Сlass frigate - Fridtjof Nansen

The Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates are the main surface combatant units of the Royal Norwegian Navy. The ships are named after famous Norwegian explorers, with the lead ship of the class bearing the name of Fridtjof Nansen, the Norwegian scientist, explorer and humanitarian. Five ships were ordered from Spanish shipbuilder Bazan (now Navantia). As of 2011, five ships are in active service. The total projected cost for all five ships is NOK 21 billion.

Design

The frigates were originally intended as a replacement for the aging Oslo-class frigates, with a primary focus on antisubmarine warfare (ASW). Eventually, the need for a robust anti-aircraft defense as well as the possibility of incorporating the Naval Strike Missile SSM produced by Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace led to a more multi-role design. The selection of Navantia as prime contractor led to the design being very similar to the Spanish Navy's Alvaro de Bazan-class frigates, including the incorporation of Lockheed Martin's AEGIS combat system.

Improvements

The new frigates will prove a great improvement over their predecessors, the Oslo-class frigates, not only in size, but also in personnel, capabilities and equipment. Compared to the old Oslo-class vessels, the new ships will be 35 meters longer, nine meters taller and two meters deeper below water. They will also be five meters broader and have three times the water displacement of the old ships. This will go a great way to solving one of the problems with the Oslo class: lack of space and much discomfort for the crew. The frigates will also operate six new NFH NH90 helicopters, with the role as an extended "arm" of the frigates' ASW and ASuW capabilities.

Current activities

On 26 February 2009, the Norwegian government decided to deploy Fridtjof Nansen to the Gulf of Aden, thereby participating in the ongoing Operation Atalanta, the European Union's counter-piracy campaign in Somalia. Fridtjof Nansen joined the campaign in August 2009.
Fridtjof Nansen's engagement in Operation Atalanta was carried out without a permanently stationed helicopter. Mainly due to delays in delivery of the new NH-90, the ship was equipped with two ultra-fast RHIBs as a replacement for its onboard contingent of marine infantry. In November 2009 she became involved in a firefight with suspected pirates after being attacked while inspecting a fishing vessel.

Сlass submarine - Ula

he Ula class is a Norwegian submarine type which was assembled in Germany in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The class, consisting of 6 vessels, is currently the only submarine type in service with the Royal Norwegian Navy.

History

The ordering of a new Norwegian submersible design stemmed from a 1972 decision to modernize the Royal Norwegian Navy (RNoN) submarine flotilla, which then consisted of the aging Kobben class submarines.
The construction of the vessels was an international project. The combat systems were made in Norway by Kongsberg, the attack sonar is German and the flank sonars French . The hull sections were produced in Norway, and then assembled in Germany by Thyssen Nordseewerke, Emden . In Germany, the design is known as the U-Boot-Klasse 210.
When commissioned Ulas were the first Norwegian submarines with bedding for the entire crew and a shower.
The Ula class submarines are among the most silent and maneuverable submarines in the world. This, in combination with the relatively small size, makes them difficult to detect from surface vessels and ideal for operations in coastal areas. The Ula class submarines are regarded as both the most effective and cost-effective weapons in the RNoN.

Missions

In recent years, several submarines of the Ula class have been deployed in the Mediterranean Sea in support of the NATO Operation Active Endeavour, where their intelligence gathering ability have surpassed expectations. Their operational availability proved to be the highest of all the ships taking part in the operation. However, this deployment has highlighted the need to make the Ula class submarines better able to keep temperatures from getting too high for the crew when operating in warm waters. As a response to this, the HNoMS Ula have now been "tropicalized" by installing new cooling systems , and two more of the class are due for "tropicalization".

Future plans

 

During the period 2006-2008, the Ula class will be modernized. Most notably, the submarines will get new communication equipment , new electronic warfare support measures and a periscope upgrade. In May 2008, the contract for new sonars was signed. The first submarine will have new sonar in 21 months time, and the last in 52 months (mil.no article). The Ula class will probably be kept in service until 2020.

Сlass replenishment ship - Berlin

The Type 702 Berlin class replenishment ships are the largest vessels of the Deutsche Marine (German Navy). In German, this type of ship is called Einsatzgruppenversorger which can be translated as task force supplier though the official translation in English is combat support ship, or in military parlance, a replenishment oiler.
They are intended to support German naval units away from their home ports. The ships carry fuel, provisions, ammunition and other matériel and also provide medical services. The ships are named after German cities where German parliaments were placed.
The initial requirement of the German navy was for two ships of this class. A third unit is under construction by a consortium of several German shipyards and is scheduled for delivery in late 2012.

