel and 20 crew members who made up the Luftwaffe. The helipad and associated hangar are located above the stern of the warship. The area is serviced (launch and recovery) by up to 2 Sea Lynx Mk. Variant 88A Navy Helicopters.

The helicopters are also equipped with submarine/ship hunters, which can act as the ship's eye to the sky after launch and rescue downed personnel in open water if necessary. Sea replenishment is also carried out from this helipad.

Installed systems include EADS TRS-3D surface search radar, WM25 I/J band surface search radar and Thales Nederland STIR 180 fire control (FC) radar. A Kelvin Hughes Nucleus 5000 unit acts as an I-band navigation radar. The hull mounted sonar is an STN Atlas DSQS-23BZ series system.

Electronic warfare (EW) is handled by an ESM/ECM EADS FL1800S unit equipped with 2 SCLAR decoy launchers. SLQ-25 "Nixie" completed the role of torpedo decoy.

A solid, full-service fortress (complete with nuclear-biological-chemical-NBC-protection) designed to serve as the ship's command and control center in the event of an open war, a significant feature of this class characteristic.

A 76mm OTO Melara deck gun (Italy) was mounted forward of the bridge section with turrets giving a clear view around the foredeck. On a nearby stage, there are two 4-cell medium-range surface-to-air missile systems Sea Sparrow (USA) capable of repelling air threats (16 reloads). A pair of 4-cell anti-ship missile launchers "Harpoon" (USA) are located behind the bridge section (8 missiles in total).

A pair of Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Mk 49 (US) series launchers were added to the stern (21 reloads were made). Two 27mm Mauser MLG27 series automatic cannons are installed for close range defense (CI) against aerial threats.

The weapon is completed by 2 x 324mm dual Mark 32 series torpedo tubes with 8 available reloads (supports DM4A1 or Mark 46 series torpedoes).

FGS Bremen provided faithful service until decommissioning on 28 March 2014.