Albatros-class fast attack craft

The Type 143 Albatros class was a class of missile bearing fast attack craft. Each vessel is named after a bird of prey including the albatross, condor and cormorant. Constructed by German shipbuilders Lürssen and Kröger, the vessels were intended to replace the Type 141 Seeadler class.[1] The German Navy retired the class in 2005 and sold the boats off to Tunisia and Ghana.

S62 Falke in May 2002
Class overview
NameType 143 Albatros class
Builders
Operators
Preceded byTiger class
Succeeded byGepard class
In commission1976–2005
Completed10
Active0
Retired10
General characteristics
TypeFast attack craft
Displacement398 long tons (404 t)
Length57.80 m (189 ft 8 in)
Beam7.80 m (25 ft 7 in)
Draught2.60 m (8 ft 6 in)
Propulsion4 shafts, 4 MTU 16V 956 TB91 diesels 17,700 hp (13.2 MW)
Speed40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph)
Range1,300 nmi (2,400 km; 1,500 mi) at 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Complement40
Sensors and
processing systems
  • 1 × SMA 3 RM 20 navigation radar
  • 1 × WM27 search and fire-control radar
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • Decoy launcher HOT DOG
  • Chaff launcher DAG 2200 Wolke
Armament

Design

General characteristics

The requirements for the design were finalized in October 1966 and the order placed in July 1972. The Type 143s were constructed of composite hulls, designed by Lürssen, displacing 398 tonnes.[1] They were 57.80 metres (189 ft 8 in) long with a beam of 7.80 m (25 ft 7 in) and a draught of 2.60 m (8 ft 6 in). They had a complement of 40.

The craft were powered by four MTU 16V 956 TB91 diesels creating 17,700 horsepower (13.2 MW) driving four shafts. This gave the craft a maximum speed of 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) and a range of 1,300 nautical miles (2,400 km; 1,500 mi) at 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph).[2]

Armament and electronics

The class was armed with two OTO-Melara 76 mm guns for anti-ship and anti-air warfare. They were placed in single mounts fore and aft. The vessels were also armed with four MM38 Exocet anti-ship missiles situated in two dual mounts aft but forward of the rear 76 mm gun.[2] The class was also equipped with two 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes that fired Seal wire-guided torpedoes. The tubes were aft-launching.[1]

The class is equipped with SMA 3 RM 20 navigational radar and WM27 surface search and fire-control radar.[1][2] For countermeasures, they are provided with a Buck-Wegmann Hot Dog decoy launcher and a DAG 2200 Wolke chaff launcher.[2]

List of ships
NATO
pennant
number		 German
pennant
number		 Name Call sign Com-
missioned		 Decom-
missioned		 Status
P6111S61AlbatrosDRBU1 November 197624 March 2005Sold to Ghana, Naa Gbewaa
P6112S62FalkeDRBV13 April 197616 December 2004
P6113S63GeierDRBW2 July 197629 September 2005Sold to Tunisia, 507 Himilcon
P6114S64BussardDRBX14 August 197624 March 2005Sold to Ghana, Yaa Asantewa
P6115S65SperberDRBY27 September 19764 July 2005Sold to Tunisia, 505 Hamilcar
P6116S66GreifDRBZ25 November 19764 July 2005Sold to Tunisia, 506 Hannon
P6117S67KondorDRCA17 December 197616 December 2004
P6118S68SeeadlerDRCB28 March 197729 September 2005Sold to Tunisia 508 Hannibal
P6119S69HabichtDRCC23 December 197713 December 2005Sold to Tunisia, 509 Hasdrubal[3]
P6120S70KormoranDRCD18 July 197713 December 2005Sold to Tunisia, 510 Giscon[3]

Service history

S61—S65 were part of the 2. Schnellboot Geschwader (Fast attack craft squadron), and S66—S70 belonged to the 7. Schnellbootgeschwader. Both squadrons were based in Warnemünde.

Export

Tunisia acquired six boats from Germany in 2005. The six craft had their Exocet missile launchers removed before transfer but retained their guns and torpedo launchers.[4] In July 2010, it was reported that Ghana had purchased two vessels from Germany for €28 million.[5]

Notes
  1. Gardiner & Chumbley, p.151
  2. Moore, p.267
  3. "S 69 HABICHT und S 70 KORMORAN jetzt unter tunesischer Flagge" (in German). Deutsche Marine. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  4. Cordesman, Anthony H.; Ierguizian, Aram (2009). The North African Military Balance: Force Developments in the Maghreb. Center for Strategic & International Studies. p. 82. ISBN 978-0892065523.
  5. "Ghana buys $37m Germany naval ships". GhanaWeb. 28 July 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2015.

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Albatros class fast attack craft.
  • "Schnellboot ALBATROS-Klasse" (in German). Deutsche Marine. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen & Budzbon, Przemysław (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
  • John Moore, ed. (1981). Jane's Fighting Ships, 1981-1982. New York: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-531-03977-3.
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