The German Navy commissioned the Rheinland-Pfalz, its fourth and final Baden-Württemberg-class F125 frigate, at Wilhelmshaven on July 13.
“The fourth and final commissioning of the F125 class represents another important milestone for our squadron and the Navy,” Commander of the 4th Frigate Squadron Captain Dirk Jacobus said.
“This means that for the first time all four ships are in the Navy’s area of responsibility. With the takeover of the last F125 in the Navy, we gain an additional means for the targeted training of all our crews,” Dirk continued.
The commissioning was led by Captain Stefan Rappelt and Vice Adm. Frank Lenski.
The Rheinland-Pfalz will join Baden-Württemberg, Sachen Anhalt, and Nordrhein-Westfalen.
German F125 Frigate Specifications
The combat vessels can remain at a post for two years regardless of the distance to its home port. It will be deployed on maritime surveillance, crisis response, and naval special forces missions.
The F125 can operate with less than half the manpower of previous German Navy frigates and has a 7,200-ton displacement.
The new frigates were constructed by ARGE F125, a joint venture of Lürssen and Thyssen-Krupp.
Aside from warfare utility, the Rheinland-Pfalz is expected to reunite and bolster the relationship between frigate crews and the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate, where its predecessor F122 class was inspired.