"Lucky Lübeck" ends the era of the F 122 frigate class

On Thursday, 15 December 2022 at 10 a.m., the frigate "Lübeck" will be decommissioned in Wilhelmshaven after 32 years. She will close the chapter of the Bremen class F 122.

"The past period was challenging and moving! The considerable operational workload, the coronavirus conditions and the imminent decommissioning were special circumstances that were mastered by a special crew," says the commander, frigate captain Kai Röckel (44). "It was an honour to serve as the last commander of the 'Lübeck' and I am proud to have been part of this crew," he continues.

The frigate "Lübeck" is the last active representative of the Bremen class. Designed and built at the end of the Cold War, its main capability is submarine hunting in the North Sea and North Atlantic. For the first time in the navy, the frigate "Lübeck" and her sister ships were equipped with on-board helicopters for this purpose - today a standard for all frigate classes.

Decommissioning is an emotional moment for the crew. The majority of the soldiers already have new assignments. "Lasting memories and lived experiences connect us with the ship, with everyone we travelled with," says the commander.

The "Lucky Lübeck" has sailed a multitude of missions and manoeuvres, visited a wide variety of ports and created countless stories, emotions and experiences. One highlight was the voyage on the Hudson River in 2009, which ended with the passing of the Statue of Liberty and a photo in front of the New York skyline. In addition to foreign ports in many parts of the world, the harbour visits to the sponsor city of Lübeck were always something special for the ship and crew. Here, the friendship between the crew and local institutions, organisations and associations could be experienced directly.

She is said to have been given the nickname "Lucky Lübeck" by an instructor at GOST (German Operational Sea Training) in Plymouth, England, in recognition of the crew's special fighting spirit.

During her 32-year voyage, the frigate has travelled 860,025.40 nautical miles, which is equivalent to just over 14 circumnavigations of the globe.