Click here - to select or create a menu

Naval News

DEFEA 2023
  • News
  • Event News
    • DSEI Japan 2023
    • NAVDEX 2023
    • SNA 2023
    • Euronaval 2022
    • Indo Pacific 2022
  • Interviews
  • Videos
  • Advertising
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Home» News»German Navy commissions its second F125 Baden-Württemberg-class Frigate
IMDEX Asia 2023
German Navy's fragate "Nordrhein-Westfalen". German Navy picture

German Navy commissions its second F125 Baden-Württemberg-class Frigate

Tomorrow, Wednesday 10 June 2020, the German Navy will put into service the second of a total of four F125 class frigates, the "Nordrhein-Westfalen".

Martin Manaranche 09 Jun 2020

German Navy press release – Translated by Naval News

The ship will belong to the 4th frigate squadron, one of the units of the flottilla 2, and will be based at the naval base in Wilhelmshaven.

“We are delighted that the second unit of the F125 class has entered service. It is a major milestone towards full operational capability, as we now have two platforms that will enable us to conduct operational training on our own responsibility and thus make the weapon system fully available to the Navy,”

Flotilla Admiral Ralf Kuchler, Commander of the 2nd Operational Flotilla.

By order of Westphalian-born Vice Admiral Rainer Brinkmann, Commander of the fleet and support forces, Frigate Captain Stefan Schulz, Commander of the crew “Charlie” and also Westphalian, will put the frigate into service.

The NORDRHEIN-WESTFALEN F125
The NORDRHEIN-WESTFALEN is the second of four class F125 vessels being built for the German Navy under the leadership of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. thyssenkrupp Marine Systems picture.

“After an intensive and successful test phase, the commissioning of the frigate ‘Nordrhein-Westfalen’ is a further milestone in the modernization of our German Navy. The crew ‘Charlie’ played a major part in this and now looks forward with excitement to the next operational training so that the immense capabilities of this modern system can finally be deployed under operational conditions,”

Frigate Captain Stefan Schulz.

Among the invited guests are also the Prime Minister of the ship’s godfather country, Mr. Armin Laschet, the Parliamentary State Secretary Dr. Peter Tauber, as well as the Members of the Bundestag Siemtje Möller and Ingo Gädechens.

“The Bundeswehr embodies our liberal and well-fortified democracy and is firmly anchored here in North Rhine-Westphalia. That is why the frigate’s name is so fitting: it will be our country’s travelling ambassador on the world’s oceans, working to ensure the preservation of peace and freedom. The mission of the frigate ‘North Rhine-Westphalia’ directly serves our well-being. The sponsorship of the frigate is a matter close to my heart, which is also brought to the citizens of North Rhine-Westphalia through the ‘Freundeskreis Fregatte Nordrhein-Westfalen’. I wish the frigate a good journey at all times and always a hand’s breadth of water under the keel”,

Prime Minister Laschet

Background information

In addition to the “Baden-Württemberg”, the “Nord Rhein-Westfalen” is also operated with a multi-crew concept. The ultra-modern yet robust technology enables intensive use with up to two years’ standing time in the operational area without a scheduled shipyard stay. Thanks to the high degree of automation, the ships can also be operated with a crew of only 120 men and women. In comparison: the “older” frigates of the German Navy require almost twice as much crew.

German Navy’s Baden-Württemberg frigate (F222) (Credit : Bundedswehr/Carsten Vennemann)

With the handover of the “North Rhine-Westphalia” to the German Navy, the maritime defence technology sector has impressively demonstrated its capabilities. With the F125 class frigates, the Navy gains the capabilities for long-range tactical fire support of army forces on land and for defence against asymmetric threats. The “Baden-Württemberg” class fights sea targets with the RGM-84 Harpoon naval target missiles, for example, which have a range of more than 220 km.

With the four so-called Buster boats and the onboard helicopters, each frigate has not only an extended reconnaissance and weapon range but also extensive means of transport to enable it to deploy its own special or specialised forces for rescue and evacuation, armed repatriation and operations against enemy forces. With the naval helicopters on board, they are also in a position to be integrated into a modern U-hunting network. Due to their generous embarkation capacities, the ships are also well suited for command and control.

The Navy is setting new standards with the chambers for the crew. Each chamber is specially equipped with an adjoining wet room and has an Internet connection, which enables the soldiers to stay in touch with their relatives even during longer absences. The establishment of full operational capability reaches an important milestone with the second ship of class F125 and will be systematically completed with the two subsequent ships.

Baden-Württemberg frigate F125 Frigate German Navy Germany 2020-06-09
Tags Baden-Württemberg frigate F125 Frigate German Navy Germany
Facebook Twitter Stumble linkedin Pinterest More
DSEI Japan

Authors

Posted by : Martin Manaranche
Martin Manaranche is based in Brittany, France. He is currently studying International Relations at Lyon III university. Martin conducted an internship at the French Navy's Ecole Navale in Brest and is therefore particularly fond of naval defense issues.

Related Articles

German Navy mulling drone-heavy force structure looking towards 2035 and beyond

German Navy mulling drone-heavy force structure looking towards 2035 and beyond

Alex Luck 10 Mar 2023
Germany's Bundeswehr released a comprehensive document outlining the new force posture for the German Navy with a target date of 2035.
Type 32 Frigate Remains a Future UK Platform Requirement

Type 32 Frigate Remains a Future UK Platform Requirement

Dr Lee Willett 10 Feb 2023
The Type 32 Frigate remains a future UK Royal Navy platform requirement, but timeframes and capabilities are to be confirmed.
German Navy Receives 18th and final NH-90 ‘Sea Lion’ Helicopter

German Navy Receives 18th and final NH-90 ‘Sea Lion’ Helicopter

Xavier Vavasseur 06 Feb 2023
The German Navy received its 18th and final NH-90 "Sea Lion" helicopter dedicated to utility and SAR missions.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Legal / Privacy Policy
About Us
Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 Naval News
All Rights Reserved
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok