German corvette Braunschweig

Braunschweig (F260) is the lead ship of the Braunschweig-class corvette of the German Navy.

Braunschweig sails from Hamburg, Germany on 11 December 2006 for her first voyage.
History
Germany
Name	Braunschweig
Namesake	Braunschweig
Port of registry	Hamburg, Germany
Ordered	December 2001
Builder	Blohm+Voss, Hamburg
Cost	€240 million
Laid down	3 December 2004
Launched	19 April 2006
Commissioned	16 April 2008
Homeport	Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Identification	MMSI number: 211910000 Callsign: DRBA Pennant number: F260
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)[1]
Endurance	7 days; 21 days with tender[2]
Complement	65 : 1 commander, 10 officers, 16 chief petty officers, 38 enlisted
Sensors & 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][3] 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 UMS Skeldar V-200

Development

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.

The ships feature reduced radar and infrared signatures ("stealth" beyond the Sachsen-class frigates) and will be equipped with two helicopter UAVs for remote sensing. 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 the Sea King, Lynx, and NH-90 helicopters operated by the German Navy.

The German Navy has ordered the RBS-15 Mk4 anti-ship missiles 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 the German Government announced that a second batch of five frigates is to be procured from 2022–2025.^[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

Braunschweig was laid down on 3 December 2004 and launched on 19 April 2006 in Hamburg. She was commissioned on 16 April 2008.^[9]

Operation

Braunschweig and the Indonesian corvette KRI Bung Tomo conducted a joint exercise, as part of UNIFIL, on 24 June 2017.^[10]

On 19 August 2020, Braunschweig served as a platform for shipborne trials of two UMS Skeldar V-200 UAVs.^[11]

On 16 August 2024, she was towed up the Thames in London, and moored alongside HMS Belfast.^[12] On 19 August 2024, Braunschweig played the Imperial March as she was towed out of London.^[13]