German Navy commissions the fourth F125 frigate Rheinland Pfalz.

According to information published by the German MoD on July 13, 2022, the Navy commissioned the Rheinland-Pfalz, the last of four Baden-Württemberg-class F125 frigates, in Wilhelmshaven.
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Commissioning ceremony of the F125 frigate Rheinland Pfalz (Picture source: German Navy)

On the order of Vice Adm. Frank Lenski, Deputy to the Inspector General of the Navy and Commander of Fleet and Support Forces, Frigate Captain Stefan Rappelt, Commander of Crew F125 Charlie, will commission the frigate.

The Rheinland Pfalz completes the squadron of F125s alongside the "Baden-Württemberg," Nordrhein-Westfalen" and the Sachen Anhalt. As a state-of-the-art combat ship, it can remain in the area of operations continuously for up to two years, regardless of its home port, thus increasing the fleet's performance.

Its high level of automation reduces manpower requirements by nearly half compared to previous frigates. The frigate will perform maritime surveillance in crisis regions and support special forces from the sea.

The close ties and lively sponsorship between the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate and the ship's crews will be revived when the new Rheinland-Pfalz enters service. There was already a "Rhineland-Palatinate" in the F122 frigate class, which made the state known on the world's oceans.

About the F125 frigates

The F125 Baden-Württemberg-class frigates are a series of frigates of the German Navy, which were designed and constructed by ARGE F125, a joint-venture of Thyssen-Krupp and Lürssen. The Baden-Württemberg class has the heaviest displacement of any class of frigate worldwide.

They are primarily designed for low and medium-intensity maritime stabilization operations, where they are supposed to provide sea-to-land tactical fire support, asymmetric threat control at sea, and support of special forces.

The frigates have a length of 149.52 m (490 ft 7 in), a beam of 18.80 m (61 ft 8 in), and a draft of 5 m (16 ft 5 in). They can reach a top speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).

German Baden Wurttemberg class frigate Rheinland Pfalz (Picture source: German Navy)