The first of a new type of frigate developed for the German Navy was officially named Baden-Württemberg (F222) during a ceremony at ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems’ Hamburg shipyard on 12 December.
The Type 125 class is designed to be able to deploy to an area of operation for up to two years at a time, spending 208 days a year at sea without requiring base support or dockyard maintenance. For such operations, a dual-crew system will operate, with technological innovations and a high level of automation allowing safe operation of the ships with a complement of just 120.
Four Type 125s, costing €650 million apiece, will replace the remaining five Type 122s from around 2016/17. The exact schedule is uncertain due to a manufacturing issue that has required costly remedial work to previously completed parts of the hull.
