Third German F125 frigate named
The third of four 125 class frigates being built by Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems for the German Navy has been named ‘Sachsen-Anhalt’ the company announced on 4 March. The frigate is expected to be delivered to the German defence procurement agency in early 2019.
The first frigate ‘Baden-Württemberg’ was named in December 2013, while the second ‘Nordrhein-Westfalen’ was named in April 2015. Sea trials of Baden-Württemberg are planned to commence in the spring, with delivery scheduled for mid-2017.
Hans Christoph Atzpodien, member, management board, Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions, and chairman, supervisory board, Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, said: ‘The F125 frigate class is a completely new type of ship. With numerous innovations and a multiple-crew strategy it is a further showcase for the leading engineering expertise of German naval shipbuilding.’
The contract for the F125 programme was awarded in 2007 to the ARGE F125 consortium, which comprises Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems as the lead company, Lürssen Werft building the pre-fitted bow sections, and Blohm+Voss Shipyards manufacturing the stern sections, joining the two sections and conducting further fittings.
The F125 frigates will replace Germany's eight Bremen type 122 class frigates. They are designed for national and alliance defence, international crisis management, conflict prevention and intervention/stabilisation operations.
The ships are capable of remaining at sea for 24 months at a time, a capability supported by a smaller crew and a multiple-crew strategy which permits a complete change of crew during deployment.
More from Naval Warfare
-
Kongsberg contracted for Dutch and Belgian frigate propellers and drive shafts
In July 2023, Damen and Thales signed contracts to design, build and deliver four new anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigates for Belgium and the Netherlands.
-
SEA to trial sonar software for UK Royal Navy
The UK Royal Navy’s anti-submarine warfare Spearhead programme, run by the service’s Develop Directorate, has been investigating future and existing technologies with a particular focus on the USV arena.
-
Australia’s new frigate options: No easy choices as pressure mounts on DoD
A new class of General Purpose ‘Tier 2’ frigate will replace the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) Anzac-class frigates, but the selected design options appear to have major issues in terms of compatibility and availability for the future fleet.
-
Royal Navy welcomes mine-hunting mothership
RFA Stirling Castle, a 6,000-tonne vessel, will start operations later this year.