GERMAN SACHSEN CLASS FFG LAST UPDATE: May 2, 2009     
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| SPECIFICATIONS | PHOTOGRAPHS (Click on the pictures for an enlarged photo) |
 Designation: FFG Length: 470 ft (143m) Beam: 58 ft (17m) Draft: 17 ft (5m) Displace (Full Load): 5,900 tons Propulsion: 1 GE LM2500, CODAG, two shafts Speed: 29 knots Range: 4,000 nautical miles (18 knots) Crew: 243 Helicopter(s): 2 NH 90 Sensors: - SEWACO XI - Thales Smart L-3, 9600-M - DSQS-24B Sonar Armament: - 32 cell Mk-41 VLS SM-2 (24), ESSM (32) - 8 X Harpoon SSM - 1 X 76mm DP Gun - 2 X 21 Cell RAM CIWS (42 missiles) - 2 X 20mm guns - 6 X MU 90 Torpedoes Ships in class: 3 Sachsen (F219)In the late 1990s to early 2000s the German government identified the need to develop a strong class of frigates capable of operating in a high saturation, multi-threat environment to replace the aging Lutjen class destroyers. In accordance with this decision, the Germans joined the Trilateral Frigate Agreement for the national construction of frigates along with the dutch and Spain. This consortium produced the F100 (Alvaro de Bazan) in Spain and the De Zeven Provincia class in the Netherlans. It also produced the Sachsen (F124) class for the Germans. The cooperative agreement extended to the ship hull and structure and not to its systems. The heart of the combat system is the SEWACO XI combat data system developed by Thales Naval Nederland which was also adopted by the Dutch for their De Zeven Provincien Class frigates. The SEAWACO XI systems incorporates the Smart-L three dimensional radar for air search. APAR (Active Phased Array Radar) provides air and surface search and weapon fire control for the Standard Missile 2. The Scout LPI (Low Probability of Intercept) radar provides surface search. The frigates have a very strong weapons fit that utilizes a mixture of SM-2 missiles and ESSM missiles (in quad packs for each VLS cell) in a 32 cell VLS complex forward on the ship. Additionally, two RAM launchers, each carrying 21 missiles, for an additional 42 missiles, are located on the vessel, one fore and the other aft, to give this vessel a total of 98 AAM missiles. This is perhaps the best layered air defense for any frigate in the world when taken in conjunction with the SM-2 and ESSM missiles it also carries. Eight Harpoon surface to surface missiles are also installed. The main gun is an advanced, rapid fire 76mm Dual-purpose gun. Two 20mm guns provide additional firepower. Finally, the ships also carry two twin mounts for lightweight torpedoes and a NH-90 ASW helicopter for long range ASW work. The first vessel, the FGS Sachsen (F219), was commissioned in November 2004. The second, FGS Hamburg (F220), commissioned in September 2004. The third, FGS Hessen (F221),commissioned in December 2005 for a total of three vessels. |
     
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Jeff Head is a member of the US Naval Insitute who has many years experience in the power, defense, and computer industries. He currently works for the federal government helping maintain regional infrastructure. He is the author of a self-published military techno-thriller called, "Dragon's Fury," that projects a fictional third world war arising out of current events. Learn more about that series by clicking on the picture of the novel cover below:
 DRAGON'S FURY-World War against America and the West |
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