Type 103 Lutjens

The Lutjens is a modified Charles F. Adams Class destroyer, built in the US for export. During the Cold War German destroyers and frigates had three primary area and convoy security missions to perform in the North Sea and the southern waters of the Norwegian Sea: air defense, submarine defense and attacks on surface targets. In case of conflict, it may be assumed that the first threat to be met would come in the air. In addition, there would be a constant threat from submarines from the start; but it would depend on water depth.

With a displacement of 3370 tons, the ships of this class were manned by a crew of 337 including nineteen officers, and had a top speed of 32 knots and a range of 7200 km at 20 knots. Armaments consisted of McDonnell Douglas Harpoon anti-ship missiles [in the post-modernization phase]; GDC Pomona Standard SM-1MR anit-air missiles launched from a Mk 13 Mod 6 launcher; Honeywell ASROC Mk 112 octuple launcher taking the Mk 46 torpedo; two FMC 127 mm/54 Mk 42 Mod 10 automatic dual-purpose guns; six 324 mm US Mk 32 arranged in two triple torepdo tubes taking the Honeywell Mk 46 anti-submarine torpedo; one depth-charge projector.

The air defense capabilities of the older "Hamburg" class destroyers and "Cologne" class frigates were not really threat adequate by the 1980s. It was somewhat surprising that there are no plans — as indeed there were in the case of the antisubmarine units — to introduce infrared-guided man-portable antiaircraft missiles on these ships. The air defense capability of the "Luetjens" class destroyers, which were equipped with SM-1 long-range antiaircraft missile systems,and axe due to get the RAM, was quite satisfactory.

They suffered severe machinery problems, and by the end of the 1990s were overdue for replacement.