Category: Shipbuilding

MKS 180 - the multi-purpose combat ship picks up speed

The German Navy's new multi-purpose combat ship class 180 (MKS 180) officially becomes the frigate class 126 (F 126). This rightly spreads a feeling of "Now it's really starting" everywhere. Manoeuvre whistle. All hands cast off and in. Certainly a moving moment for anyone who goes to sea or has gone to sea. I, former commander of the frigate Hessen and authorised representative of the Inspector of the Navy (BV Marine) in the Class 126 frigate project for ten years, feel the same way - a project name that you have to get used to after such a long time. Basic considerations for a medium surface combat unit...

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Between hubris and lack of planning

Even before the start of the Second World War, Germany began building aircraft carriers. However, the design was oversized and the operational concept was not fully developed. France recently announced initial data on the configuration of its new aircraft carrier. Politicians and the military are completely convinced that billions should be invested in such an armaments project. "All the major naval powers are renewing or acquiring this capability," says the Ministry of Defence in Paris. It refers to forecasts that the global number of aircraft carriers will increase from 28 today to 36 in the 2040s. France has built four aircraft carriers to date. This is how enthusiastic the French are about their relationship with this...

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An admiral for the ice

In 1994, the Chilean navy bought a Canadian icebreaker from the late 1960s and put it into service as the Almirante Óscar Viel. A successor is now being built. Sidney E. Dean Access marineforum digital+ Are you already a registered user? Log in here now - also MOV members: Username Password Remember meLost your password? Don't have access yet? Click here for the marineforum digital+ subscription: Access to all articles from the marineforum magazine Easy payment via PayPal, direct debit or credit card The subscription can be cancelled at any time free of charge For MOV members free of charge To the subscription options...

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Fit for the future

Because the Seawolf class turned out to be extremely expensive, the US Navy developed a scaled-down version of these attack submarines in the form of the Virginia class. New blocks ensure that the technology is always up to date. Stefan Ulsamer 1 January 2021 was a particularly important date for the US submarine industry. In a rare New Year's session, the US Senate voted 81 to 13 in favour of an override of President Trump's veto of the US defence budget for fiscal year 2021. This override by the President authorised the construction of a total of nine naval vessels, including the first unit of the new...

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Charting a new course together

European cooperation has proven its worth in many areas of the defence industry. Can German-Dutch cooperation become the nucleus for European naval shipbuilding? Christian Freiherr von Oldershausen and Marcel Hendriks Last summer, the Federal Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Damen Schelde Naval Shipyards and Thales for the construction of four frigates 126, the former multi-purpose combat ship 180 (MKS 180). The fact that the new naval combat ship, which was put out to tender across Europe, is to be built by Blohm+Voss in Hamburg under Dutch leadership, caused a great deal of controversy in politics and industry. Understandably so, because in addition to a possible wound to national pride, there were concerns that...

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