MEKO 360
{{Short description|Family of German-designed warships}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=ARA Almirante Brown D 10 (cropped).jpg |Ship caption=ARA Almirante Brown }} {{Infobox ship class overview |Name= |Builders=Blohm + Voss |Operators=*{{navy|ARG}}
|Class before= |Class after= |Subclasses={{sclass|Almirante Brown|destroyer|4}} |Cost= |Built range= 1978–1984 |In service range= |In commission range= 1982–present |Total ships building= |Total ships planned=7 |Total ships completed=5 |Total ships cancelled= |Total ships active=3 |Total ships laid up=2 |Total ships lost= |Total ships retired= |Total ships preserved= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship type= Frigate |Ship displacement=* {{convert|2900|LT|t}} standard
|Ship length=* {{convert|125.9|m|ftin|abbr=on}} oa
|Ship beam= {{convert|15|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship height= |Ship draught= {{convert|5.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship power= |Ship propulsion=* 2-shaft COGAG
|Ship speed= {{convert|30.5|kn|lk=in}} |Ship range= {{convert|4,500|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|18|kn}} |Ship endurance= |Ship complement=200 |Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armament=*8 anti-ship missiles
|Ship armour= |Ship aircraft=1 helicopter |Ship aircraft facilities= |Ship notes= }} |
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. They are 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 for easier application of upgrades and refits.
Variants
=MEKO 360H1=
A single vessel of the MEKO 360H1 variant was produced for the Nigerian Navy. Called {{ship|NNS|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 {{sclass|Almirante Brown|destroyer|4}}. They are considered frigates{{sfn|Gardiner|Chumbley|Budzbon|1995|p=8}} and destroyers{{sfn|Saunders|2009|p=12}} 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.{{sfn|Gardiner|Chumbley|Budzbon|1995|p=8}}
The ships have a standard displacement of {{convert|2900|LT|t}} and {{convert|3360|LT|t}} at full load. The vessels are {{convert|125.9|m|ftin}} long overall and {{convert|119.0|m|ftin}} between perpendiculars with a beam of {{convert|15|m|ftin}} and a draught of {{convert|5.8|m|ftin}}. The vessels are powered by a COGOG system driving two shafts composed of two Olympus TM 3B gas turbines rated at {{convert|51800|shp|lk=in}} and two Tyne RM-IC gas turbines rated at {{convert|10200|shp}}. The ships have a maximum speed of {{convert|30.5|kn|lk=in}} while using their Olympus gas turbines at {{convert|18|kn}} using their Tyne turbines. The MEKOs have a maximum range of {{convert|4500|nmi|lk=in}} at 18 knots.{{sfn|Gardiner|Chumbley|Budzbon|1995|p=8}}
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 {{convert|5|in|mm|adj=on}}/54 calibre naval gun forward of the superstructure, eight Bofors 40 mm/70 calibre guns, and two triple-mounted {{convert|324|mm|in|adj=on}} ILAS torpedo tubes.{{sfn|Saunders|2009|p=12}}
Ships
| class="wikitable"
! Name ! Number ! Laid down ! Launched ! Commissioned ! Status |
| colspan="6" | MEKO 360H1 |
|---|
| {{ship|NNS|Aradu}}
| F89 | 1 December 1978 | 25 January 1980 | 20 February 1982 | Laid up since at least 2017 |
| colspan="6" | MEKO 360H2 |
| {{ship|ARA|Almirante Brown|D-10|6}}
| D-10 | 8 September 1980 | 28 March 1981 | 26 January 1983 | In service |
| {{ship|ARA|La Argentina|D-11|6}}
| D-11 | 30 March 1981 | 25 September 1981 | 4 May 1983 | In service |
| {{ship|ARA|Heroína|D-12|6}}
| D-12 | 24 August 1981 | 17 February 1982 | 31 October 1983 | Laid up |
| {{ship|ARA|Sarandí|D-13|6}}
| D-13 | 9 March 1982 | 31 August 1982 | 16 April 1984 | In service |
| {{ship|ARA|Rivadavia|D-14|6}}
| D-14 | colspan="6" rowspan="2" align="center" | Cancelled |
| {{ship|ARA|Moreno|D-15|6}}
|D-15 |
See also
- {{sclass2|F125|frigate|1}}
- {{sclass|Sachsen|frigate|1}}
- {{sclass|Hamburg|destroyer|1}}
- MEKO 140
- MEKO 200
- {{sclass|Halifax|frigate|1}}
- {{sclass|Anzac|frigate|1}}
- {{sclass|Formidable|frigate|1}}
- {{sclass|La Fayette|frigate|1}}
- Second Generation Patrol Vessel
Notes
{{reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book |editor-last=Gardiner |editor-first=Robert |editor-last2=Chumbley |editor-first2=Stephen |editor-last3=Budzbon |editor-first3=Przemysław |name-list-style=amp |year=1995 |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-55750-132-7 }}
- {{cite book |editor-last=Saunders |editor-first=Stephen |year=2009 |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010 |publisher=Jane's Information Group Inc. |edition=112 |location=Alexandria, Virginia |isbn=978-0-7106-2888-6 }}