General characteristics

 

• Builder: Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg, Germany
• Power Plant: 2 × MAN Diesel 12V 32/40 diesel-engines, 5,340 kW each; 2 reduction gears, 2 controllable pitch four-bladed propellers, 1 bow thruster
• Length: 173.7 m (569 ft 11 in)
• Beam: 24 m (78 ft 9 in)
• Displacement: 20,240 tonnes
• Capacity: 9330 tonnes of fuel oil, aviation fuel and fresh water
• Cargo space: 550 tonnes mixed cargo
• Speed: 20 kn (37 km/h)
• Aircraft: 2 × Sea King or MH90 helicopters
• Armament: 4 × MLG 27 mm autocannons, Stinger surface to air missile (MANPADS),
• Crew: 139 (+ 94), plus hospital capacity of 43 patients

Сlass replenishment ship - Elbe

The Type 404 Elbe class replenishment ships of the German Navy were built to support its squadrons of Fast Attack Craft, submarines and minesweeper/hunters, as such they are usually referred to as tenders.
The ships carry fuel, fresh water, food, ammunition and other matériel. They also have a medical station aboard but doctors are not part of their standard complement and will have to be flown in. The tender also manage waste disposal for the ships they support at sea and can carry out minor repairs of assigned ships. For this purpose Elbe class tenders assigned to FAC squadrons, for example, carry the SUG repair and support shop specialized for these boats on their deck in a set of 13 standard containers.
Extensive communication gear and accommodations enable them to serve as squadron flagship.
While in general all Elbe class tenders are quickly configurable to be reassigned to support other squadrons, one of the six ships is usually modified to support German submarines - carrying batteries for reloading for example. This ship - currently A515 Main - while still being of the same class, and easily reconfigurable - is often named as a separate "sub-class" due to this larger modification.

 

Сlass corvette - Braunschweig

The K130 Braunschweig class (sometimes Korvette 130) is Germany's newest class of ocean-going corvettes. They supplement the Gepard class fast attack craft that are currently used.

Technical details

 

They feature reduced radar and infra-red signature ("stealth" beyond the Sachsen class frigate) and will be equipped with two helicopter UAVs for remote sensing. Recently, the German Navy ordered a first batch of 6 Camcopter S-100 UAVs for the use on the Braunschweig class corvettes. Also the German Army plans to procure the Camcopter S-100 for land-based missions. 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.
Originally the K130-class was supposed to be armed with the naval version of the Polyphem missile, an optical fiber-guided missile with a range of 60 km, which at the time was under development. The Polyphem program was canceled in 2003 and instead the designers chose to equip the class with the RBS-15. While the RBS-15 has a much greater range (250 km), the current version mounted on the ships, Mk3, lacks the ECM-resistant video feedback of the Polyphem. 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) and a dual seeker for increased resistance to electronic countermeasures.

Difficulty of Classification

Vessels of this class do not have an executive officer (German: Erster Offizier). Traditionally, in the Germany navy this was used as a rule to classify a vessel as a boat, not a ship. In a press release the German Navy states that these corvettes will be called ships nonetheless because of their size, armament and endurance. The commanding officer wields the same disciplinary power as a German Army company commander, not that of a battalion commander as is the case with the larger German warships such as frigates. However, in size, armament, protection and role these corvettes resemble modern Anti Surface Warfare (ASuW) frigates, the main difference being the total absence of any Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) related sensors or weapons.

Technical problems

The new lightweight gearing of the corvettes has experienced severe problems. Until the Swiss contractor for the gearing, MAAG of Winterthur, Switzerland, for whom this was the first contract with the German Navy, can remedy the constructional deficiencies which have been identified early in the operation of the first vessels the commissioning of the three not yet commissioned corvettes has been delayed. They, as well as the first two already commissioned units, are currently laid up and unable to go to sea until the projected changes to the gearing have been effected. While the corvettes were originally projected to be commissioned between May 2007 and February 2009 operational capability is currently expected for mid 2011.

Сlass frigate - Sachsen

The F124 Sachsen class is Germany's latest class of highly advanced air-defense frigates. The design of the Sachsen class frigate is based on that of the F123 Brandenburg class but with enhanced stealth features intended to deceive any opponent's radar and acoustic sensors and incorporate also the advanced multifunction radar APAR as well as the SMART-L long-range radar which is claimed to be capable of detecting stealth aircraft and stealth missiles. Although designated as frigates, they are in capability and size comparable to destroyers.
With 2.1 billion Euro for only three ships, this was one of the most expensive ship building programs of the German Navy. They are similar to the Dutch De Zeven Provinciën class frigates. Both the Sachsen class and the De Zeven Provinciën class frigates are based on the use of a common primary anti-air warfare system built around the APAR and SMART-L radars and the area-defence SM-2 Block IIIA and point-defence Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) surface-to-air missiles.
In June 1996 the German government contracted for three ships with an option on a fourth that was provisionally to have been named as the Thüringen, but the option for this fourth ship was not taken up.
The F124 class frigates are larger and much more capable in all aspects than the Lütjens class destroyers, which they replaced.

