MEKO 360

Last updated
ARA Almirante Brown D 10 (cropped).jpg
ARA Almirante Brown
Class overview
Builders Blohm + Voss
Operators
Subclasses Almirante Brown class
Built1978–1984
In commission1982–present
Planned7
Completed5
Active3
Laid up2
General characteristics
Type Frigate
Displacement
  • 2,900 long tons (2,900 t) standard
  • 3,360 long tons (3,410 t) fully loaded
Length
  • 125.9 m (413 ft 1 in) oa
  • 119.0 m (390 ft 5 in) pp
Beam15 m (49 ft 3 in)
Draught5.8 m (19 ft 0 in)
Propulsion
  • 2-shaft COGAG
  • 2 × Olympus TM 3B gas turbines, 51,800  shp (38,600 kW)
  • 2 × Tyne RM-IC gas turbines, 10,200  shp (7,600 kW)
Speed30.5 knots (56.5 km/h; 35.1 mph)
Range4,500  nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement200
Armament
Aircraft carried1 helicopter

The MEKO 360 is a class of five ships built in Germany for the Argentine and Nigerian navies. The MEKO 360 was the first version of the MEKO family of vessels built by Blohm und Voss. The type comes in two variants, the MEKO 360H1, comprising one ship, and the MEKO 360H2, comprising four ships. They are alternatively classed as frigates and destroyers by different sources. The design is based on the modular concept which allows swapping out different armaments to fit mission requirements and allows for easier application of upgrades and refits.

Contents

Variants

MEKO 360H1

A single vessel of the MEKO 360H1 variant was produced for the Nigerian Navy. Called NNS Aradu, it is one of the largest vessels of that navy.

MEKO 360H2

Six vessels were ordered and four vessels of a second variant, MEKO 360H2, were constructed for Argentina. They were locally named the Almirante Brown class. They are considered frigates [1] and destroyers [2] by different publications. The design is based on the concept of modular systems and is capable of changing the armament of the ship swiftly and can be modernized/refitted with more ease. [1]

The ships have a standard displacement of 2,900 long tons (2,900 t) and 3,360 long tons (3,410 t) at full load. The vessels are 125.9 metres (413 ft 1 in) long overall and 119.0 metres (390 ft 5 in) between perpendiculars with a beam of 15 metres (49 ft 3 in) and a draught of 5.8 metres (19 ft 0 in). The vessels are powered by a COGOG system driving two shafts composed of two Olympus TM 3B gas turbines rated at 51,800 shaft horsepower (38,600 kW) and two Tyne RM-IC gas turbines rated at 10,200 shaft horsepower (7,600 kW). The ships have a maximum speed of 30.5 knots (56.5 km/h; 35.1 mph) while using their Olympus gas turbines at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) using their Tyne turbines. The MEKOs have a maximum range of 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 18 knots. [1]

The Argentinian vessels are armed with eight Exocet surface-to-surface missiles in two quad launchers mounted centrally and one octuple launcher for Aspide surface-to-air missiles mounted aft of the superstructure. The MEKO 360H2 are also equipped with one OTO Melara 5-inch (130 mm)/54 calibre naval gun forward of the superstructure, eight Bofors 40 mm/70 calibre guns, and two triple-mounted 324-millimetre (12.8 in) ILAS torpedo tubes. [2]

Ships

NNS Aradu NNS Aradu F89.jpg
NNS Aradu
NameNumberLaid downLaunchedCommissionedStatus
MEKO 360H1
NNS Aradu F891 December 197825 January 198020 February 1982Laid up since at least 2017
MEKO 360H2
ARA Almirante Brown D-108 September 198028 March 198126 January 1983In service
ARA La Argentina D-1130 March 198125 September 19814 May 1983In service
ARA Heroína D-1224 August 198117 February 198231 October 1983Laid up
ARA Sarandí D-139 March 198231 August 198216 April 1984In service
ARA Rivadavia D-14Cancelled
ARA Moreno D-15

See also

Notes

Bibliography

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