Bremen class Frigates

The eight F122 Bremen-class frigates commissioned between 1982 and 1990 constituted the modern backbone of the Bundesmarine in the late cold war, and up recently. Their design was a complete U-turn compared to the previous 1961 Köln, criticized as being top-heavy, unstable and crowded. Instead, the BDR choosed the proven and robust Dutch Kortenaer class (a true Euro best seller) and change the propulsion system and hangar layout to be primary anti-submarine warfare platforms alhtough lacking a VTS, and having AA point-defence. They were also the last German ship under post-war displacement imposed limitations and proved easy to modernize. They were replaced recently by the new F125 (Baden-Württemberg) frigates.

Initial F122 design, 1970

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⚠ Note: This post is in writing. Completion expected later in 2024.
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Development

(To be completed)

Design of the class

Hull and general design

F122 Frigates were rated as 3,680 tonnes (3,620 long tons) ships, for an overall length of 130.50 m (428 ft 2 in), a beam of 14.60 m (47 ft 11 in) and draft of 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in). Complement was 202 crew plus 20 aviation crew.

Powerplant

They had a CODOG (Combined diesel or gas) powerplant, combining the following:
-2 × MTU 20V956 TB92 diesel engines, 8.14 MW (10,920 hp) total
-2 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, 38 MW (51,000 hp) total
-2 × Renk STG 150-50 gearboxes, 10:1 (diesel) and 720:47 (turbine)
-4 × Deutz MWM diesel-generators, 750 kW (1,010 hp)
They had two propeller shafts with controllable pitch, and five-bladed Sulzer-Escher propellers, later replaced with 7-bladed Wegemann & Co. on Bremen, the lead ship for testing.
Speed was 30 knots (56 km/h) and Range more than 4,000 nmi (7,400 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h).

Armament

They came with a single OTO-Melara 76 mm dual-purpose gun and two Mauser MLG27 27 mm autocannons for close in AA defence
However their primary asset were the 8-cell launch system with sixteen 16 × Sea Sparrow SAM, short range.
They also received CIWS of the missile type after modernization, two MK 49 launcher of 21 RAM each.
Their Anti-ship missile capability comprised two quadruple Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers
Antisubmarine warfare comprised two Mark 32 324-mm twin torpedo launchers and height DM4A1 or Mark 46 torpedo in reserve, plus the helicopters.

Sensors

Sensors and processing systems :
One EADS TRS-3D air search radar
One WM 25 combined surface search and fire control radar I/J band
One Thales Nederland STIR 180 fire-control radar I/J/K band
One Kelvin Hughes Nucleus 5000 I band navigation radar
One STN Atlas DSQS-23BZ hull-mounted sonar
For Electronic warfare they carried:
-One ESM/ECM EADS FL 1800S
-Two SCLAR decoys
-One SLQ-25 Nixie torpedo decoy

Air Group

The hangar had space for 2 Sea Lynx Mk.88A helicopters with torpedoes, air-to-surface missiles (Sea Skua) and heavy machine gun. They could also perform transport and SAR mission in addition to ASW and ASUW missions.

⚙ specifications
Displacement	3,680 tonnes (3,620 long tons) FL
Dimensions	130.50 x 14.60 x 6.30 m (428 ft 2 in x 47 ft 11 in x 20 ft 8 in)
Propulsion	2 shafts CODOG, 2× MTU 20V956 TB92 diesel, 2× GE LM2500 GT, 2× Renk STG 150-50 GBx, 4× Deutz MWM diesel-generators
Speed	30 knots (56 km/h)
Range	4,000 nmi (7,400 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h)
Armament	OTO-Melara 76 mm, 2× Mauser MLG27 27 mm, 1×8 Sea Sparrow, 2×4 Harpoon, 2×2 Mark 32 324-mm TTs
Sensors	EADS TRS-3D ASR, WM 25 combined SS-FCR, STIR 180 FCR, Nucleus 5000 NavR STN Atlas DSQS-23BZ sonar, SCLAR, Nixie
Air Group	2 Sea Lynx Mk.88A helicopters
Crew	202 crew, 20 aviation

Read More/Src

(to come)

Books

Links

Videos

Model Kits

3D

https://free3d.com/3d-model/f122-bremen-class-german-frigate-1564.html

Assessment of the Bremen class

During the late Cold War period, crews were trained to escort reinforcement convoys and resupply beleaguered NATO in Europe, maintain a bridge in the Northern Atlantic against Soviet submarines. They also frequently took part in NATO Standing Naval Forces and post-1990, took support missions like the UN embargo operations against former Yugoslavia or Operation Enduring Freedom.
More recently, Karlsruhe assisted an Egyptian freighter repelling pirates on 25 December 2008 (Gulf of Aden) and in 2012 Rheinland-Pfalz reported on Syrian troop movements to profit the Free Syrian Army. In December 2015 Augsburg joined Charles de Gaulle CBG in the Arabian Sea against ISIS in the Syrian Civil War. All this time they proved reliable platforms.

F207 Bremen was laid down at Bremer Vulkan, on 9 July 1979, launched 27 September 1979 and completed on 7 May 1982. She was decommissioned on 28 March 2014, Scrapped, 2021

F208 Niedersachsen was laid down at AG Weser, Bremen on 9 November 1979, launched 9 June 1980 and commissioned 15 October 1982, decommissioned on 26 June 2015, scrapped, 2021-22

F209 Rheinland-Pfalz was laid down at Blohm + Voss, Hamburg on 25 September 1979, launched 3 September 1980, commissioned on 9 May 1983 and decommissioned on 22 March 2013, Scrapped, 2017

F210 Emden was laid down at Nordseewerke, Emden on 23 June 1979 launched 17 December 1980, commissioned 7 October 1983 an decommissioned on 29 November 2013, laid up in Wilhelmshaven

F211 Köln was laid down at Blohm + Voss in Hamburg on 16 June 1980, launched on 29 May 1981 anc commissioned on 19 October 1984, decommissioned on 31 July 2012, scrapped, 2016-17.

F212 Karlsruhe was laid down at Howaldtswerke, Kiel on 10 March 1981, launched 8 January 1982 and commissioned on 19 April 1984. She was decommissioned on 16 June 2017, Laid up in Wilhelmshaven, to be sunk as target

F213 Augsburg was laid down at Bremer Vulkan on 4 April 1987, launched 17 September 1987, commissioned on 3 October 1989, and decommissioned on 30 June 2019, Laid up in Wilhelmshaven

F214 Lübeck was laid down at Nordseewerke, Emden on 1 June 1987, launched 15 October 1987, commissioned on 19 March 1990 and decommissioned on 15 December 2022, Laid up in Wilhelmshaven