Rhön-class tanker

The Type 704 Rhön-class tankers are a series of replenishment oilers used by the German Navy to provide underway replenishment for its ships at sea. The two vessels in the class, Rhön and Spessart, were originally constructed for Libya by Kröger Shipyard in Rendsburg, West Germany as bulk acid carriers. They were acquired by the West German Navy in 1976 for conversion and entered service in 1977. The two ships are crewed by civilians. In 2019 it was announced by the German Navy that the ships are planned to be replaced in 2024.

Spessart entering New York Harbor
Class overview
Builders: Kröger, Rendsburg
Operators:  German Navy
In service: 1977–present
Completed: 2
Active: 2
General characteristics
Type: Replenishment tanker
Tonnage:
Displacement: 14,396 t (14,169 long tons)
Length: 130.2 m (427 ft 2 in)
Beam: 19.3 m (63 ft 4 in)
Draught: 8.7 m (28 ft 7 in)
Installed power:
Propulsion: 1 shaft, controllable pitch propeller
Speed: 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Range: 3,250 nmi (6,020 km; 3,740 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Capacity:
  • 11,000 m3 (390,000 cu ft) (fuel)
  • 400 m3 (14,000 cu ft) (water)
Complement: 42 (civilian)

Design and description

The Type 704 replenishment ships, originally constructed as civilian tankers, have a full load displacement of 14,396 tonnes (14,169 long tons) and were measured at 6,103 gross register tons (GRT) and 10,800 tons deadweight (DWT).[1] They are 130.2 metres (427 ft 2 in) long with a beam of 19.3 metres (63 ft 4 in) and a draught of 8.7 metres (28 ft 7 in). They have capacity for 11,000 m3 (2,400,000 imp gal) of fuel oil and 400 m3 (88,000 imp gal) of water.[1]

The Rhön class are powered by one MaK 12-cylinder diesel engine turning one shaft with a controllable pitch propeller, rated at 5,880 kilowatts (7,890 hp). This gives the vessels in the class a maximum speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) and a range of 3,250 nautical miles (6,020 km; 3,740 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph). The ships are civilian crewed and have a complement of 42. The ships have two positions for portable surface-to-air missiles.[1]

Ship list
Rhön class[1]
Pennant
number		 Name Builder Commissioned Homeport Status
A1443 Rhön (ex-Okene) Kröger, Rendsburg, West Germany 23 September 1977 Wilhelmshaven In service
A1442 Spessart (ex-Okapi) 5 September 1977 Kiel In service

Service history

Two bulk acid tankers were ordered by Libya as Okene and Okapi from Kröger at their yard in Rendsburg, West Germany.[1][2] Okene was launched on 23 August 1974 and Okapi on 13 February 1975.[2] While still under construction, the two ships were acquired by the West German Navy in 1976 for conversion to naval replenishment tankers.[1][2] Okene was converted by Kröger and was renamed Rhön for a mountain range in Germany. Okapi was taken to Bremerhaven for conversion and renamed Spessart, also a mountain range in Germany. Both ships entered service in 1977.[1]

On 1 April 2009, pirates operating off the Somalian coast mistook Spessart as a commercial tanker and opened fire on it before attempting to board the ship. The attack was repelled and the pirates were chased by several naval ships, eventually being captured by a Greek frigate. The pirates were handed over to the German frigate Rheinland-Pfalz to be prosecuted.[3] In July 2018, it was announced that both vessels of the class were laid up due to heavy maintenance required to get them back into service and that Spessart's engine would require a complete overhaul.[4]

Citations
  1. Saunders 2009, p. 294.
  2. Couhat 1986, p. 166.
  3. "Somali pirates pick on the wrong ship". The Independent. The Associated Press. 1 April 2009. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  4. Fiorenza, Nicholas (9 July 2018). "German Navy lacks at-sea refuelling capability". janes.com. Archived from the original on 22 July 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2019.

References
  • Couhat, Jean Labayle, ed. (1986). Combat Fleets of the World 1986/87. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85368-860-5.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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