Two new foreign ships in the Sound - from Germany and Netherlands
There will be two new foreign naval ships in the Sound this week. Federal German Ship (FGS) Braunschweig and His Netherland Majesty’s Ship (HNlMS) Mercuur. They are probably here to conduct training with Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) based in HMS Drake.
FGS Braunschweig is an ocean-going corvette – so a type of warship that is smaller than a frigate (like the Royal Navy’s Duke class, often seen here) but larger than a patrol vessel (like the RN’s Island class). Braunschweig was commissioned in April 2008 and is the first, and name ship, of her class. She has 4 sister ships and there is to be a second batch of similar corvettes in build. The Israeli Navy has a further 4 ships based on the same design.
Braunschweig displaces 1 1840 tons, is 89m long, has a beam of 13.3 meters & draws 3.4m. Her top speed is over 26 knots 2. Her propulsion is 2 MTU diesels, driving controllable-pitch. She also has a bow thruster. The ship’s company is 61 strong.
This class is not designed for anti-submarine warfare, so the armament consists of an Italian 76mm rapid fire Oto-Melara gun (forward), with launchers for the American RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) both aft or and above the 76mm and on the after end of the superstructure. The RAM is an anti-aircraft & anti-missile defensive system. Mounted between the two masts are the launchers for four Swedish RBS15 anti-ship sea skimming missiles. Braunschweig also has the ability to carry and lay up to 34 naval mines. Her flightdeck is big enough for a SeaKing helicopter, but the hanger can only accommodate two UAVs.
All these weapon systems are supported and backed up by the command system, radars, electro-optical sensors, electronic warfare systems and decoys that all modern warships have.
HNlMS Mercuur is a submarine support ship. She has the same name as all her predecessors in this role. She entered service on 21 August 1987 and was given a major upgrade in 2015-17. As the RNlN’s submarine support ship, Mercuur takes part in training exercises with the Dutch Navy’s three Walrus-class conventional submarines, often acting as their target.
She can test fire torpedoes and also has workshops onboard to service them. Her only armament is two 20mm Oerlikon cannons for self-defence. Mercuur displaces 1400 tons, is 64.4m long, has a beam of 12m & draws 12m. Her 2 MAN Diesels give her a top speed of 14 knots & her ship’s company is 39 strong.
