Fregatte der deutschen
Marine
Typ F 122 „Bremen - Klasse“
Text and Builder von Franz Holzeder
Uebersetzt von Ralf Schnurbusch
| The
Orginal As Successor of the „Fletcher Destroyer“ (Class 119) as well as the frigate of the “Koeln” type (class 120) eight frigates of the Bremen class were taken in service between 1982 to 1990. They were build under guidance of the Bremer- Vulkan in section construction in five different shipyards, the AG Weser in Bremen, the Blohm and Voss in Hamburg, Thyssen-Nordseewerken in Emden as well a by the Bremer Vulcan. The entire system “F 122” cost 2.6 Million German Marks. |
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| In the ship list the frigates are listed as “class 122”, after the project of the class 121 was scraped. The Bremen (F 207), Emden (F 210), Koeln (F 211), Karlsruhe (F212), Augsburg (F213) and Luebeck (F 214) are stationed in Wilhelmshaven and are forming the 2. and 4. frigate squadrom. |  |
| The frigates were designed for submarine hunt and were the first units of the German Navy with helicopters on board. With a length of 128.00 m and a width of 14.40 m the ships have a displacement of 3600 ts. Depending on the assignment around 210 soldiers are on board. As engines the units use a combined diesel motor and Gas turbine engine (CODOG) which provide the energy to two propellers (2MTU-Diesel motors with each 3800 kw and two gas turbines with each 1840 kw). The maximum speed with diesel motors is 21 knots and with gas turbines 30 knots. |  |
| Different weapon systems provide the ships with a high fire power.
For a submarine hunt the frigates use a bow sonar and two torpedo-double
tube sets equipped with light weight torpedoes. Although the main weapon
is the helicopter “Sea Lynx MK 88 A” who can detect with his
dive sonar submarines in a range of 16 sea miles and launch his own torpedoes.
For the attack of sea targets the projectile equipment “Harpoon” will be used. The Fk will be fired from two starter equipments with 4 tubes. The range of the Fk’ is around 80 sea miles. |
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| For air defense the weapon system “SeaSparrow” is
installed, that with his projectiles defends against air attacks ( 1 starter
with 8 Fk’s). For the defense against enemy projectiles the ships
have two Fk- thrower with each 21 rockets of the type “RAM”.
This Weapon system was installed only in the nineties. As tube weapons the
frigate carries a full automatic single tower from the type “OTO-Melara”
with a caliber of 76 mm as well as two machine 20 mm canons from Rheinmetall.
For the deception of enemy torpedoes the deception equipment “NIXI” is used. For the deflection of projectiles 4 Dueppelwerfer with each 6 tubes are used, which can generate a Dueppel- or IR-cloud. |
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Sucessor of the “Bremen class” are the frigates of the typ “class 125”, which are in the moment still in the definition phase. They will be taken in service earliest in 2012 by the German Navy. I have photographed the frigate Augsburg (F213) on the „Open House Day“ in Wilhelmshaven. |
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The
Model: |
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| In the year 2000 I was able to visit the leading ship „Karlsruhe (F 212). At that time the models was only available in the original version (6 sheets). Therefore I tried to build the model with help of a graphic software in the updated version. The pictures show the prototyp. |  |
| Since April 2003 the model is available as a new release with the additional Sheet. Now you can build the frigate in two versions, the version 1 (original look at the time the ship was taken into service) or in the Version two which depicts the look of the ship today. Additionally sheet 7 includes additional parts to build the leading ships RHEINLAND-PFALZ, EMDEN and KARLSRUHE”. It is also nice that the white railing parts are now colored (unfortunately forgotten at the stairs part # 45). |  |
In general the new release is a well done model. Unfortunately the speedboat is missing (instead of the cutter) and the 3-D Radar of the leading ship. This TRS 3D/32-radar can be easily constructed. Templates can be found in the internet or in magazines. |
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The
construction of the Model: |
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| The construction of both versions can be done without too much difficulty. All parts fit well and are arranged in good order. As I decided to build version 2, here a few tips to build the model closer to the original: |  |
| The paper railing and the stairs should be replaced by photo etch parts. I used them from the company “Saemann Aetztechnik” the raling in three layers high (M3006) and the stairs (M3064). The photo etch parts are available from Saemann or from the Moewe Verlag. These photo etched parts are available also from Mr. Hurler from „Passat Verlag“ who is also distributing the folding railing of the helicopter landing deck (I did not use it in my model). For the coloration I used the enamel color “Revel Nr. 47). |  |
Both chimneys for the fumes of the power generator, part 32 and 44 have to be colored black on the top. The group of parts 63 and the radar equipment should be colored black. (see Photos). On the radar the „IFF/SIF-Sensor is to be attached with double strip. This sensor is used for the identification of own or enemy units. |
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Who wants to build the Bremen, will not find any Nato numbers (F 207) for the Hangar deck.This has to be used from the original deck (part 30 i). The sitcoms (part 102 and 217) are painted grey on most ships. I have build them from waste paper (hull walls). I have also attached a third mounting for the Harpoon starters through copying the part 88 f. |
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| Model: | Fregatte Bremen |
| Kit: | Wilhelmshavener Modellbaubogen Verlag |
| Designers: | Peter Brandt |
| Availability: | Wilhelmshavener Modellbaubogen Verlag www.papermod.de (Model and Photo Etch) |
| Scale: | 1:250 |
| Difficulty: | difficult |
| Number of Parts: | 1015 |
| Instructions: | German instructions |
| Diagrams: | included |
| Fit: | Good |
| Coloring and Artwork: | Good |
| Printing: | Good |
| Resources: | Deutsche Fregatten (Report-Verlag 1/2000, www.report-verlag.de http://www.deutschemarine.de |
| Contact: | Franz.Holzeder@t-online.de (only German speaking) |
