German frigate Köln (F220)

54.0963969°N 10.8048650°E / 54.0963969; 10.8048650

Köln in 1982
History
Germany
NameKöln
NamesakeKöln
BuilderH. C. Stülcken Sohn
Laid down21 December 1957
Launched6 December 1958
Commissioned15 April 1961
Decommissioned17 December 1982
HomeportWilhelmshaven
Identification
StatusLaid up as training hulk
Badge
General characteristics
TypeKöln-class frigate
Displacement
  • 2090 tons standard
  • 2750 tons full load
Length
  • 105 m (344 ft 6 in) waterline
  • 109.80 m (360 ft 3 in) overall
Beam11 m (36 ft 1 in)
Draught4.60 m (15 ft 1 in)
Propulsion
Speed32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)
Range
  • 3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph),
  • 900 nautical miles (1,670 km; 1,040 mi) at 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)[2]
EnduranceBunker: 360 t
Complement238
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Navigation radar KH14/9
  • Target designation radar DA-02
  • Surface search radar SGR103
  • Fire control radar M44, M45
  • Sonar PAE/CWE hull mounted medium frequency sonar
Armament
For other ships with the same name, see German ship Köln.

Köln (F220) is the lead ship of the Köln-class frigates of the German Navy.

Design
Main article: Köln-class frigate

The Type 120 or Köln-class frigates were built as smooth-deckers and had very elegant lines. The very diagonally cut bow and the knuckle ribs in the foredeck made it easy to navigate. The hull and parts of the superstructure were made of shipbuilding steel, other superstructure parts were made of aluminum. Due to the installation of gas turbines, large side air inlets were necessary, which could be closed by lamellas. The stern was designed as a round stern. The large funnel was sloped and skirted. Behind the bridge superstructure stood the tall lattice mast with radar and other antennas. The hull was divided into 13 watertight compartments.[3]

On the forecastle was a 10 cm gun, behind it, set higher, a 4 cm twin gun. Behind it stood two quadruple anti-submarine missile launchers 37.5 cm from Bofors. A 4 cm Bofors single gun on each side of the aft superstructure and another 4 cm double mount at the end of the superstructure. There was a second 10 cm gun on the quarterdeck. In addition, there were two 53.3 cm torpedo tubes behind the front superstructures. They were used to fire Mk-44 torpedoes. Mine rails were laid behind the torpedo tubes and ran to the stern.

Construction and career

Köln was laid down on 21 December 1957 and launched on 6 December 1958 in Stülcken & Sohn, Germany. She was commissioned on 15 April 1961.[4]

After 21 years of service, she was decommissioned on 17 December 1982 in Wilhelmshaven, where it was initially used for spare parts.[1]

Since 15 November 1989, she has been used as a training hulk at the Naval Damage Control Training Centre (EAZS) in Neustadt. There, crews of the maritime units are trained in fire fighting and leak prevention.[5]

  • Köln gallery
  • Köln in Kiel in June 1967
    Köln in Kiel in June 1967
  • Köln in 1982
    Köln in 1982
  • Ex-Köln in 2014
    Ex-Köln in 2014

Notes
  1. until 30 November 1981[1]
  2. from 1 December 1981[1]

References
  1. "Frigate Köln-F 220". fregatte-koeln.de. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  2. Prézelin and Baker 1990, p. 538.
  3. "Type 120 Köln Koeln class Frigate German Navy". www.seaforces.org. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  4. Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p. 144.
  5. "Fregatte Koeln F220 und Luebeck F224". www.fregatte-koeln.de. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  • Gardiner, Robert and Stephen Chumbley. Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press, 1995. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
  • Prézelin, Bernard and A.D. Baker III. The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1990/1991. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press, 1990. ISBN 0-87021-250-8.
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