German frigate Köln (F220)

For other ships with the same name, see German ship Köln.

Köln in 1982
History
Germany
Name	Köln
Namesake	Köln
Builder	H. C. Stülcken Sohn
Laid down	21 December 1957
Launched	6 December 1958
Commissioned	15 April 1961
Decommissioned	17 December 1982
Homeport	Wilhelmshaven
Identification	Pennant number: F220 Code letters: DBRV DRAK
Status	Laid up as training hulk
Badge
General characteristics
Type	Köln-class frigate
Displacement	2090 tons standard 2750 tons full load
Length	105 m (344 ft 6 in) waterline 109.80 m (360 ft 3 in) overall
Beam	11 m (36 ft 1 in)
Draught	4.60 m (15 ft 1 in)
Propulsion	2 shaft CODAG 2 Brown Boveri & Cie gas turbines, 8832 kilowatts each (24,000 hp total) 4 MAN 16-cylinder diesel engines, 2208 kilowatts each (12,000hp total)
Speed	32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)
Range	3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph), 900 nautical miles (1,670 km; 1,040 mi) at 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Endurance	Bunker: 360 t
Complement	238
Sensors and processing systems	Navigation radar KH14/9 Target designation radar DA-02 Surface search radar SGR103 Fire control radar M44, M45 Sonar PAE/CWE hull mounted medium frequency sonar
Armament	2 × single METL 100 mm guns 2 × dual Breda 40 mm/L70 guns 2 × single Bofors 40 mm/L70 guns 4 × single 533 mm torpedo tubes, 4 × quad 375 mm ASW rockets depth charges, mine-laying capacity

Köln (F220) is the lead ship of the Köln-class frigates of the German Navy.

Design

Main article: Köln-class frigate

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.

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

Köln was laid down on 21 December 1957 and launched on 6 December 1958 in Stülcken & Sohn, Germany. She was commissioned on 15 April 1961.

After 21 years of service, she was decommissioned on 17 December 1982 in Wilhelmshaven, where it was initially used for spare parts.

Since 15 November 1989, she has been used as a training hulk at the Naval Damage Control Training Centre (EAZS) in Neustadt. There, crews of the maritime units are trained in fire fighting and leak prevention.

Gallery

• Köln gallery
• 
  Köln in Kiel in June 1967
• 
  Köln in 1982
• 
  Ex-Köln in 2014

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.