German corvette Braunschweig
Braunschweig-class corvette
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 |
| Home port | 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 & processing systems | |
| Electronic warfare & decoys |
|
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | Helicopter pad and hangar for two UMS Skeldar V-200 |
Development
The 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
Operation
Braunschweig 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]
