Bremen-class frigate


The eight F122 Bremen-class frigates of the German Navy are a series of frigates commissioned between 1982 and 1990. The design is based on the proven and robust Dutch but uses a different propulsion system and hangar lay-out. The ships were built for anti-submarine warfare as a primary task even though they are not fitted with towed array sonars. They are also suited for anti-aircraft warfare and anti-surface warfare.
This class of ship was one of the last to be constructed under post-war displacement limitations imposed by the WEU on West Germany.
All eight Bremen-class frigates will be replaced by the planned s, starting around 2016. Prior to that the Bremen class served as the backbone of the German Navy.

Employment

During the Cold War period, the ships' main war task was to escort convoys for reinforcement and resupply of allied forces in Europe in the Northern Atlantic. They frequently took part in NATO Standing Naval Forces. Since 1990, all ships have served in additional supporting missions such as the embargo operations against former Yugoslavia in the Adriatic Sea or Operation Enduring Freedom against the international terrorism.
During their lifetime, the ships' equipment has frequently been modernized and proven to be reliable platforms.

Notable actions

Karlsruhe successfully assisted an Egyptian freighter repel pirates on 25 December 2008 in the Gulf of Aden.
In 2012 Rheinland-Pfalz was reportedly used to gather intelligence on Syrian troop movements to be passed to the Free Syrian Army assist in their attacks on the Syrian Army.
In December 2015 Augsburg joined the French aircraft carrier in the south-eastern Mediterranean Sea to go to the Arabian Sea as part of the intervention against ISIS in the Syrian Civil War.

Ships

All ships are based in Wilhelmshaven. Together they form the 4. Fregattengeschwader of the German Navy.

Gallery