Meko 360-class

Summary

Description

The MEKO 360 is a naval ship class that includes five ships constructed by Blohm und Voss in Germany, intended for service in the Argentine and Nigerian navies. As an early member of the MEKO family of vessels, this class introduced the modular design principle that emphasizes flexibility and upgradeability in naval armaments.

Comprised of two variants, the MEKO 360H1 fielded just a single ship for the Nigerian Navy, named NNS Aradu, which is among the largest vessels in their fleet. The other variant, the MEKO 360H2, includes four ships built for Argentina, referred to as the Almirante Brown class. The nomenclature regarding these ships varies, with some sources labeling them as frigates while others classify them as destroyers. This flexibility in classification reflects the inherent modularity of the MEKO design which enables the ships to adapt their armaments according to specific mission needs and simplifies the process for future upgrades and refits.

The Almirante Brown class, belonging to the MEKO 360H2 group, presents a well-equipped armament array. It features eight Exocet anti-ship missiles, an octuple launcher for Aspide anti-air missiles, a main gun of OTO Melara 5-inch caliber, eight Bofors anti-aircraft guns, and two sets of ILAS torpedo tubes. The design allows for rapid changes in weaponry, positioning these ships for swift response to diverse naval requirements.

Despite differences in their equipment, all MEKO 360 ships share a common thread in their innovative COGOG (Combined Gas or Gas) propulsion systems. This setup facilitates a balance of high power for maximum speeds and economical cruising for efficient long-range missions. The MEKO 360 vessels can reach up to 30.5 knots when operated on their Olympus gas turbines, and a range of 4,500 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 18 knots on their Tyne turbines.

Technical specifications