Tiger-class fast attack craft

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Tiger-class vessel S54 Elster
Class overview
NameTiger class
Operators
Preceded byZobel class
Succeeded byAlbatros class
Built1971–1975
In commission1972–2002 (Germany)
Completed20
Lost1
General characteristics (After last refit)
TypeFast Attack Craft
Displacement265 tonnes (261 long tons)
Length47 m (154 ft 2 in)
Beam7 m (23 ft)
Draught2.70 m (8 ft 10 in)
Propulsion
Speed36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)
Range
  • 570 nmi (1,060 km) at 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)
  • 1,600 nmi (3,000 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement30
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
NotesThe ships have been updated twice (1982–84 and 1990–92), this represents the last update that was performed on all ships.

The Type 148 Tiger-class fast attack craft are a group of missile boats built to a Franco-German design and seeing service in the German Navy. The vessels entered service in the 1970s and served into the early 21st century. While they have been mostly retired from German Navy service, many were transferred to other navies and remained in service longer.

Design

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Tiger-class S57 Weihe (P6157), 1985

The vessels had been designed by Lürssen of Germany for Israel. They were a modification of the Jaguar-class fast attack craft but armed with the French Exocet missile. They were built mainly in France by Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie in Cherbourg (CMN) for political reasons; twelve were built and completed there, while another eight of the boats were laid down by CMH, but completed by Lürssen.

Their export to Israel was also blocked for political reasons, and the boats were commissioned into the German Navy as the Tiger class. A number of other boats were built by CMN for various navies to the same design, which became known as the La Combattante II type fast attack craft.

Operational history

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The boats were commissioned into the Bundesmarine in the mid-1970s, replacing the Jaguar-class vessels of the 3rd and 5th Squadrons. At first the boats did not receive names, only numbers, but these were introduced later at the insistence of the crews.

The ships served for 30 years, and received major updates in 1982–84 and 1990–92. After decommissioning they were scrapped or sold to different countries. No direct replacements were procured as due to the changed operating conditions the Deutsche Marine has reduced the number of these fast attack boats drastically and procured instead a smaller number of corvettes.

Ship list

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NATO
pennant
number 		German
pennant
number 		Name Call sign[citation needed] Shipyard Laid down[1] Launched[1] Commissioned[1] Decommissioned Status
P6141 S41 Tiger DRBA CMN 11 October 1971 27 September 1972 30 October 1972 24 September 1998 sold to the Chilean Navy as Teniente Uribe (LM-39); decommissioned 2014.
P6142 S42 Iltis (Polecat) DRBB CMN 2 February 1972 12 December 1972 8 January 1973 15 October 1992 sold to the Hellenic Navy
P6143 S43 Luchs (Lynx) DRBC CMN 23 March 1972 7 March 1973 9 April 1973 27 August 1998 sold to the Chilean Navy for scrapping
P6144 S44 Marder (Marten) DRBD CMN 15 April 1972 5 May 1973 14 July 1973 25 May 1994 sold to the Hellenic Navy
P6145 S45 Leopard DRBE CMN 13 September 1972 3 July 1973 21 August 1973 28 September 2000 sold to the Hellenic Navy
P6146 S46 Fuchs (Fox) DRBF Lürssen 10 March 1972 21 May 197 17 October 1973 19 December 2002 Sold to the Egyptian Navy
P6147 S47 Jaguar DRBG CMN 29 November 1972 20 September 1973 13 November 1973 28 September 2000 sold to the Hellenic Navy
P6148 S48 Löwe (Lion) DRBH Lürssen 10 July 1972 10 September 1973 9 January 1974 19 December 2002 sold to the Egyptian Navy
P6149 S49 Wolf DRBI CMN 23 January 1973 11 January 1974 26 February 1974 27 August 1997 sold to the Chilean Navy in 1997 as Guardiamarina Riquelme (LM-36); decommissioned 2004.
P6150 S50 Panther DRBJ Lürssen 30 September 1972 10 December 1973 27 March 1974 29 September 2002 scrapped 2003
P6151 S51 Häher (Jay) DRBK CMN 5 April 1973 26 April 1974 12 June 1974 23 June 1994 sold to the Hellenic Navy
P6152 S52 Storch (Stork) DRBL Lürssen 12 March 1973 25 March 1974 17 July 1974 12 November 1992 sold to the Hellenic Navy
P6153 S53 Pelikan (Pelican) DRBM CMN 11 September 1973 4 July 1974 24 September 1974 25 June 1998 sold to the Chilean Navy for scrapping.
P6154 S54 Elster (Magpie) DRBN Lürssen 29 June 1973 8 July 1974 14 November 1974 27 August 1997 sold to the Chilean Navy in 1997 as Teniente Orella (LM-37); decommissioned 2014.
P6155 S55 Alk (Auk) DRBO CMN 9 April 1974 15 November 1974 7 January 1975 13 May 2002 sold to the Egyptian Navy
P6156 S56 Dommel (Bittern) DRBP Lürssen 13 December 1973 30 October 1974 12 February 1975 19 December 2002 sold to the Egyptian Navy
P6157 S57 Weihe (Harrier) DRBQ CMN 2 July 1974 13 February 1975 3 April 1975 19 December 2002 sold to the Egyptian Navy
P6158 S58 Pinguin (Penguin) DRBR Lürssen 11 March 1974 26 February 1975 22 May 1975 28 June 2002 scrapped 2003
P6159 S59 Reiher (Heron) DRBS CMN 8 November 1974 15 May 1975 24 June 1975 27 September 2002 scrapped 2003
P6160 S60 Kranich (Crane) DRBT Lürssen 9 May 1974 26 May 1975 6 August 1975 24 September 1998 sold to the Chilean Navy in 1998 as Teniente Serrano (LM-38); decommissioned 2014.

See also

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Couhat & Baker 1986, p. 191

Bibliography

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  • Couhat, Jean Labayle; Baker, A. D. III, eds. (1986). Combat Fleets of the World 1986/87: Their Ships, Aircraft and Armament. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85368-860-5.
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