Type 120 Köln-class ASW-frigates

The Federal German Navy's first substantial surface units after its constitution in 1955/56 were the Type 120 aka Köln-class ASW-frigates. The Koln class frigates were good looking ships, with a sheer forward and well balanced superstructure. The 120 class frigates were built as smooth Decker and had a very elegant lines.

The units were named after German cities. At the same time there are traditional names of former warships. Passed almost all the names were at the Class frigates 122. Only the "Braunschweig" was a type of ship Corvette K 130 namesake of a whole class.

The ships received numerous refits during their long careers with new electronics and torpedo tubes. The very obliquely cut the bow and the chine in the bow were said to make ??for good driving. In trials under extremely heavy weather, the ships proved very vulnerable. Again and again were cracks on the central nave constructions area. The defects could never be fully resolved, despite reinforcing actions.

The hull and parts of the superstructure were made of mild steel, other construction parts made of aluminum. Due to the incorporation of gas turbines, large lateral air intakes were necessary which could be closed by slats. The stern was designed as a round stern. The large stack was inclined and provided with a skirt. Behind the bridge superstructure was a high lattice mast with radar and other antennas. The hull was divided into 13 watertight compartments.

They were the world's first ships to feature a combined diesel and gas propulsion [ CODAG] system. This system consisted of four 16-cylinder V-type diesel engines from MAN, each with 3,000 hp for cruising and two BBC gas turbines each with 12,000 hp for maximum speed that could be connected together via planetary gear and its power transferred to two controllable pitch propellers.

Frigates of the "Köln" class are equipped with the CODAG plant. It consists of four diesel engines (total power 12,000 hp, specific weight 7 kg/hp) and two gas turbines with a power of up to 12,000 hp which operate with two controllable- pitch propellers (VRSh). In case of necessity, the ship's movement can be provided by the turbines alone or by one or two diesels which are connected using a coupling. The propellers with a controllable pitch permit the optimum use of the plant in various modes for its operation and moving the ship backward.

The gas turbines, which were created on the basis of industrial models, have a high specific weight (about 6 kg/hp) and minimum frequency of rotation (40 percent of rated) which permits employing VRSh's on the ship. The unstressed mode for their operation provides a service life of about 20,000 hours.

The plant is remotely controlled from a central post and is prepared for operation and started up from posts located in the engine rooms. It can also be controlled from a control panel on the flying bridge. The reason for the initially insignificant spread of these plants was the complex kinematic scheme for the connection of the engines, reduction gears, and clutches and the complex control system. The relationship of the powers of cruising and full-speed engines is 0.6, and the total power of the gas turbines does not exceed 12,000 hp.

For power supply were two e- works with three diesel generators MWM TRHS 5/18/V16 with 550 hp (405 kW) available. In normal operation, ranging from two to three generators; for approaching the two gas turbines that were actually designed for land based power plants, had to be switched every 6 diesel generators. The main engines were in division five, the e- works in the departments of six and eight and the two gas turbines in division seven. Each turbine consumed 63 cubic meters of air / sec and about 3.5 tons of diesel / h Radius of action at 18 knots (kn): 5,200 nautical miles (nm ), 23 knots: 3,500 nautical miles and at full speed (34 kn): 950 sm.

On the foredeck there was a 10.0 -cm gun, behind, set up a 4.0 -inch twin gun. Behind it were two quadruple -submarine rocket launchers 37.5 cm Bofors. On the aft superstructure on each side of a 4.0 - cm Bofors gun and single at the end of the assembly again a 4.0 -cm double carriage. On the aft deck there was a second 10.0 -inch gun. Furthermore, two 53.3 -cm torpedo tubes were each behind the front superstructure. With them Mk 44 torpedoes were fired. Behind the torpedo tubes mine rails were laid, which ran to the rear.

Developed at the shipyard HC Stülcken son in Hamburg, the ships entered service in 1961-1964. Together with the destroyers of the Hamburg- class, they were the first new buildings for the German navy. They were assigned were escort tasks, mainly provided antisubmarine warfare. The ships were initially referred to as "Chaser55" and assigned to the 2nd Escort Squadron in Cuxhaven. On April 3, 1968 they moved the 2nd Escort Squadron from Cuxhaven to Wilhelmshaven. The Emden and Karlsruhe retired from the squadron and came to a temporary fleet squadron service in Flensburg, of the Karlsruhe on 1 October 1973, the Emden again returned to the 2nd Escort Squadron on 1 April 1974.

Between 1982 and 1989, these frigates were taken out of service. The Augsburg was scrapped, the Cologne was recycled for use as a training center Übungshulk, the frigate Emden, Karlsruhe, Lubeck, and Brunswick were delivered to the Turkish Navy. They were replaced by Type 122 frigates in the 1980s.