Lütjens-class destroyer

Lütjens
Class overview
Name:	Type 103 Lütjens
Builders:	Bath Iron Works, USA
Operators:	German Navy
Succeeded by:	Sachsen-class frigate
Completed:	3
Retired:	3
Preserved:	1
General characteristics
Class and type:	Missile destroyer
Displacement:	4,720 t
Length:	133.2 m (437 ft 0 in)
Beam:	14.3 m (46 ft 11 in)
Draft:	6.1 m (20 ft 0 in)
Propulsion:	2 × steam turbines providing 70,000 shp (52 MW); 2 shafts 4 × 1,275 psi (8,790 kPa) boilers
Speed:	33 knots (61 km/h)
Range:	4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km) at 20 kn (37 km/h)
Complement:	337
Sensors and processing systems:	AN/SPS-40 2D air surveillance and early-warning radar, long-range AN/SPS-67 sea surveillance radar, med-range AN/SPS-52 3D air surveillance radar, long-range 2 × AN/SPG-51C Mk 74 fire-control radar AN/SPQ-9 short range fire-control radar for surface and low flying targets SPG-60 tracking and fire control radar (also radar illumination for the missiles) Raytheon RP 1225 navigation radar Atlas Elektronik DSQS-21B active/passive sonar EADS FL1800 ESM suite
Electronic warfare & decoys:	2 × SRBOC 6 cell chaff and flare launcher 1 × SLQ-25 Nixie torpedo decoy 1 × EADS FL1800 ESM/ECM suite
Armament:	2 × 127 mm/54 Mk 42 mod 10 guns 2 × Rheinmetall Rh202 20 mm autocannons 1 × Modified Mark 13 launcher SM-1MR surface-to-air missile (usually 32) Harpoon anti-ship missile (usually 8) 2 × Mk 49 launcher, 21 RAM surface-to-air missiles each 6 × 324 mm torpedo tubes, DM4A1 and Mark 46 torpedoes 1 × ASROC launcher, 8 cell

The Type 103 Lütjens class was the last class of destroyers in service with the German Navy. Basically the ships were US Charles F. Adams-class guided missile destroyers but with some modifications to meet German requirements

They were replaced by the new Sachsen-class frigates., designated frigate even though they are much larger and more capable in all aspects than the Lütjens-class destroyers.

Development

For German use, they received modifications:

• Communication systems according to German standards. The Lütjens class had more aerials and a second mast mounted on the aft funnel, the large air surveillance radar was positioned further aft (above the funnel).

In turn, the new antennas and radar location meant that the funnels had to be modified. On the Lütjens the exhaust gases were emitted sideways with two pipes on the port and starboard side of each funnel.

• New location of the sonar array: The Lütjens had its sonar dome located in a bulge directed forward in the bow and not under the bow to reduce the ship's draft.
• Better crew accommodations.

Service

The Lütjens class was upgraded to Type 103A in the 1970s with new digital fire-control computers and better missiles for the old Tartar SM1 missile system. The boilers were also converted to burn lighter oil for logistical reasons instead of the heavy fuel oil that needs to be preheated.

A second major refit began in the 1980s, with new fire control computers and radar for the guns.

In the 1990s, the ships in the class each received two RIM-116 RAM launchers and Chaff launchers.

With the decommissioning of Lütjens (D185) on December 18, 2003 the age of steam ended for the German Navy. Mölders (D186) became a museum ship at the German Navy Museum in Wilhelmshaven.

Speeds over 30 kn could only sustained for a limited time due to the enormous fuel consumption. With two active boilers the ship could achieve speeds up to 27 kn. Three boilers made 30 kn achievable. For any speed beyond 30 kn all four boilers were needed.

List of ships

All three ships were built by Bath Iron Works in the United States. They were named after famous German officers who died in World War II; Lütjens who had commanded the battleship Bismarck task group, the fighter ace Molders of the Luftwaffe, and Field Marshal Rommel.

In service, they formed the 1. Zerstörergeschwader ("first destroyer squadron") based in Kiel.

References

• Zerstörer Mölders (in German)
• Zerstörer Rommel (in German)