Berlin-class replenishment ship

Template:Infobox ship imageTemplate:Infobox ship class overviewTemplate:Infobox ship characteristics

The Type 702 Berlin-class replenishment ship is a series of replenishment ships, originally designed and built for service in the German Navy (Deutsche Marine). Designed to support United Nations overseas missions, the Berlin class were initially to number four vessels. However, three hulls were cut from the initial order. The lead ship, , began construction in 1999 and entered service in 2001. The second hull, , was re-ordered in 1998, began construction in 2000 and entered service in 2002. The third hull, , was ordered in 2008 to a modified design, began construction in 2010 and entered service in 2013. All three ships are in service and are based at Wilhelmshaven.

The Berlin-class design was selected as the basis for the Royal Canadian Navy's (RCN) replacement for the two former Template:Sclass auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) vessels which were retired in 2014. Two Berlin-class variants, described as Joint Support Ships, were ordered by the RCN to be built in Canada. As of 2023, both vessels are under construction.

General characteristics

File:MLG auf EGV.JPG

MLG 27 on board Berlin

The Berlin-class replenishment ships are the largest vessels of the German Navy. The Berlin-class replenishment ships are Template:Convert long overall and Template:Cvt between perpendiculars with a beam of Template:Cvt and a draught of Template:Cvt. The vessels have a displacement of Template:Convert light and Template:Cvt at full load and measure Template:GT. Constructed with a double hull, they have a pronounced bow bulb.Template:Sfn The ships have capacity for Template:CvtTemplate:Sfn or Template:CvtTemplate:Sfn of marine diesel fuel, Template:CvtTemplate:Sfn or Template:CvtTemplate:Sfn of aviation fuel, Template:CvtTemplate:Sfn or Template:CvtTemplate:Sfn of lube oil, Template:Cvt of spare parts, Template:Cvt of provisions and Template:Cvt of ammunition,Template:Sfn or Template:Cvt of fresh water, Template:Cvt consumables, Template:Cvt of supplies and 230 t of provisions.Template:Sfn The vessels have two replenishment at sea stations, one to each per side of the ship and two electro-hydraulic container and cargo cranes. The Berlin class have capacity for 86 TEUs of shipping containers and can stack 26 TEUs in two layers on the upper deck. The ships have provision for a Marineeinsatzrettungzentrum (MERZ) unit which is a modular operations rescue centre aboard the ship. The MERZ is capable of holding 50 patients and providing them with emergency surgery, intensive care, internal medicine and dental services.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

The first two vessels of the class, and are powered by two MAN Diesel 12V 32/40 diesel engines, creating Template:Convert with two reduction gears turning two controllable pitch five-bladed propellers and powering one bow thruster.Template:Sfn creates Template:Cvt.Template:Sfn They have four Deutz-MWM diesel generators. The three ships have a maximum speed of Template:Convert and have an endurance of 45 days.Template:Sfn The Berlin-class ships have a helipad aft and a hangar and can support two helicopters, either the Sea King or NH90 models which can be used for vertical replenishment.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The vessels are equipped with radar and mine avoidance sonar and one of the radars is situated aft for use during helicopter takeoff and landing.Template:Sfn

The Berlin class are armed with four [[Mauser BK-27|MLG Template:Cvt]] autocannon for anti-aircraft defence and four Template:Cvt machine guns. The MLG 27 replaced older [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/70|Bofors Template:Cvt/70 guns]]. The vessels are also fitted for but not with Stinger surface-to-air missile (MANPADS) for point defence.Template:Sfn The vessels have a complement of 159 plus 74 embarked.Template:SfnTemplate:Efn

List of ships

Berlin class construction dataTemplate:Sfn

Image	Pennant number	Name	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Homeport	Status
File:Navy supply vessel "Berlin".jpg	A1411		4 January 1999	30 April 1999	11 April 2001	Wilhelmshaven	In active service
File:FGS Frankfurt-am-Main-2012-1.jpg	A1412		28 August 2000	5 January 2001	27 May 2002		In active service
File:USS Gravely conducts a replenishment-at-sea with German navy replenishment ship. (48097832297) (cropped).jpg	A1413		16 September 2010	27 April 2011	13 September 2013		In active service

Construction and career

In 1994, the German Navy sought to construct four replenishment vessels, built in two batches.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The ships were designed to support United Nations operations overseas.Template:Sfn However, the project was trimmed to one and the design was finalised in mid-1996.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The first hull was ordered in October 1996. A second hull was authorized in June 1998. The hulls of the ships were built by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft at their shipyard in Flensburg, Germany, with the electronic systems installed by Lürssen and the superstructure, final outfitting and sea trials done by Krögerwerft. The first ship, Berlin, completed construction in 2001 and was commissioned into the German Navy on 11 April 2001. The second vessel, Frankfurt am Main followed in 2002 and was commissioned on 27 May 2002.Template:Sfn The third ship, Bonn, was ordered on 3 December 2008 with increased power and accommodations and was built at Peenewerft in Wolgast.Template:Sfn On 13 September 2013, Bonn was commissioned into service at Wilhelmshaven.

In 2007, Frankfurt am Main performed trials with Finnish Template:Cvt Template:Sclass2.Template:Sfn In 2020, Berlin operated with Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2).

Export

Royal Canadian Navy

Two ships will be procured to replace the two Protecteur-class vessels operated by the RCN until 2014 under the Joint Support Ship Project. The ships will be built by Seaspan Marine Corporation at the Vancouver Shipyards facility located in North Vancouver, British Columbia. The design was chosen over a design by BMT Technology. At the time, the option for a third was still possible. Canadian sailors previewed Bonn in order to make themselves familiar with the design.

The ships were originally to be named Queenston and Chateauguay, for battles from the War of 1812. This decision was reversed in September 2017, when it was announced that the ships would perpetuate the names Protecteur and Preserver. Template:As of it was estimated that the two Canadian ships would cost C$2.6bn (~€1.75bn) to build, and a further C$4.5bn (~€3bn) to operate over 25 years. The keel of the first ship was laid down on 16 January 2020.

External links

• Berlin class data at Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems