Braunschweig (F260) is the lead ship of the Braunschweig-class corvette of the German Navy.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Germany | |
| Name | Braunschweig |
| Namesake | Braunschweig |
| Port of registry | Hamburg, Germany |
| Ordered | December 2001 |
| Builder | Blohm+Voss, Hamburg |
| Cost | €240 million |
| Laid down | 3 December 2004 |
| Launched | 19 April 2006 |
| Commissioned | 16 April 2008 |
| Homeport | Wilhelmshaven, Germany |
| Identification |
|
| Status | Active |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Braunschweig-class corvette |
| Displacement | 1,840 tonnes (1,810 long tons) |
| Length | 89.12 m (292 ft 5 in) |
| Beam | 13.28 m (43 ft 7 in) |
| Draft | 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in) |
| Propulsion | 2 MTU 20V 1163 TB 93 diesel engines producing 14.8MW, driving two controllable-pitch propellers. |
| Speed | 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph) |
| Range | 4,000 nmi (7,400 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)[1] |
| Endurance | 7 days; 21 days with tender[2] |
| Complement | 65 : 1 commander, 10 officers, 16 chief petty officers, 38 enlisted |
| Sensors and processing systems | |
| Electronic warfare & decoys |
|
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | Helicopter pad and hangar for two UMS Skeldar V-200 |
Development
editThe K130 Braunschweig class (sometimes Korvette 130) is Germany's newest class of ocean-going corvettes. Five ships have replaced the Gepard-class fast attack craft of the German Navy.
The ships feature reduced radar and infrared signatures ("stealth" beyond the Sachsen-class frigates) and will be equipped with two helicopter UAVs for remote sensing. The German Navy ordered a first batch of two UMS Skeldar V-200 systems for the use on the Braunschweig-class corvettes.[4] The hangar is too small for standard helicopters, but the pad is large enough for the Sea King, Lynx, and NH-90 helicopters operated by the German Navy.
The German Navy has ordered the RBS-15 Mk4 anti-ship missiles in advance, which will be a future development of the Mk3 with increased range —400 km (250 mi)— and a dual seeker for increased resistance to electronic countermeasures.[5] The RBS-15 Mk3 has the capability to engage land targets.[6]
In October 2016 the German Government announced that a second batch of five frigates is to be procured from 2022–2025.[7] The decision was in response to NATO requirements expecting Germany to provide a total of four corvettes at the highest readiness level for littoral operations by 2018, and with only five corvettes just two can be provided.[8]
Construction
editBraunschweig was laid down on 3 December 2004 and launched on 19 April 2006 in Hamburg. She was commissioned on 16 April 2008.[9]
Operation
editBraunschweig and the Indonesian corvette KRI Bung Tomo conducted a joint exercise, as part of UNIFIL, on 24 June 2017.[10]
On 19 August 2020, Braunschweig served as a platform for shipborne trials of two UMS Skeldar V-200 UAVs.[11]
On 16 August 2024, she was towed up the Thames in London, and moored alongside HMS Belfast.[12] On 19 August 2024, Braunschweig played the Imperial March as she was towed out of London. [13]
References
edit- ^ "Corvette Braunschweig Handed Over" (Press release). ThyssenKrupp AG. 30 January 2008. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
- ^ a b "Korvette "Braunschweig"-Klasse (K 130)" (in German). German Navy. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
- ^ "K130 Braunschweig Class Corvette - German Navy". Navyr ecognition. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
- ^ BAAINBw Procures New Helicopter Drones for the Navy, Baainbw, 27 September 2018, retrieved 2 March 2019.
- ^ "de:Neue Aufgaben der Marine mit moderner Ausrüstung" (in German). German Navy. 17 May 2004. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
- ^ German Navy K130 Corvettes Ready for Saab RBS-15 Mk3 Anti-Ship Missiles, Navy recognition, 8 June 2016.
- ^ "Fünf neue Korvetten für die Bundeswehr", Faz.
- ^ "German Navy to Get Five More K130 Braunschweig-class Corvettes", Navy recognition, 14 November 2016.
- ^ "K130 Braunschweig Class Corvette". Naval Technology. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
- ^ "Angkatan Laut Jerman dan KRI Bung Tomo Latihan Pembekalan". www.jpnn.com (in Indonesian). 2017-06-24. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
- ^ "German Navy begins shipborne trials of UMS Skeldar's V-200 UAV aboard K130 corvette". www.navyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
- ^ Samuel Montgomery (21 August 2024). "Watch: German navy warship plays Darth Vader theme on Thames". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 August 2024 – via MSN.
- ^ Anderson, Nate (2024-08-21). "German warship floats down Thames while playing Darth Vader's theme". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
Bibliography
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