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FGS Baden-Wurttemberg (F222)

2018 MODERN NAVY

History of FGS Baden-Wurttemberg (F222)

FGS Baden-Wurttemberg (F222) is a new combat frigate battleship designed to serve the modern German Navy, replacing the aging Bremen class. Eight Bremen-class surface fighters have been in service with the German Navy since 1982. Today (2018) six people from the group are retired, with FGS Ausburg and FGS Lubeck still on active duty. Compared to the Bremen class, the Baden-Wurttemberg class is heavier, more modular and offers wider support for automation.

A total of four ships are planned for the new class, with the FGS Baden-Wurttemberg being the leading model. Her sisters are FGS North Rhine-Westphalia (F223), FGS Saxony-Anhalt (F224) and FGS Rhineland-Palatinate (F225). The construction of this focus is split between ThyssenKrupp Ship Systems (first and third ships) and Lurssen (second and fourth ships).

Construction started in 2011.

The FGS Baden-Wurttemberg was delivered at the end of 2016, but in a rather awkward move for the manufacturer ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and the German Navy, the FGS Baden-Wurttemberg was returned by the Navy to starboard and overweight.

These warships displace 7,200 tons, have a length of 490.6 feet, a beam of 61.7 feet, and a draft of up to 16.4 feet. There are 110 crew members on board, which can be increased to 190 if required.

The warship is equipped with Cassidian's TRS-4D Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar system, navigation equipment, a dedicated communications suite and a full-service Command and Control Center (C2). The full electronic countermeasures (ECM) suite is also equipped for self-sustainment in active theaters.

The drive concept of the new class revolves around the CODLAG arrangement (diesel-electric and gas combination). In the FGS Baden-Wurttemberg, this consists of a gas turbine, a pair of electric motors and four diesel generators connected to three gearboxes that drive a pair of shafts under the stern. One of the shafts is used to cross-connect the gas turbine to the assembly. CODLAG has its origins in Combined Diesel and Gas Propulsion (CODAG), where the gas turbine is used to achieve the required high speed cruising, while the diesel unit is reserved for general cruising.

The result is a warship that is more fuel efficient and less expensive to maintain by modern standards. The Royal Navy's Type 23 series frigates use CODLAG propulsion.

Performance specifications include a top speed of 26 knots (though cruising speed is around 20 knots) and a range of up to 4,000 nautical miles.

As one would expect from a modern surface fighter, the FGS Baden-Wurttemberg is armed with a mix of conventional and missile weapons. A 127mm OTO Breda gun was mounted on the turret in the front building.

Close range defense is managed by 2 x 27 mm MLG 27 series remote-controlled automatic cannons, 5 x 12.7 mm Hitrole-NT remote-controlled heavy machine guns and 2 x 12.7 mm machine guns on manual trunnion mounts. Missile armament includes eight launchers for the RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile (to be replaced in time by the RBS-15 Mk 4 missile) and two RAM Block II short-range surface-to-air missile launchers.

Warships also carry non-lethal water cannons to disperse crowds.

The shape of the boat is a traditional raised waterline at the bow and a lower waterline at the stern. The turrets were placed above the forecastle as usual, and the light superstructure was only visible aft. The bridge section is arranged to overlook the bow and the main mast is closed and integrated into the forward superstructure as usual. The second mast is located amidships and stern, the smoke funnel is closed and integrated into the stern superstructure. The aft end of the ship features a full-service hangar as well as a helicopter flight deck - capable of handling up to 2 medium-capacity naval helicopters.

The FGS Baden-Wurttemberg has all the usual stealth design features common to other modern warships - panel fairings, closed sections, clean lines and minimal protrusions.

From January 2018, the F223, F224 and F225 will all be equipped for trial operation. Due to the aforementioned delays, the F222 is likely to enter service sometime in 2018 or 2019.