Anti-Air Warfare

These ships were optimized for the anti-air warfare role. For this role the ships are equipped with an advanced sensor and weapons suite. The primary sensors for this role are the long range surveillance radar SMART-L and the multi-function radar APAR. The SMART-L and APAR are highly complementary, in the sense that SMART-L is a D band radar providing very long range surveillance while APAR is an I band radar providing precise target tracking, a highly capable horizon search capability, and missile guidance using the Interrupted Continuous Wave Illumination (ICWI) technique, thus allowing guidance of 32 semi-active radar homing missiles in flight simultaneously, including 16 in the terminal guidance phase. The primary anti-air weapons are the point defence ESSM and the area defence SM-2 Block IIIA.

Missiles

 

The ship's medium and long-range anti-air missiles are the Raytheon ESSM and the SM-2 Block IIIA, which are fired from a VLS Mk-41 32-cell launcher. Sachsen successfully completed firing trials with ESSM and SM-2 in July / August 2004.
The F124 has two Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Mk-31 launchers and two four-cell Harpoon missile launchers. The RAM missile from Raytheon and RAM Systems GmbH, is a fire-and-forget missile which provides short-range defense against incoming anti-ship missiles including sea-skimming missiles. The Boeing Harpoon is an autonomous all-weather anti-ship missile with range in excess of 65 nautical miles (120 km).

Guns

The F124 is equipped with an Oto Melara 76mm gun, and two Rheinmetall MLG 27 remote controlled autocannons.
A KMW PzH 2000 howitzer turret with a 155mm gun has been mounted on the deck of Hamburg as a demonstration of the feasibility of the system for naval applications. The concept is called MONARC and requires a flexible elastic mounting. MONARC has a range of 22 nmi (41 km). Live fire trials were conducted in September 2003.

Sensor suite

 

The radars include the Thales Nederland SMART-L long-range surveillance radar, the Thales Nederland APAR multi-function radar, and two STN Atlas 9600-M ARPA navigation radars.
The ship is also equipped with the Thales Nederland Sirius IRST long-range infra-red surveillance and tracking sensor. The STN Atlas MSP 500 electro-optical fire control system provides target acquisition and tracking for the main gun. The bow sonar is the STN Atlas Elektronik DSQS-24B.

Propulsion

The F124 is equipped with a combined diesel and gas propulsion system, CODAG. The two operating shafts work independently. The diesel engines are installed in a non-walkable sound-proof capsule. The shafts drive two five-bladed controllable pitch propellers.
In diesel mode, one of the diesel engines (type MTU 20V 1163 TB93) is operated via two main gearboxes and one cross-connection gearbox. The peak performance of the diesel provides 7,400 kW at 1,350 rpm.
The ship has an operating range of 4,000 nmi (7,400 km) at a cruising speed of 18 knots (33 km/h) in diesel mode.
In gas turbine mode, the gas turbine (model GE7 LM2500 PF/MLG) provides 23,500 kW and 3,600 rpm, operating two main gearboxes and the cross-connection gearbox.
In combined diesel and gas propulsion mode (CODAG-mode), both diesel engines and the gas turbine engine are operated. The maximum speed of the ship is 29 knots (54 km/h).

Helicopter

The flight deck and hangar accommodate two NH90 helicopters. The flight deck is rated to accommodate a 15t class helicopter such as the Merlin, for fuelling and torpedo loading. The helicopter handling system from MBB-Förder und Hebesysteme uses laser guided and computer controlled manipulator arms to secure the helicopter after landing.

Counter Measures

The ship's electronic countermeasures suite includes an EADS Systems and Defence Electronics FL1800 SII ECM system and six Sippican Hycor SuperRBOC launchers which fire chaff and flares. Electronic support measures are provided by EADS Systems and Defence Electronics Maigret CESM (Communications ESM).

Live Missile Firings

 

In August 2004, the Sachsen completed a series of live missile firings at the Point Mugu missile launch range off the coast of California that included a total of 11 ESSM and 10 SM-2 Block IIIA missiles. The tests included firings against target drones such as the Northrop Grumman BQM-74E Chukar III and Teledyne Ryan BQM-34S Firebee I, as well as against missile targets such as the Beech AQM-37C and air-launched Kormoran 1 anti-ship missiles.

Сlass frigate - Brandenburg

The F123 Brandenburg class is a class of German frigate. They were ordered by the German Navy in June 1989, and then completed and commissioned between 1994 and 1996 to replace the Hamburg class destroyers. These frigates primarily carry out antisubmarine warfare, but they also contribute to antiaircraft warfare defenses, the tactical command of squadrons, and surface-to-surface warfare operations. Their design includes some stealth features.
Currently the F123 class is being upgraded under the auspices of the Fähigkeitsanpassung FüWES (FAF) project. The primary component being upgraded under this program is the Combat Management System, for which a version of the Thales Nederland TACTICOS system will be used. The ships will also receive an IFF upgrade, to the EADS MSSR 2000 I secondary radar system. However, its primary radars, specifically its long-range 2D search radar, the Thales Nederland LW08, and its medium-range 3D surveillance radar, the Thales Nederland SMART-S, are to remain.

