MEKO 200

The MEKO 200 is a frigate design by the Blohm + Voss shipyard of Germany, as part of the MEKO family of warships.

Variants

"Anzac" class (MEKO 200)

The Australian Department of Defence decided to upgrade their "Anzacs" even before all ships were completed, the upgraded configuration includes: RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles fitted in two quad launchers, Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles quad-packed in VLS enabling 32 missiles to be carried, four Nulka active missile decoy bays and the Petrel Mine and Obstacle Avoidance Sonar system. All upgrades and new builds are scheduled for completion by 2006.

In 2004 Tenix, Saab, and the Australian Department of Defence formed a Private Public Partnership to upgrade the anti-ship missile defence capability of the "Anzac" class. This upgrade will include Sagem Vampir NG IRST (Infra-red search and track) capability, Saab Combat Management System upgrade, and CEA Technologies PAR 3D E/F band, fixed active phased array radar and illuminator.A new main mast will be constructed to incorporate the CEA-FAR and CEA-MOUNT systems, and maintain the existing 2D radar and electronic surveillance capabilities.

"Yavuz/Barbaros" class (MEKO 200TN)

The Turkish variant, MEKO 200TN, is a modified MEKO 200 type multirole frigate.

The first order for the Turkish Navy was signed during April 1983 with two MEKO 200TN built in Germany and two built in the Gölcük shipyards in Turkey. The vessels are also known as MEKO 200TN Track I or "Yavuz" Class. Two more orders followed, each known as Track IIA "Barbaros" Class and Track IIB. The "Yavuz" class frigates have adopted the CODAD propulsion method with 4 MTU 20V Diesel engines, which created major maintenance problems, as well as questions over the selection of the SEA ZENITH CIWS, a system never previously used, although there were no negative reports of the system performance from the Turkish Navy. The later TrackII A frigates have incorporated major improvements including the CODOG propulsion method with 2 MTU 16V diesel engines and 2 LM2500-30 Gas turbines, a greater displacement of 3350 (full load) and the replacement of the older Mk 29 Sea Sparrow launcher with the Mk-48 VLS.

These frigates are considered to be used not for naval superiority but rather as sea denying assets that will try to inflict maximum damage to the enemy, while trying to keep friendly casualties low. For this purpose they have been fitted with three SEA ZENITH CIWS, but they possess little air defence / ASW capability. MEKO200TN Track I/ IIA/ IIBs have a maximum speed of 27/31+kts, with a range of 4000 nm and a speed of 20/22kts. Their armament includes the FMC Mk-45 127mm/54cb gun, 8 RGM-84 Harpoons, 2x3 Mk32 324mm torpedo tubes, and 8/16 RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles. Electronic equipment includes the DA 08/ AWS-9 surface/air surveillance radar, the WM 25/ AWS 6 tracking radar, the TM 1226/ 2690BT ARPA navigation radar, and STACOS TU/FD Tactical Command and Control System. The Turkish frigates are also equipped with WM25/ COSYS DDWCS Fire Control System, a DE1160 sonar, and Link 11/14 VESTA CDL2, MCS2002 communication systems.

"Hydra" class (MEKO 200HN)

The MEKO frigates have high-level specifications for shock resistance, stiffness requirements for the fire control and radar systems, and blast and gas pressure resistance to retain the integrity of the on-board weapon systems. The hull is constructed of high tensile steel with a yield strength of 355 N/mm².

The ship is divided into twelve self-sufficient watertight sections, which function almost independently of each other. Each compartment also has independent data transfer to the ship’s Naval Automation System, Nautos.

The four "Hydra" class frigates of the Hellenic Navy of Greece are 3200t frigates of the MEKO 200HN design. The first of the four, "Hydra" (F452) was built by Blohm + Voss in Hamburg and commissioned in 1992. The other three were constructed at the Hellenic Shipyards at Scaramanga. "Spetsai" (F453) was commissioned in 1996, "Psara" (F454) in 1998 and "Salamis" (F455) in 1999.

Three "Hydra" class frigates were deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 2002 - 2003.

"Vasco da Gama" class (MEKO 200PN)

The "Vasco da Gama" class, a development of the MEKO 200 PN German concept, are the major surface ships of the Portuguese Navy. Portugal operates three ships of this class, which were built in Kiel by Blohm + Voss and later by HDW, using modular construction techniques.

The project for the construction of three frigates of this class was authorized by the Portuguese Government in 1985, five years after the request of the Portuguese Navy for the acquisition of new surface ships.

Operators

*AUS: 8 MEKO 200 ("Anzac" class)
*TUR: 8 MEKO 200TN (4 x "Yavuz" class, 4 x "Barbaros" class)
*GRE: 4 MEKO 200HN ("Hydra" class)
*POR: 3 MEKO 200PN ("Vasco da Gama" class)
*NZ: 2 MEKO 200 ("Anzac" class)

ee also

*"Vasco da Gama" class frigate
*"Anzac" class frigate
*MEKO 140
*MEKO 360
*MEKO A-200 "Valour"

ources

*http://www.turkishnavy.net/barbarose.htm
*http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/hydra/