Deutsche Marine Flugdeckfregatte F300 Rhein

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Deutsche Marine Flugdeckfregatte F300 Rhein

The F300 Rhein: Germany's New Flight Deck Frigate

In the spring of 2022, a special 100 billion euro fund—colloquially known as the "Wumms"—was established to modernize the German armed forces. This led to initial plans to expand the number of new Type 126 frigates from four to eight.

However, the German Navy shifted its priorities, expressing a need for a stronger air component. This resulted in a bold decision: to cancel the final two frigates in favor of a "flight deck frigate." While other navies would classify such a ship as a light aircraft carrier, the German Navy refers to all its large warships as frigates to avoid what it considers overly militaristic terminology.

The final design for the F300 class is a 40,000-ton vessel, approximately 250 meters long. It will be the first German warship to use an Integrated Electric Propulsion (IEP) system, which uses gas turbines to generate electricity that powers electric motors connected to the propellers.

Armament and Sensors

As a high-value asset, the F300's armament is heavily focused on self-defense. To protect against aerial threats, four Phalanx CIWS (Close-In Weapon Systems) are positioned at the corners of the flight deck, providing 360-degree coverage. For close-in threats like small boats and drones, six light 30mm cannons offer a formidable defense with a high rate of fire. Additionally, the ship is equipped with two 48-cell Vertical Launching System (VLS) launchers, capable of firing a variety of missiles, including surface-to-air missiles like the RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM), anti-submarine warfare rockets, and land-attack cruise missiles.

The ship's sensor suite is state-of-the-art, consisting of an ARPAR (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar, a SMART-L radar, and the FL1800 S for electronic countermeasures.

Air Wing

The air wing is a powerful combination of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. It will include 6 to 8 F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters, providing strike and air defense capabilities. The majority of the fixed-wing fleet will consist of 8 to 10 EADF "Skua" light VTOL/STOL aircraft, which will be used for close air support, reconnaissance, and fleet protection. A contingent of 4 to 6 helicopters will also be on board.

The first ship of the class, the F300 Rhein, was laid down at the Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems shipyard in Wismar in 2025 and is projected to be operational by 2032. A second vessel, the F301 Weser, is planned to be laid down in 2027.















The model

This build is based on the Revell 1/720 USS Tarawa LHA-1 kit. The well deck was closed, and 3D-printed hull extensions were added to the sides. Visible hangar sections were also custom 3D-printed.
The island superstructure was completely replaced with a newly designed and 3D-printed version. Several sensors and weapon systems, including VLS and CIWS, were 3D-printed; the CIWS models were sourced from Thingiverse.
Aircraft such as the F-35 and the EADF Skua (based on a Mirage F1 model) were also obtained from Thingiverse, resized to scale, and 3D-printed.
Additional photo-etched parts were incorporated, and the model was finished with Revell Aqua Color paints.

[NARSES2]

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