Navy Germany’s Third F125 Baden-Württemberg-Class Frigate Delivered

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SACHSEN-ANHALT is the third of a total of four ships of the Type F125 which tk MS is building. TKMS picture.

Germany’s Third F125 Baden-Württemberg-Class Frigate Delivered By TKMS​

Today, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (tk MS) handed over the frigate “SACHSEN-ANHALT” to the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) in Wilhelmshaven.​

It is the third of a total of four ships of the Type F125 which tk MS is building in the ARGE F125 consortium together with the Fr. Lürssen Shipyard.


Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems press release


The ship was handed over to the BAAINBw, represented by the Head of the Acceptance Commission, Matthias Rohde and the responsible project manager at the BAAINBw, Marc Steffens, during a ceremony in Wilhelmshaven, which was kept small in view of the pandemic. On behalf of tk MS, Programme Manager Patrick Buggenthin signed the handover papers.


Chief Operating Officer Dr. Alexander Orellano, who was present, commented:

“We have already delivered two ships that have since proven their technical capabilities. We are convinced that the third vessel, the “SACHSEN-ANHALT”, will also be successful. We wish her ‘fair winds and following seas’. Full operational readiness of all ships for the German Navy remains our most important goal. On behalf of all employees, I would like to express my gratitude for the trust placed in us. We look forward to continued good teamwork.”

The last ship of the F125 series, the “RHEINLAND-PFALZ”, is to be handed over this year.

Deutsche Marine Baden-Württemberg F125-class frigate (Credit: Bundeswehr/Carsten Vennemann)

The completely redesigned vessels of the Type F125 have highly complex systems and around 28,000 sensors that enable a very high degree of automation, making it possible to reduce the required number of crew members by about half compared to previous frigate classes. The ships can remain in the operational area for up to two years. Besides the traditional tasks of national and alliance defence, they are designed for conflict prevention and crisis management as well as for intervention and stabilization operations in an international context. In addition to the ability to engage targets both on land and on water, they are equipped with air defence systems and helicopters.


The contract for the construction of the four frigates became effective in June 2007. The concept, design and detailed design phases followed. Around 90 percent of the highly complex systems on board the F125 were developed specifically for this new type of ship.


ARGE F125 comprises thyssenkrupp Marine Systems as the lead company together with the Bremen-based Lürssen shipyard. The pre-fitted bow sections were produced at the shipyards of the Lürssen Group in Bremen and in Wolgast on the Baltic Sea. Construction of the stern sections, the joining of the two vessel halves, further fitting-out, commissioning and testing all took place at the Lürssen location Blohm+Voss in Hamburg.


Principal data of the F125:

• Length: 149 m
• Beam: 18 m
• Maximum speed: > 26 kn
• Displacement: approx. 7,200 t
• Complement: max. 190 (of which 126 are regular crew)

Germany's Third F125 Baden-Württemberg-Class Frigate Delivered by TKMS - Naval News

Today, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (tk MS) handed over the frigate “SACHSEN-ANHALT” to the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) in Wilhelmshaven.

www.navalnews.com

 

[Isa Khan]

German Navy’s third F125 frigate enters service​

May 17, 2021, by Naida Hakirevic
Sachsen-Anhalt (F224), the German Navy’s third of four F125-class frigates, has officially entered service.
According to an announcement issued by the German Navy, the ship was put into service at Naval Base Heppenser Groden in Wilhelmshaven on 17 May at 2 p.m.

“I am very happy about the commissioning of the third of four units. We urgently need the unit, on the one hand to relieve our existing units of obligations and on the other hand to use this platform for training our crews due to the lack of training infrastructure on land,” Flotilla Admiral Ralf Kuchler, commander of the flotilla 2, commented.

“With the commissioning of the ‘Sachsen-Anhalt’, the long phase of testing and takeover, which we can look back on with pride, ends,” Frigate Captain Elmar Bornkessel, Commander of the F125 “Delta” crew, said.

Sachsen-Anhalt was delivered to the navy several weeks ago.

The newbuilding is the third of a total of four Baden-Württemberg-class frigates ordered by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) from the ARGE F125 consortium.

The brand new frigates are replacing the Bremen-class frigates, commissioned between 1982 and 1990, which served as the backbone of the German Navy.

With a displacement of about 7,200 tons, the F125 units have a length of 149 meters, a beam of 18 meters and can reach a speed of 26 knots.

In addition to the Baden-Württemberg” and the Nordrhein-Westfalen, Sachsen-Anhalt is also operated with a multi-crew concept. The advanced technology enables intensive use with up to two years of standing time in the operational area without a planned shipyard stay.

Thanks to the high level of automation, the ships can also go to sea with a crew of only 120 women and men. For comparison: the “older” frigates of the German Navy require almost twice as much crew.

With the frigates of the F125 class, the navy gains the capabilities for extensive tactical fire support for army forces on land and for defense against asymmetric threats. With the four so-called buster boats and the on-board helicopters, each frigate has extensive means of transport in addition to an extended reconnaissance and weapon range in order to be able to use its own special or specialized forces for rescue and evacuation, for armed repatriation and for operations against opposing forces. With the embarked marine helicopters, they are also able to be integrated into a modern anti-submarine group. Due to their generous embarkation capacities, the ships are also well suited for association management.

German Navy's third F125 frigate enters service

Sachsen-Anhalt (F224), the German Navy's third of four F125-class frigates, has officially entered service.

www.navaltoday.com