 

 

Сlass frigate - Bremen

The eight F122 Bremen class frigates of the German Navy were commissioned between 1982 and 1990. The design is similar to the Dutch Kortenaer class but uses a different hull and propulsion system. The ships were built for anti-submarine warfare as a primary task even though they are not fitted with towed array sonars. They are also suited for anti-aircraft warfare and anti-surface warfare.
This class of ship was one of the last to be constructed under post-war displacement limitations imposed by the WEU on West Germany.
All eight Bremen class frigates will be replaced by the planned F125 class frigates, starting probably around 2016. Until then, the Bremen class serves as the backbone of the German Navy.

Employment

 

During the Cold War period, the ships' main war task was to escort convoys for reinforcement and resupply of Allied forces in Europe. They frequently took part in NATO Standing Naval Forces. Since 1990, all ships have served in additional supporting missions such as the embargo operations against former Yugoslavia in the Adriatic Sea or Operation Enduring Freedom against the international terrorism.
During their lifetime, the ships' equipment has frequently been modernised and a further adaptation of combat systems is foreseen in near future.
The Karlsruhe successfully assisted an Egyptian freighter repel pirates on December 25, 2008 in the Gulf of Ade

Multipurpose frigate FREMM

The FREMM Multipurpose Frigate (French Frégate multi-mission or Italian Fregata multi-missione) is a ship designed by DCNS/Armaris and Fincantieri to operate in anti-air, anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, and be capable of carrying out deep strikes against land targets.
The French Navy plans to operate eleven FREMM frigates, and the Marina Militare ten. The first commissionings are expected in 2012. The ships will be built in France by Armaris (owned by DCNS), and in Italy by Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (a joint venture between shipbuilder Fincantieri and aerospace firm Finmeccanica ). This arrangement extends the partnerships forged for development of the Horizon CNGFs (Common New Generation Frigates).

Versions

 

Three versions of the frigates are planned: one anti-submarine version, one anti-aircraft version (FR) FREDA and a general-purpose (IT) version. French and Italians will use these with some equipment which will differ between the two countries. The French are considering an anti-aircraft version called FREDA, which will replace the two units of the Cassard class.
In spite of the existence of three different versions of the FREMM, their design as well as most of their armament will be similar.

Common equipment

 

• MU 90 torpedoes
• MBDA Aster SAAM in SYLVER launchers
• Otobreda 76 mm Super Rapid gun (with Davide ammunition on Italian version)
• NH90 helicopter, with capability for EH101, Cougar and Caracal
• Thales UMS 4410 CL Hull sonar suite.
• Two Sigen RECM jammer

French-specific equipement

 

• IRST Thales Artemis
• Terma Scanter 2001 radar
• Sagem Najir fire control system for the 76mm canon
• Héraklès radar
• SETIS combat system
• NGDS decoy launcher
• Two Nexter 20mm
• MM-40 Exocet block 3, for naval and land attack
• Two additional Sylver A70 for 16 SCALP Naval cruise missile with a range up to 1000 km
• Samahé helicopter handling system

Italian-specific equipment

 

• IRST Galileo Avionica SASS
• NA-25 DARDO-F fire control system for the 76mm cannon
• EMPAR radar
• SAMP-SD combat system
• SCLAR - H decoy system
• Two Sylver A70 systems
• Two Oto Melara/Oerlikon 25mm
• Teseo\Otomat Mk-2/A block 4, for naval and land attack
• A second Otobreda 76 mm Super Rapid gun on the hangar
• TC-ASIST helicopter handling syst

Anti-submarine version

 

• Towed sonar : Captas UMS 4249
• MILAS ASW missile (Italian only)

Italian land attack version

 

The Land attack version is dubbed GP ("General Purpose")

• Otobreda 127/64 LW with Vulcano guided ammunition with a range up to 120 km

French anti-air version and Italian improvements

 

The anti-air version is dubbed FREDA ("Frégates de défense aériennes", "Air defence frigate"). Following the cancellation of the third and fourth Horizon class frigates, the French Navy has started studies for an anti-air version of the FREMM, called FREDA.
The FREDA could carry up to 32 Aster 30 & Aster 15 and a more powerful version of the Herakles radar. They would also have the standard armament of one 76 mm gun, two 20 mm guns and 8 Exocet missiles and torpedoes. This version also offert improvement of the SETIS combat system for the air defense role
Also all the Italian ships will carry the Aster 30, with an improved Anti Aircracft system. But no specific names are given to this modificatio