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]

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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