Naval Systems

Brandenburg class / F123 frigate

Also known as
  • Brandenburg class
  • Brandenburg-class frigate
  • F123 frigate
  • Type 123 frigate

The Brandenburg class / F123 frigate is a four-ship German anti-submarine frigate class built for the Deutsche Marine in the 1990s. Its 139-meter hull, bow sonar, Sea Lynx helicopters, Mk41 vertical-launch air-defense fit, Harpoon missiles, RAM launchers, and command spaces made the class useful for NATO maritime support in the Adriatic and EU counter-piracy patrols off Somalia.

Brandenburg class / F123 frigate, Anti-submarine frigate class, Naval Systems
Image source: Fregatte Brandenburg F215.jpg

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Specifications

Length
139.0 m
Beam
16.7 m
Draft
6.3 m over sonar
Displacement
4,900 t
Power
51,700 PS
Propulsion
CODOG; 2 gas turbines and 2 diesel engines
Speed
>29 knots
Crew
236
Sensors
SMART-S, LW 08, STIR 180, DSQS-23BZ bow sonar, MSP 600, FL 1800 S, and navigation radars
Air defense
16-cell Mk41 VLS for NSSM and ESSM
Close air defense
2 x RIM-116 RAM launchers
Anti-ship fit
RGM-84 Harpoon launchers; MM38 Exocet documented in Bundeswehr exercise imagery
Aviation
2 x Sea Lynx Mk88A helicopters when embarked
Anti-submarine fit
Bow sonar plus Sea Lynx helicopters with dipping sonar and torpedoes
Design And Modernization

The F123 class was built around anti-submarine escort work, with bow sonar and two embarked Sea Lynx Mk88A helicopters extending the ship's search and torpedo reach beyond the hull. Bundeswehr also describes the class as able to take on command tasks because of its communications and data-transfer spaces.

Primary role

Anti-submarine frigate with local air defense, surface-strike weapons, and command facilities.

Air wing

Two Sea Lynx Mk88A helicopters can deploy from the class for anti-submarine missions.

Modernization

Saab's 2021-2030 package adds the 9LV combat management system, Sea Giraffe radars, Ceros 200 fire control directors, and IFF integration.

Variants

The class consists of four F123 frigates named for German federal states; public sources usually distinguish them by pennant number and ship name rather than separate variant marks.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
F215 BrandenburgLead ship

Bundeswehr lists Brandenburg as the lead F123 frigate, commissioned on 14 October 1994.

Sources: Fregatten der Brandenburg-Klasse

F216 Schleswig-HolsteinClass ship

Bundeswehr lists Schleswig-Holstein as an F123 frigate commissioned on 24 November 1995.

Sources: Fregatten der Brandenburg-Klasse

F217 BayernClass ship

Bundeswehr lists Bayern as an F123 frigate commissioned on 15 June 1996.

Sources: Fregatten der Brandenburg-Klasse

F218 Mecklenburg-VorpommernClass ship

Bundeswehr lists Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as an F123 frigate commissioned on 6 December 1996.

Sources: Fregatten der Brandenburg-Klasse

Exercise And Earlier Anti-Ship Missile

Bundeswehr captions the Brandenburg class firing an Exocet MM38 sea-target missile.

Launched itemItem typeLaunch evidence
Exocet MM38 anti-ship missile, Surface-launched anti-ship missile, MunitionsExocet MM38 anti-ship missileShip-launched anti-ship missile

Bundeswehr captions the Brandenburg class firing an Exocet MM38 sea-target missile.

Sources: Fregatten der Brandenburg-Klasse

Current Missile And Torpedo Fit

Bundeswehr lists Harpoon, ESSM, NSSM, RAM, and Mk46 torpedoes among the Brandenburg class's fitted weapons.

Launched itemItem typeLaunch evidence
Harpoon, Anti-ship cruise missile family, MunitionsHarpoonAnti-ship cruise missile

Bundeswehr lists two launchers for RGM-84 Harpoon on the Brandenburg class.

Sources: Fregatten der Brandenburg-Klasse

Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile, Ship self-defense missile, MunitionsEvolved Sea Sparrow MissileShip self-defense missile

Bundeswehr lists the Brandenburg class's Mk41 VLS as able to fire ESSM.

Sources: Fregatten der Brandenburg-Klasse

MK-46 torpedo, Lightweight anti-submarine torpedo, MunitionsMK-46 torpedoLightweight anti-submarine torpedo

Bundeswehr lists two torpedo tube sets for Mk46 lightweight torpedoes on the Brandenburg class.

