The Type 123 Brandenburg Class frigates were ordered in June 1989 to replace the Hamburg Class.

The frigates are primarily tasked with anti-submarine operations, but they also contribute to anti-air defence, the tactical command of group forces and surface operations. The ships form part of the Wilhelmshaven-based 6th frigate squadron.

Drawing on the experience of the aborted 'NATO Frigate for the Nineties' project and the construction of the German Type 122 multi-mission frigate, as well as German modularisation techniques, Hamburg shipbuilders Blohm + Voss developed a combined Meko and improved serviceability Type 122 design.

The all-steel ship has stealth features, extra space for Task Group personnel, and fin stabilisers. It is designed to carry two AgustaWestland Sea Lynx mk88 helicopters and a rigid inflatable boat for boarding operations.

The first ship, Brandenburg (F215), was built by Blohm + Voss and commissioned in Oct 1994; the second, Schleswig-Holstein (F216), was built by Kiel-based shipbuilder Howaldtswerke and commissioned in Nov 1995; the third, Bayern (F217), was built by Emden-based Thyssen Nordseewerke and commissioned in May 1996; and the fourth, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (F218), by the Bremen-based builder, Bremer Vulkan, commissioned in Nov 1996.


DESIGN

The Brandenburg has a displacement of 4,700t fully loaded and an overall length of 138.9m. The ship has a maximum speed of 29kt using the gas turbines and 18kt using the diesel engines, with a range of 4,000nm at 18kt. The ship can accommodate 118 (including 19 air crew).


COMMAND AND CONTROL

The combat data system is built around the Atlas Elektronik / Paramax SATIR action data automation with Unysis UYK 43 computer, Link 11, and Astrium (formerly Matra Marconi) SCOT 1A satellite communications. Weapons are controlled by a Thales Nederland (formerly Signaal) MWCS system with two optical sights.

The German Navy has begun a common upgrade programme for the combat system on the four Brandenburg and eight Bremen Class (F122) frigates. A contract was awarded to Thales in September 2005 to provide a new open architecture system to replace the SATIR. The upgrade will begin in 2008 and be completed by 2011.


WEAPONS

The ship is armed with two twin launchers for MM 38 Exocet surface-to-surface missiles, from MBDA (formerly EADS Aerospatiale). Exocet has inertial guidance with active radar homing and a range of 42km. A Lockheed Martin mk41 mod 3 vertical launch system for 16 NATO Sea Sparrow medium-range surface-to-air missiles is fitted.

Sea Sparrow has semi-active radar terminal guidance and a range of 14.5km. The ship also has two 21-cell launchers for the RAM (Rolling Airframe) short-range surface-to-air missile The RAM missile has infrared guidance and a range of 9.5km.

The vessel is equipped with one Oto Melara 76mm / 62 mk75 main gun, which has a firing rate of 85 rounds a minute and range of 16km anti-surface and 12km anti-air, and two Rheinmetall 20mm Rh 202 guns. The Rh 202 guns are set to be replaced by the new Mauser MLG 27 light navval gun system, which can fire FAPDS (Frangible Armour-Piercing Discarding Sabot) ammunition.

Two twin 324mm mk32 torpedo tubes are fitted for ATK (AlliantTechsystems) mk46 active / passive anti-submarine torpedoes.


COUNTERMEASURES

The electronic warfare suite includes the FL 1800 S-II electronic support measures and countermeasures system, developed by DaimlerChrysler Aerospace, now EADS Systems & Defence Electronics. Two Oto Melara SCLAR decoy dispensers are fitted for chaff and infrared flares.

In January 2007, Schleswig-Holstein (F216) was fitted with four launchers for the Rheinmetall Waffe Munition MASS (Multi-Ammunition Softkill) decoy system for the vessel's deployment as part of the UNIFIL UN mission monitoring the coast of Lebanon in April 2007.

The MASS decoy covers radar, infrared, electro-optic, laser and ultraviolet wavebands. In June 2007, Rheinmetall was contracted to supply MASS for the other three vessels, the work to be completed by 2009.


SENSORS

The air / surface search radar is the Thales Nederland SMART 3D radar operating at F band. Air search is performed by Thales Nederland LW08, D-band radar. Two Thales Nederland STIR 180 tracking radars for fire control and two Raytheon Redpath I-band for navigation are also fitted.

The Atlas Elektronik DSQS-23BZ hull-mounted medium-frequency search and attack sonar is supplemented by a Low-Frequency Active Sonar System (LFASS) towed array.

In March 2007, EADS Defence Electronics was contracted to supply the MSSR 2000 IFF Mode S Information Friend or Foe (IFF) system for installation on Schleswig-Holstein (F216) for the UNIFIL mission off Lebanon.

In November 2007, EADS received a contract to equip the other four Brandenburg vessels with the system.


PROPULSION

The ship is powered by a CODOG (Combined Diesel or Gas) plant of two GE 2500 gas turbines, each rated at 33,600hp with a power turbine speed of 3,600rpm, and two MTU ZOV956 TB92 diesel engines, each developing 6,568hp at 1,500rpm, driving two shafts with controllable pitch propellers.


Specifications - Brandenburg Class (Type 123) Frigates, Germany

Crew-199 and 19 aircrew
Displacement-4,700t (full load)
Length-138.9m (overall)
Beam-16.7m
Draught-6.8m
Speed-29kt
Range-4,000 miles at 18kt

Weapon Systems
Guns-1 x 76mm mk75 gun
2 x 20mm Rh 202 guns

Combat Data System-Atlas Elektronik SATIR with UYK 43 computer

Missiles-Surface-to-Surface Missiles, 4 x MM 38 Exocet

Surface-to-Air Missiles 16 x Sea Sparrow, mk41 mod 3 VLS

2 x 21-cell mk49 launchers for RAM missile

Torpedoes-4 x 324mm mk32 mod 9 tubes
Mk46 mod 2 anti-submarine torpedoes

Countermeasures-ESM / ECM EADS FL 1800S

Decoys-2 x SCLAR


Radar
Air Search Thales Nederland LW08 D-band
Air / Surface Search Thales Nederland SMART F-band
Fire Control-2 x Thales Nederland STIR 180
Navigation-2 x Raytheon Redpath I-band
Sonar-Atlas Elektronik DSQS-23BZ hull-mounted, LFASS towed array to be fitted


Propulsion
Plant-CODOG
Engines-2 x GE 7LM2500 gas turbines, 38MW
2 x MTU ZOV956 TB92 diesels, 8.14MW

Aviation Facilities
Helicopters-2 x AgustaWestland Sea Lynx