German corvette Erfurt

	Erfurt underway in Wilhelmshaven on 25 April 2013.
History
Germany
Name	Erfurt
Namesake	Erfurt
Port of registry	Hamburg, Germany
Ordered	December 2001
Builder	Nordseewerke, Hamburg
Cost	€240 million
Laid down	22 September 2005
Launched	29 March 2007
Commissioned	28 February 2013
Homeport	Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Identification	MMSI number: 211912000; Callsign: DRBC; Pennant number: F262;
Status	Active
General characteristics
Type	Braunschweig-class corvette
Displacement	1,840 tonnes (1,810 long tons)
Length	89.12 m (292 ft 5 in)
Beam	13.28 m (43 ft 7 in)
Draft	3.4 m (11 ft 2 in)
Propulsion	2 MTU 20V 1163 TB 93 diesel engines producing 14.8MW, driving two controllable-pitch propellers.
Speed	26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph)
Range	4,000 nmi (7,400 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Endurance	7 days; 21 days with tender
Complement	65 : 1 commander, 10 officers, 16 chief petty officers, 38 enlisted
Sensors and ; processing systems	Cassidian TRS-3D multifunction Passive electronically scanned array C-Band radar; 2 navigation radars; MSSR 2000 i IFF system; MIRADOR electro-optical sensors; UL 5000 K ESM suite; Link 11 and Link 16 communications;
Electronic warfare ; & decoys	2 × TKWA/MASS (Multi Ammunition Softkill System) decoy launcher; UL 5000 K ECM suite;
Armament	Guns;; 1 × OTO Melara 76 mm gun; 2 × Mauser BK-27 autocannons; Anti-ship;; 4 × RBS-15 Mk.3 anti-ship missiles; Close-In Weapon System:; 2 × RAM Block II launchers, 21 missiles each; Mine laying capability; 2 mine racks of 34 naval mines Mk 12;
Aircraft carried	Helicopter pad and hangar for two Saab Skeldar

Erfurt (F262) is the third ship of the Braunschweig-class corvette of the German Navy.

Developments

The K130 Braunschweig class (sometimes Korvette 130) is Germany's newest class of ocean-going corvettes. Five ships have replaced the Gepard-class fast attack craft of the German Navy.

They feature reduced radar and infrared signatures ("stealth" beyond the Sachsen-class frigates) and will be equipped with two helicopter UAVs for remote sensing. Recently, the German Navy ordered a first batch of two UMS Skeldar V-200 systems for the use on the Braunschweig-class corvettes.^[4] 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.

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 (250 mi)— and a dual seeker for increased resistance to electronic countermeasures.^[5] The RBS-15 Mk3 has the capability to engage land targets.^[6]

In October 2016 it was announced that a second batch of five more frigates is to be procured from 2022–25.^[7] The decision was in response to NATO requirements expecting Germany to provide a total of four corvettes at the highest readiness level for littoral operations by 2018, and with only five corvettes just two can be provided.^[8]

Construction and career

Erfurt was laid down on 22 September 2005 and launched on 29 March 2007 in Hamburg. She was commissioned on 28 February 2013.^[9]

Erfurt successful escorted a World Food Programme vessel MV Eleni K across the Gulf of Aden from Berbera which is part of Operation Atalanta on 13 December 2015.^[10]

Gallery

Erfurt fitting out in April 2010.

References

^ "Corvette Braunschweig Handed Over" (Press release). ThyssenKrupp AG. 30 January 2008. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
^ ^a ^b "Korvette "Braunschweig"-Klasse (K 130)" (in German). German Navy. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
^ "K130 Braunschweig Class Corvette - German Navy". Navyr ecognition. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
^ BAAINBw Procures New Helicopter Drones for the Navy, Baainbw, 27 September 2018, retrieved 2 March 2019.
^ "de:Neue Aufgaben der Marine mit moderner Ausrüstung" (in German). German Navy. 17 May 2004. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
^ German Navy K130 Corvettes Ready for Saab RBS-15 Mk3 Anti-Ship Missiles, Navy recognition, 8 June 2016.
^ "Fünf neue Korvetten für die Bundeswehr", Faz, 14 October 2016.
^ "German Navy to Get Five More K130 Braunschweig-class Corvettes", Navy recognition, 14 November 2016.
^ "K130 Braunschweig Class Corvette". Naval Technology. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
^ "Operation Atalanta Warship Completes Successful Escort of WFP Vessel". hornobserver.com. 2015-12-13. Retrieved 2020-09-18.

Bibliography

Warship International Staff (2007). "First of the German K 130 Class". Warship International. XLIV (4): 364–365. ISSN 0043-0374.

[1] "Corvette Braunschweig Handed Over" (Press release). ThyssenKrupp AG. 30 January 2008. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2015.

[marine.de-2] "Korvette "Braunschweig"-Klasse (K 130)" (in German). German Navy. Retrieved 7 October 2015.

[3] "K130 Braunschweig Class Corvette - German Navy". Navyr ecognition. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2015.

[4] BAAINBw Procures New Helicopter Drones for the Navy, Baainbw, 27 September 2018, retrieved 2 March 2019.

[5] "de:Neue Aufgaben der Marine mit moderner Ausrüstung" (in German). German Navy. 17 May 2004. Retrieved 14 May 2015.

[6] German Navy K130 Corvettes Ready for Saab RBS-15 Mk3 Anti-Ship Missiles, Navy recognition, 8 June 2016.

[7] "Fünf neue Korvetten für die Bundeswehr", Faz, 14 October 2016.

[8] "German Navy to Get Five More K130 Braunschweig-class Corvettes", Navy recognition, 14 November 2016.

[9] "K130 Braunschweig Class Corvette". Naval Technology. Retrieved 2020-09-18.

[10] "Operation Atalanta Warship Completes Successful Escort of WFP Vessel". hornobserver.com. 2015-12-13. Retrieved 2020-09-18.

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