Type 123 Brandenburg
German Brandenburg Class [originally named the Deutschland Class] frigate with a displacement of 4700 tons fully loaded. The ship is driven by a CODOG plant of 2 GE 2500 gas turbines each rated at 33,600 HP with a power turbine speed of 3, 600 rpm; two MTU ZOV956 TB92 diesel engines each developing 6568 HP at 1500 rpm with two shafts and controllable pitch propellers giving a maximum speed of 29 knots, or 18 knots on diesels, with a range of 4000 nautical miles at 18 knots. The ship can accommodate 118 personnel (including 19 air crew).
The ship is armed with four Aerospatiale Exocet MM38 surface-to-surface missiles, 16 Nato Sea Sparrow surface- to-air missiles with a Lockheed Martin Mk-41 Mod-3 vertical launch system, two 21-cell RAM launchers one Otobreda 76mm/62 Mk- 75 main gun, two Rheinmetall 20mm Rh 202 guns; and 4-324mm Mk-32 Mod-9 (2 twin) anti-submarine torpedo tubes. Two Otobreda SCLAR decoys, chaff, IR flares, intercepts and jammers act as countermeasures.
The order for the building of four Class 123 frigates was placed by the German Ministry of Defence once it had been demonstrated that, with the Blohm + Voss modular method of construction, Consortium "F123" was capable of meeting the BWB demands basically formulated in the following text.
The modular construction is to be employed where it results in advantages with regard to the following:
- Savings in construction costs
- Increase in availability during the operational phase
- Simplification of modification
- Reduction in construction time
The attachment of the used modules to the ship's hull and connection to the vessel's supply systems are made using the following so-called standard interfaces which have been successfully employed by Blohm + Voss for a considerable time.
- Attachment of the modules to the ship's hull
- Power supply and data cables with standard plugs
- Cooling water and compressed air connections
- Waveguide connections.
In addition, the F123 ship design features improved radar signatures, the inclusion of growth potential, the integration of power boosting sensors and anti-aircraft systems, improved installation and removal routes on board taking into account operational experience gained with the MEKO export frigates and other frigates in service with the German Navy.
In the field of damage control and operational equipment, there is a number of innovations when compared to previous frigates. For the purposes of survivability, the number of damage control areas has been doubled to four. The ventilation, fire fighting and damage control system have been upgraded and designed as independent systems in accordance with MEKO Mod. 3.
An alternative propulsion system has been provided in the form of a CODOG version with two diesel engines and two gas turbines.
