1962 BAYER. One of a class of four Type 101UI destroyers constructed for the Federal German Republics navy and in service for three decades from the mid-1960s.
THE HAMBURG CLASS
West Germany acquired her first destroyers six ex-US Fletcher-class ships
between 1958 and 1960, and at that same time decided to construct a small class of rather bigger vessels of her own. Originally they were to have been around 2500 tons standard displacement, but by the time they actually came to be built they were over 4000 tons. All four ships were built by Stlcken in Hamburg. The Bayern (D183) was laid down on 14 September 1960, launched on 14 August 1962 and completed on 6 July 1965. All four ships had been decommissioned by 1995, replaced by Brandenburg-class Type 123 frigates.
WEAPON SYSTEMS
As launched, the Bayern mounted four 100mm (4in) dual-purpose guns of French design, individually mounted in turrets, two forward and two aft. In addition eight 40mm Breda light AA guns were also mounted. The ships were equipped with short-range sonar, and twin quadruple Bofors AS mis sile launchers and depth charge projectors. All four ships were modernised in the latter part of the 1 970s, one of their stern-set DP guns being replaced by a pair of launchers for twin MM38 Exocet missiles.
TECHNICAL DATA
Type: Destroyer
Machinery: 2-shaft Wahodag turbines giving a total of 72,000shp
Dimensions (overall): Length, 133.7m (438.75ft); beam, 13.4m (44ft}
Displacement: 3340t standard; 4330t deep load
Draught: 5.2m (l7ft)
Complement: 264
Speed: 34 knots (63km/h)
