German frigate Baden-Württemberg

Baden-Württemberg at the deperming range in Wilhelmshaven.
History
Germany
NameBaden-Württemberg
NamesakeBaden-Württemberg
Port of registryHamburg, Germany
BuilderLürssen, Wolgast Blohm+Voss, Hamburg
Laid down2 November 2011
Launched12 December 2013
Commissioned17 June 2019
Identification
StatusActive
General characteristics
Class and typeBaden-Württemberg-class frigate
Displacement7,200 tonnes
Length149.52 m (490 ft 7 in)
Beam18.80 m (61 ft 8 in)
Draught5 m (16 ft 5 in)
Propulsion
Speed20 knots (37 km/h) on diesel only, 26 kn (48 km/h) max.
Range4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km)
Boats & landing
craft carried
  • Submarine ROVs
  • 4 × 11 m (36 ft 1 in) RHIB, capable of more than 40 kn (74 km/h)
CapacitySpace for two 6.1 m (20 ft 0 in) containers
Complement190 (standard crew: 110)
Sensors and
processing systems
  • 1 × Cassidian TRS-4D AESA radar
  • 2(?) × navigation radars
  • IFF
  • diver and swimmer detection sonar (no anti-submarine sonar)
  • Laser warning
  • KORA-18 Combined RADAR and COMMS ESM from GEDIS
  • Link 11, Link 16, Link 22 communications systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Aircraft carried2 × NH-90 helicopters

Baden-Württemberg (F222) is the lead ship of the Baden-Württemberg-class frigates of the German Navy.

Background

Baden-Württemberg was designed and constructed by ARGE F125, a joint-venture of Thyssen-Krupp and Lürssen. She is part of the Baden-Württemberg class, which has the highest displacement of any class of frigate worldwide and is used to replace the Bremen class.[1][2]

Construction and career

Baden-Württemberg was laid down on 2 November 2011 and launched on 12 December 2013 in Hamburg, Germany. She was commissioned on 17 June 2019.[3][4]

On 17 April 2020, Baden-Württemberg completed her extreme weather test in the South Atlantic after she left Brazil on 7 February to test hot weather near the Equator.[5]

In January 2022, it was reported that full operational capability for Baden-Württemberg was still only expected in mid-2023.[6] In 2024, Baden-Württemberg was selected to undertake an around the world deployment, accompanied by the support ship Frankfurt am Main.[7] In September, the frigate sailed through the Taiwan Strait.[8]

The frigate along with Frankfurt am Main participated in the Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) with the Indian Navy's INS Delhi from 21 to 23 October 2024 in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.[9] On its return journey, the frigate avoided passage through the Red Sea due to its inability to counter potential threats posed by Houthi rebels.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Making Do With Less".[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "First of TKMS built F-125 class Frigate "Baden-Württemberg" Christened for the German Navy". December 12, 2013. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  3. ^ "Marine". www.bundeswehr.de (in German). Archived from the original on 2018-04-24. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  4. ^ "thyssenkrupp Marine Systems > Newsroom > Press releases > F125 "Baden-Württemberg": Germany's most modern frigate entered service". Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. Archived from the original on 2024-09-14. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  5. ^ "German Navy's Baden-Württemberg frigate completes extreme weather tests in South Atlantic". Naval News. 2020-04-17. Archived from the original on 2024-09-14. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  6. ^ "TKMS Delivers 4th And Final F125 Frigate "Rheinland-Pfalz"". Naval News. 28 January 2022. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  7. ^ Luck, Alex (5 February 2024). "German Navy Chief Talks Indo-Pacific Deployment, Round The World-Sail". Naval News. Archived from the original on 14 September 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Trotz Spannungen mit China – Deutsche Fregatte durchquert Taiwanstraße". Welt (in German). Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  9. ^ "MARITIME PARTNERSHIP EXERCISE (MPX) WITH GERMAN NAVY (21-23 OCT 24)". Press Information Bureau. 2024-10-24. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  10. ^ Newdick, Thomas (4 November 2024). "German Navy Confirms Its Supersized Frigate Will Avoid The Red Sea". The Warzone. Retrieved 13 December 2024.