MEKO 360

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. The 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 easier application of upgrades and refits.

ARA Almirante Brown
Class overview
Builders: Blohm + Voss
Operators:
Subclasses: Almirante Brown class
In service: 1981
Completed: 5
Active: 5
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
Beam: 15 m (49 ft 3 in)
Draught: 5.8 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)
Speed: 30.5 knots (56.5 km/h; 35.1 mph)
Range: 4,500 nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement: 200
Armament:
Aircraft carried: 1 helicopter

Variants

MEKO 360H1

A single vessel of the MEKO 360H1 variant was produced for the Nigerian Navy. Called 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]

NNS Aradu

See also

Notes
  1. Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon 1995, p. 8.
  2. Saunders 2009, p. 12.

Bibliography
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen & Budzbon, Przemysław, eds. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010 (112 ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group Inc. ISBN 0-7106-2888-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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