F125 class frigate
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F125 is the project name for the Type 125 class of frigates, currently in development for the German Navy by ARGE F125, a joint-venture of Thyssen-Krupp and Lürssen. F125 is officially classified as frigates but in size and role they could be classified as destroyers, since, with a displacement of 6,800 tons, they will be the biggest class of frigates worldwide.
In contrast to the Bremen class, which were built with cold war scenarios in mind, the F125 will have much enhanced land-attack capabilities. This will better suit frigates in possible future peacekeeping and peacemaking missions. For such reasons, the F125 will also mount non-lethal weapons.
Major design goals are reduced radar, infrared and acoustic signatures (stealth technology), something that was introduced to the German Navy with the Sachsen class frigate and was further developed with the Braunschweig class corvette.
Other important requirements are long maintenance periods: It should be able to deploy F125 class frigates for up to two years away from homeports with an average sea operation time of more than 5,000 hours per year (that's nearly 60%). For this reason, a combined diesel-electric and gas arrangement has been chosen for the machinery. This allows the replacement of large and powerful diesel engines for propulsion and sets of smaller diesel generators for electric power generation with a pool of med-sized diesel generators, reducing the number of different engines.
To enhance survivability of the frigates, important systems are laid out in the two island principle, i.e. present at least twice at different places within the ship. This is also visible in the superstructures, which are split in two larger pyramidal deck houses. The aerials of the phased array radar will be distributed over the two pyramids. This will ensure that the ship remains operational in case of severe damage, such as accidents or enemy action. It will also allow F125 frigates to keep station if needed when something breaks down and no replacement is available.
An initial batch of 4 frigates was ordered by the German Navy on June 26th, 2007. [1]. The initial batch of 4 ships costs around 2.2 billion Euros. In April 2007, a contract with Finmeccanica was signed for delivery of Otobreda 127mm Volcano main guns as well as remote-controlled light gun turrets for the F125.[2].The initially considered 155mm MONARC gun, as well as the naval GMLRS rocket launcher, were dropped due to problems with the navalization of these land-based systems.[3]. The deal with Oto Melara had become opportune, because Germany still had counter trade obligations towards Italy, as Italy had purchased two German U212A class submarines.
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[edit] Preliminary Specifications
(Note that the final design may differ.)[1]
- Length: 148 m
- Beam: 18 m
- Draft: 5 m
- Displacement: around 6800 t
- Propulsion: CODLAG
- 1 20 MW gas turbine
- 2 4.7 MW electric motors
- 4 2.9 MW diesel generators
- 3 gearboxes: 2 for each shaft and one to crossconnect the gasturbines to them.
- 2 shafts, driving controllable pitch propellers
- Speed: 20 kn on diesel only, 26—27 kn max.
- Range: 4000 nmi
- 1 1 MW bow thruster
- Sensors:
- 1 Phased array radar
- 2(?) navigation radars
- IFF mode S
- Sonar
- Laser warning
- FL1800S ESM suite
- Communications: Link 11, Link 16, Link 22
- Countermeasures:
- Armament:
- Vertical launching system
- 8 RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles
- 2 RAM surface-to-air missile launcher/CIWS, 21 cells each
- 1 127 mm lightweight Otobreda naval gun with guided VULCANO ammunition for land-attack missions (range: 120 km)
- 2 27 mm MLG 27 remote-controlled autocannons
- 5 12.7 mm Hitrole-NT remote-controlled machine gun turrets
- 2 12.7 mm heavy machine guns (manually controlled)
- Water cannons
- Other equipment:
- 2 search lights
- Submarine ROVs
- 4 11 m dinghies, over 40kts fast
- Space for two 6.1 m container
- Hangar facility: 2 NH-90 helicopters
- Complement: 160 (including 50 KSK/commando)
[edit] External links
- F125 on the website of the German Navy (in German)
[edit] References
- Soldat und Technik, 11/2005 (in German)
[edit] See also
- Sea Shadow (IX-529)
United States - USS Independence (LCS-2) United States
- USS Freedom (LCS-1) United States
- Sea Fighter United States
- La Fayette class frigate
France - Visby class corvette
Sweden - Sachsen class frigate
Germany - Braunschweig class corvette Germany
- Zeven Provinciën class frigate
Netherlands
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