German corvette Erfurt

Erfurt (F262) is the third ship of the Braunschweig-class corvette of the German Navy.

Erfurt underway in Wilhelmshaven on 25 April 2013.
History
Germany
NameErfurt
NamesakeErfurt
Port of registryHamburg, Germany
OrderedDecember 2001
BuilderNordseewerke, Hamburg
Cost€240 million
Laid down22 September 2005
Launched29 March 2007
Commissioned28 February 2013
HomeportWilhelmshaven, Germany
Identification
StatusActive
General characteristics
TypeBraunschweig-class corvette
Displacement1,840 tonnes (1,810 long tons)
Length89.12 m (292 ft 5 in)
Beam13.28 m (43 ft 7 in)
Draft3.4 m (11 ft 2 in)
Propulsion2 MTU 20V 1163 TB 93 diesel engines producing 14.8MW, driving two controllable-pitch propellers.
Speed26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph)
Range4,000 nmi (7,400 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)[1]
Endurance7 days; 21 days with tender[2]
Complement65 : 1 commander, 10 officers, 16 chief petty officers, 38 enlisted
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Aircraft carriedHelicopter pad and hangar for two Saab Skeldar

Developments

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.

They feature reduced radar and infrared signatures ("stealth" beyond the Sachsen-class frigates) and will be equipped with two helicopter UAVs for remote sensing. Recently, 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 Sea Kings, Lynx, or NH-90s, the helicopters of the German Navy.

The German Navy has ordered the RBS-15 Mk4 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 it was announced that a second batch of five more frigates is to be procured from 2022–25.[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 and career

Erfurt was laid down on 22 September 2005 and launched on 29 March 2007 in Hamburg. She was commissioned on 28 February 2013.[9]

Erfurt successful escorted a World Food Programme vessel MV Eleni K across the Gulf of Aden from Berbera which is part of Operation Atalanta on 13 December 2015.[10]

  • Erfurt fitting out in April 2010.
    Erfurt fitting out in April 2010.

References
  1. "Corvette Braunschweig Handed Over" (Press release). ThyssenKrupp AG. 30 January 2008. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  2. "Korvette "Braunschweig"-Klasse (K 130)" (in German). German Navy. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  3. "K130 Braunschweig Class Corvette - German Navy". Navyr ecognition. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  4. BAAINBw Procures New Helicopter Drones for the Navy, Baainbw, 27 September 2018, retrieved 2 March 2019.
  5. "de:Neue Aufgaben der Marine mit moderner Ausrüstung" (in German). German Navy. 17 May 2004. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  6. German Navy K130 Corvettes Ready for Saab RBS-15 Mk3 Anti-Ship Missiles, Navy recognition, 8 June 2016.
  7. "Fünf neue Korvetten für die Bundeswehr", Faz.
  8. "German Navy to Get Five More K130 Braunschweig-class Corvettes", Navy recognition, 14 November 2016.
  9. "K130 Braunschweig Class Corvette". Naval Technology. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  10. "Operation Atalanta Warship Completes Successful Escort of WFP Vessel". hornobserver.com. 2015-12-13. Retrieved 2020-09-18.

    Bibliography
    • Warship International Staff (2007). "First of the German K 130 Class". Warship International. XLIV (4): 364–365. ISSN 0043-0374.
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