Sources: Fregatten der Brandenburg-Klasse

NATO Sea Sparrow Missile, Ship self-defense missile, MunitionsNATO Sea Sparrow MissileShip self-defense missile

Bundeswehr lists the Brandenburg class's Mk41 VLS as able to fire NSSM and ESSM.

Sources: Fregatten der Brandenburg-Klasse

RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile, Ship-launched surface-to-air missile, MunitionsRIM-116 Rolling Airframe MissilePoint-defense missile

Bundeswehr lists two RIM-116 RAM launchers as the class's inner air-defense layer.

Sources: Fregatten der Brandenburg-Klasse

Timeline

Brandenburg class / F123 frigate Key Events

  1. Lead ship commissioned

    F215 Brandenburg entered service, beginning the class's active career in the German Navy.

    Sources: Fregatten der Brandenburg-Klasse

  2. Bayern joins Operation Allied Force

    German naval participation in Operation Allied Force included FGS Bayern in the Adriatic alongside other German warships and a support vessel.

    Sources: Operation Allied Force 1999

  3. Brandenburg stops suspected pirates

    During Operation Atalanta, Brandenburg investigated a suspected pirate skiff in the Gulf of Aden, fired warning shots after it ignored stop orders, and put a boarding team aboard.

    Sources: EU NAVFOR Warship Brandenburg Stops Suspected Pirates

  4. Brandenburg serves as Atalanta flagship

    EU NAVFOR described FGS Brandenburg as the flagship for a new force commander during an Operation Atalanta rotation off the Horn of Africa.

    Sources: New Force Commander For Operation Atalanta Has A Busy First Week

  5. F123 modernization contract announced

    Saab announced an F123 modernization order covering new naval radars, fire-control directors, the 9LV combat management system, and related integration work through 2030.

    Sources: Saab receives order to modernise German Navy's F123 frigates

Media

Brandenburg class / F123 frigate Videos

Brandenburg class / F123 frigate Images

Brandenburg class / F123 frigate, Anti-submarine frigate class, Naval Systems - view 1
Source: German frigate Bayern underway in the Baltic Sea on 13 June 2008
Brandenburg class / F123 frigate, Anti-submarine frigate class, Naval Systems - view 2
Source: Fregatte Mecklenburg-Vorpommern F218.jpg
Related Weapon Systems
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Sources

Fregatten der Brandenburg-KlassePublisher: Bundeswehr | Note: Supports the Brandenburg class's anti-submarine role, service entry, ship list, power, propulsion, sensors, weapons, crew, dimensions, displacement, and speed. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Brandenburg class Frigate (1992)Publisher: Naval Encyclopedia | Note: Supports the class's shipyard distribution, launch and commissioning dates, and later service history across Operation Allied Force, UNIFIL, and Operation Atalanta. | Accessed: 2026-07-04New Force Commander For Operation Atalanta Has A Busy First WeekPublisher: EUNAVFOR | Note: 2008 Somali Piracy / Operation Atalanta direct use: FGS Brandenburg served as an EU NAVFOR flagship during the counter-piracy mission protecting WFP vessels and international shipping. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Operation Allied Force 1999Publisher: Feldpost der Bundeswehr | Note: 1999 Kosovo War / Operation Allied Force direct use: FGS Bayern was deployed in the Adriatic in 1999 for Operation Allied Force, the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. | Accessed: 2026-07-04EU NAVFOR Warship Brandenburg Stops Suspected PiratesPublisher: The Maritime Executive | Note: 2008 Somali Piracy / Operation Atalanta direct use: reports EU NAVFOR warship Brandenburg investigating a suspected pirate skiff in the Gulf of Aden, using warning shots, and boarding the stopped skiff. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Saab receives order to modernise German Navy's F123 frigatesPublisher: Saab | Note: Supports the 2021 F123 modernization contract, Saab prime-contractor role, 9LV combat management system, Sea Giraffe radars, Ceros 200 fire control director, IFF integration, and 2021-2030 delivery period. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Fregatte Brandenburg F215.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the primary image provenance and public-domain licensing context for F215 Brandenburg. | Accessed: 2026-07-04German frigate Bayern underway in the Baltic Sea on 13 June 2008Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the secondary gallery image provenance and public-domain licensing context for FGS Bayern. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Fregatte Mecklenburg-Vorpommern F218.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the third gallery image provenance and public-license context for another Brandenburg-class frigate. | Accessed: 2026-07-04