Lübeck in the Bay of Biscay, 1975
History
Germany
Name	Lübeck
Namesake	Lübeck
Builder	H. C. Stülcken Sohn
Laid down	28 October 1959
Launched	23 July 1960
Commissioned	6 June 1963
Decommissioned	1 December 1988
Out of service	30 September 1988
Homeport	Wilhelmshaven
Identification	Pennant number: F224 Code letters: DBSI[lower-alpha 1] DRAO[lower-alpha 2]
Fate	Sold to Turkey for cannibalization
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Köln-class frigate
Displacement	2,969 long tons (3,017 t)
Length	109.8 m (360 ft 3 in)
Beam	11 m (36 ft 1 in)
Draft	3.5 m (11 ft 6 in)
Propulsion	CODAG 2 × gas turbines 8,832 kW (11,844 hp) each 4 × diesel engines 2,208 kW (2,961 hp) each
Speed	34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph) maximum 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) cruise on diesel
Range	2,700 nmi (5,000 km; 3,100 mi) at 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) 890 nmi (1,650 km) at 29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph)
Complement	210 to 238
Armament	2 × 100 mm/55 caliber METL 53 guns 2 × twin 40 mm / 70 caliber Breda Mod 58 II MDL AA guns 2 × 40 mm / 70 caliber Bofors Mod 58 AA guns 4 × 533 mm torpedo tubes with Mark 44 torpedoes 2 × quad 375 mm ASW rockets Depth charges Mines

Lübeck (F224) was a Köln-class frigate which served in the Bundesmarine from 1963 through 1988.

Design

The Type 120 or Köln-class frigates were built as smooth-deckers and had very elegant lines. The very diagonally cut bow and the knuckle ribs in the foredeck made it easy to navigate. The hull and parts of the superstructure were made of shipbuilding steel, other superstructure parts were made of aluminum. Due to the installation of gas turbines, large side air inlets were necessary, which could be closed by lamellas. The stern was designed as a round stern. The large funnel was sloped and skirted. Behind the bridge superstructure stood the tall lattice mast with radar and other antennas. The hull was divided into 13 watertight compartments.^[2]

On the forecastle was a 10 cm gun, behind it, set higher, a 4 cm twin gun. Behind it stood two quadruple anti-submarine missile launchers 37.5 cm from Bofors. A 4 cm Bofors single gun on each side of the aft superstructure and another 4 cm double mount at the end of the superstructure. There was a second 10 cm gun on the quarterdeck. In addition, there were two 53.3 cm torpedo tubes behind the front superstructures. They were used to fire Mk-44 torpedoes. Mine rails were laid behind the torpedo tubes and ran to the stern.

Construction and career

Lübeck following McDonnell and Van Nes into Lisbon in February 1975

Lübeck was built by Stülcken & Sohn, Hamburg. She was laid down on 28 October 1959, launched on 23 July 1960, and was commissioned on 6 June 1963.^[3]

After 25 years of service, Lübeck was taken out of active service on 30 September 1988 and sold to Turkey.^[1] On 14 November, she set sail for Gölcük, Kocaeli, Turkey with skeleton crew of 140 personnel.^[1] She was formally decommissioned on 1 December 1988 and handed over to the Turkish Naval Forces.^[1] Turkish navy used her as spare parts source for other Köln-class frigate in Turkish service.

Notes

References

• Gardiner, Robert and Stephen Chumbley. Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press, 1995. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
• Prézelin, Bernard and A.D. Baker III. The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1990/1991. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press, 1990. ISBN 0-87021-250-8.

See also

• List of frigates
• List of German Federal Navy ships
• List of naval ships of Germany

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