Hydra-class frigate (MEKO 200HN)

Basic information

Type:

Frigate

Parent class:

MEKO 200 frigate

Operators:

Hellenic Navy

Country of build:

Builder:

Hellenic Shipyards Co. Blohm + Voss

Planned:

Cancelled:

Completed:

In service:

1992 – present (32 years)

Ship measurements

Displacement:

4,000 t

Length:

117.5 m

Beam:

14.8 m

Machine

Propulsion system:

CODOG

Propulsion:

2 * General Electric LM2500 gas turbines 60,656 hp
2 * MTU 20V 956 diesel engines 10,040 hp
2 * controllable pitch propellers

Speed:

31 knots

Range:

4,100 nautical miles (8,000 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h)

Personnel

Complement:

173

Combat assets

Electronics:

Signaal MW08 air search radar
Signaal DA08 air surface radar
2 * Signaal STIR fire control radar
Racal Decca 2690 BT navigation radar
Mk XII Mod 4 IFF radar
2 * Signaal Mk 73 Mod 1 radar for ESSM
Raytheon SQS-56/DE 1160 hull-mounted and VDS sonar
Signaal STACOS Mod 2 combat data system
SAR-8 IR searcher
Argo AR 700 ESM system
Telegon 10 ESM system
Argo APECS II ECM system
4 * SCLAR decoy launchers
SLQ-25 Nixie torpedo decoy

Armament:

2 * 4 Mk141 Harpoon missile launchers
Mk 48 Mod 2 vertical launcher for 16 * RIM-162 ESSM
1 * Mk 45 Mod 2A 5" gun
2 * Mk15 Phalanx 20 mm CIWS
2 * 3 324mm Mk32 Mod 5 torpedo tubes for Mk46 torpedoes

Aircraft:

Sikorsky S-70B-6 Aegean Hawk helicopter
Helipad
Hangar

The Hydra class are a group of four frigates in service with the Hellenic Navy. They were designed in Germany and are part of the MEKO group of modular warships, in this case the MEKO 200 design. The programme was authorised in 1988 and partially paid for with FMS aid and previsioned for the commission of six vessels. The first ship was built in Germany and commissioned in 1992 but suffered a serious fire while working up near Portland, England. Repairs were completed in 1993. The Greek built warships were delayed due to financial problems on the part of the Hellenic Shipyards completing in the late 1990s which also led to limiting the total number of vessels to four mainly after the acquisition of eight Kortenaer class frigates from the Netherlands in the late 1990s.