German corvette Magdeburg

Magdeburg on 28 June 2025 in Stralsund
History
Germany
Name	Magdeburg
Namesake	Magdeburg
Port of registry	Hamburg, Germany
Ordered	December 2001
Builder	Lürssen-Werft, Hamburg
Cost	€240 million
Laid down	19 May 2005
Launched	6 September 2006
Commissioned	22 September 2008
Home port	Rostock, Germany
Identification	MMSI number: 211911000 Callsign: DRBB Pennant number: F261
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)
Endurance	7 days; 21 days with tender
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 × 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 Saab Skeldar

Magdeburg (F261) is the second ship of the Braunschweig-class corvette of the German Navy.

Developments

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.

They feature reduced radar and infrared signatures ("stealth" beyond the Sachsen-class frigates) and will be equipped with two helicopter UAVs for remote sensing. Recently, the German Navy ordered a first batch of two UMS Skeldar V-200 systems for the use on the Braunschweig-class corvettes. The hangar is too small for standard helicopters, but the pad is large enough for Sea Kings, Lynx, or NH-90s, the helicopters of the German Navy.

The German Navy has ordered the RBS-15 Mk4 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. The RBS-15 Mk3 has the capability to engage land targets.

In October 2016 it was announced that a second batch of five more frigates is to be procured from 2022 to 2025. 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.

Construction and career

Magdeburg was laid down on 19 May 2005 and launched on 6 September 2006 in Hamburg. She was commissioned on 22 September 2008.

7 May 2018,Magdeburg and KRI Usman Harun conducted a towing exercise in the Mediterranean Sea. Usman Harun act as the disabled ship while Magdeburg will be towing her. Magdeburg conducted a UAV Saab Skeldar V-200 trial on her flight deck on 24 August 2018.

Gallery

• 
  Magdeburg being towed by tugs on 6 September 2006.
• 
  Magdeburg's builders plaque.
• 
  Magdeburg moored on 13 August 2011.

References

Bibliography

• Warship International Staff (2007). "First of the German K 130 Class". Warship International. XLIV (4): 364–365. ISSN 0043-0374.