- Braunschweig class corvette
The K130 Braunschweig class (sometimes Korvette 130) is
Germany 's newest class of ocean-goingcorvette s. They supplement theGepard class fast attack craft that are currently used but not particularly well suited for this mission. For administrative purposes these craft are classified as "boats" instead of "ships", and their commander is ranked as acompany commander, not as abattalion commander.Technical details
They feature reduced radar and infrared signature ("stealth" beyond the
Sachsen class frigate ) and should have been equipped with two helicopter UAVs for remote sensing. The UAV program has been delayed indefinitely, but the Braunschweig will be fitted with a small hangar and a helicopter pad nonetheless. The UAV is still planned and will probably be developed jointly by theGerman Navy and theGerman Army . The hangar is too small for standard helicopters, but the pad is large enough for Sea Kings, Lynx or MH-90s, the helicopters of the German Navy.The planned program of the
Polyphem missile system - optical fiber-guided missiles with a range of 60 km - was canceled in 2003. Instead, theRBS 15 is mounted. While theRBS15 has a much greater range (200 km, after upgrade up to 400 km) it lacks the ECM-resistant video feedback of the Polyphem and is also just too large (and too expensive) for most targets.The German Navy is seeking a replacement for the Polyphem missile and also has ordered the RBS 15 Mk. 4 in advance, which will be a future development of the Mk. 3 with increased range and a dual seeker.
hip list
The ships are not actually built at a single shipyard. Sections are constructed at different locations at the same time and later "married". The table lists the yard where the keel was officially laid down in a ceremony.
The five ships will form the "Korvettengeschwader" (corvette squadron) of the "Einsatzflotille 1" (Flotilla 1) and their home port will be
Warnemünde on theBaltic Sea .A second batch with at least five ships (probably with varying equipment and armament) is planned from 2008 on.
Images
ee also
*
Sea Shadow (IX-529) USA
*USS Independence (LCS-2) USA
*USS Freedom (LCS-1) USA
*Sea Fighter USA
*"La Fayette" class frigate FRA
*"Visby" class corvette SWE
*"F125" class frigate GER
*"Sachsen" class frigate GERReferences
* [http://www.marine.de/01DB070000000001/CurrentBaseLink/W2698KW8296INFODE Korvette Braunschweig-Klasse] @ Marine (official homepage of the German Navy)
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