Lütjens-class destroyer


The Type 103 Lütjens class was the last class of destroyers in service with the German Navy. The ships were US guided missile destroyers but with some modifications to meet German requirements.
They were replaced by the new Sachsen-class frigates, designated frigate even though they are much larger and more capable in all aspects than the Lütjens-class destroyers.

Development

The three Lütjens destroyers were purchased from the US to provide air defence.
For German use, they received the following modifications:
In turn, the new antennas and radar location meant that the funnels had to be modified. On the Lütjens the exhaust gases were emitted sideways with two pipes on the port and starboard side of each funnel.
The three ships in the class were commissioned in 1969 and 1970. In service, they formed the 1. Zerstörergeschwader based in Kiel.
The Lütjens class was upgraded to Type 103A in the 1970s with new digital fire-control computers and better missiles for the old Tartar SM1 missile system. The boilers were also converted to burn lighter oil for logistical reasons instead of the heavy fuel oil that needs to be preheated.
A second major refit was undertaken in the 1980s when the ships were upgraded to Type 103B. Missiles were upgraded with a single Modified Mark 13 missile launcher fitted able to fire the SM-1MR surface-to-air missile and Harpoon anti-ship missile. A typical balance was 32 of the former and 8 of the latter. Fire control was improved with upgraded computers and a new AN/SPG-60 radar which also provided illumination for the missiles.
In the 1990s, the ships in the class each received two RIM-116 RAM launchers and Chaff launchers.
With the decommissioning of Lütjens on December 18, 2003 the age of steam ended for the German Navy. Mölders became a museum ship at the German Navy Museum in Wilhelmshaven.
Speeds over could only sustained for a limited time due to the enormous fuel consumption. With two active boilers the ship could achieve speeds up to. Three boilers made achievable. For any speed beyond all four boilers were needed.

List of ships

Pennant
number		NameNamesakeCall
sign		BuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedDecom-
missioned		FateReference
D185LütjensAdmiral Günther LütjensDRAEBath Iron Works1 March 196611 August 196722 March 196918 December 20032012 scrapped in Aliağa,
D186MöldersOberst Werner MöldersDRAFBath Iron Works12 April 196613 April 196723 February 196928 May 2003Museum ship in
D187RommelGeneralfeldmarschall Erwin RommelDRAGBath Iron Works22 August 19671 February 19692 May 197030 September 1998cannibalized, 2004 scrapped in Aliağa

All three ships were built by Bath Iron Works in the United States. They were named after famous German officers who died in World War II; Lütjens who had commanded the battleship Bismarck task group, the fighter ace Mölders of the Luftwaffe, and Field Marshal Rommel.