VESSEL REVIEW | Koln & Lubeck – German Navy corvettes for coastal anti-air and anti-surface missions

Each corvette has a length of 89.12 metres (292.4 feet), a beam of 13.28 metres (43.57 feet), a draught of only 3.4 metres (11 feet), a displacement of 1,840 tonnes, and a crew complement of 11 officers and 54 enlisted sailors. The ships’ construction utilised features that can help reduce radar and infrared signatures.

Power for each ship is provided by two MTU diesel engines that each produce 14.8 MW (19,800 hp). The engines drive two controllable-pitch propellers to deliver a top speed of 26 knots and a range of 4,000 nautical miles at 15 knots.

Each corvette’s maximum operating endurance is rather limited at seven days, though this can be extended to 21 days with the aid of a ship’s tender.