Image source: topwar.ru
In the coming days, the German Navy will be replenished with the fourth and last frigate of the Rheinland-Pfalz project F125, the fleet command will hold an official ceremony for the ship's entry into the German Navy.
According to the German Ministry of Defense, this week, on Wednesday, July 13, the German navy will receive the last ship in a series of frigates of the F125 project built by thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. Four new ships are designed to replace the eight Bremen-type ships of the F122 project currently in service in the German Navy. Since there are only four new frigates, they will receive two replacement crews, which will allow them to serve without long downtime.
According to the German Defense Ministry, the interval between the maintenance of the ships of the F125 project is five years and eight months. At the same time, the new design of frigates allows them to be in continuous operation for more than 5,000 hours for up to two years.
The Baden-Württemberg type F125 lead frigate was transferred to the German Navy in 2019 after the deficiencies were eliminated, the second Nordrhein-Westfalen joined the German Navy in June 2020, the third Sachsen-Anhalt was transferred to the military on March 30, 2021, but officially joined the fleet only on May 17. The fourth Rheinland-Pfalz frigate was handed over to the German Navy on January 30 of this year, after which the ship underwent the necessary tests.
In size, the type F125 is closer to destroyers, but in the German navy it is considered a frigate. The length of the frigates is almost 150 m, width — 19 m, draft — 5 m, total displacement reaches 7,200 tons, maximum speed – 26 knots, crew – 190 people + there is a place to accommodate a landing force of 60 people.
Armament - 127 mm Otobreda artillery piece, two 27 mm MLG 27 anti-aircraft guns, eight Harpoon anti-aircraft missile launchers, two vertical RIM-116 anti-aircraft missile launchers (42 missiles), two 324 mm torpedo tubes, two NH90 helicopters, four RIB type inflatable boats.
