List of German Navy ship classes

This is a list of naval ship classes that were in service with the Bundesmarine (navy of West Germany), or are still in service with the German Navy (navy of reunited Germany). Some projects, that were not built or future designs are also present.

This transport-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

The type codes

The post-war navy of western Germany introduced a three digit code system to designate every class of vessel they ordered to design or acquired from foreign nations. Even some classes that were only built for export got such codes, most prominently the Type 209 submarine. After reunification the German Navy kept the system, codes for ships from the former forces of East Germany (Volksmarine) were added. (See #Former NVA units).

The code is sometimes prefixed with a letter according to the category of the ships, e.g.:

Upgrades to the design or major refits of already built ships are marked with a postfixed letter, beginning with A for the first modification. This letter is usually spoken and sometimes written according to the NATO Phonetic Alphabet, e.g. class 206 alpha for the upgraded Type 206 submarine.

The codes are grouped with a two-level categorization, the first digit defines the first category. Categories are usually further subdivided in blocks.

In each block of type codes, the numbers were assigned chronologically for designed types. Classes acquired from foreign nation or from World War II were given numbers near the end of their block. Sometimes a block is further divided, e.g. Types 120—139 have apparently been split in frigates (120-129) and corvettes (130-139) with the upcoming Type 130 corvette.

The type codes starting with 0 are not used, and also the digit 0 is skipped at the start of a category, i.e. codes 000-099, 100, 200… are not used.

Individual ships in a class are designated with two digit number following a slash, e.g. 123/02 for the frigate F216 Schleswig-Holstein, second ship of the Type 123 Brandenburg class.

List of classes

Entries of classes know to be in service are coloured light blue.

101—119 Zerstörer (Destroyer)
TypeClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/fate
101Hamburg D181—18441964—1994 upgraded to 101A, all scrapped
103Lütjens D185—18731969—2003 upgrades 103A and 103B, 1 museum ship, the others scrapped
119Fletcher D170—18061958—19821 used as target ship, 1 scrapped, 4 sold to Greece (later scrapped),
120—139 Fregatten und Korvetten (frigates and corvettes)
120Köln F220—22561961—19891 used as hulk, 1 scrapped, 4 sold to Turkey
121Fregatte 70 cancelled project
122Bremen F207—21481982—multi-purpose frigate
123Brandenburg F215—21841994— Anti-submarine warfare frigate
124Sachsen F219—22132003— Anti-aircraft warfare frigate, option for a 4th ship
125 F125 in design phase
130Braunschweig F260—F264 5 currently building, planned 5
138 Hunt/Black Swan F212—218 71958—1967Former British frigates and sloops, used for training, all scrapped
139 Isle A50—51 21956—?Former British naval trawlers, converted and redesignated Type 752
140—159 Schnellboote (Fast Attack Craft)
140Jaguar / Typ 55 P6058—6067
P6082—6091
201957—19756 Eberhard-Arnis, 1 Hirdis-Kiel, 1 used as target ships France,
1 scrapped, 10 sold to Turkey scrapped,
1 museum ship (P6083 Kranich, scrapped 2007)
141Seeadler P6068—6077 101958—1976sold to Greece last scrapped 2005/2006
142Zobel P6092—6101 101961—19846 sold to Turkey, 1 Lürssen Shipyard, 3 German Navy (1 for training Ship safety device)
143Albatros P6111—6120 101976—20056 sold to Tunisia, 2 sold privately, 2 can be bought or will be scrapped (2007)
143AGepard P6121—6130 101982—
144 0 cancelled project with CODAG propulsion
145 0 cancelled project of a missile boat
146 0 cancelled project of a torpedo boat
148Tiger P6141—6160 201972—2002French origin & powered by Lürssen-Bremen, 6 sold to Chile, 5 to Egypt, 6 to Greece and 3 scrapped
149Silbermöve P6052—6057101956—1967No former World War II of the German Kriegsmarine, new order from the German Bundesgrenzschutz/German Coastguard, unfortunately an offence against the Potsdam Agreement, seizure by the U.K., first in service of the Baltic Fishery Protection Service (Verband Klose), later in the 1. Schnellbootgeschwader of the German Navy
150 0 50t patrol boat (cancelled project)
151 0 50t patrol boat (cancelled project)
152Nasty P6191—6192 21960—1973From Norway, for trials
153Vosper motor torpedo boatP6193—619421962—1967British origin, for trials
157??? 211969—??small patrol craft, given to Bundesgrenzschutz
160—169 Tragflügelboote (Hydrofoils)
160 0 cancelled project, Schlichting design
161 0 cancelled project, Lürssen design
162 0 NATO project, Bundesmarine withdrew 1977, resulted in the US Pegasus class hydrofoil, Type 143 built instead
170—179 U-Jagdboote (Submarine hunters)
179La Fouguex(?) 11958French design, Licence built for NATO (?)
201—249 U-Boote (Submarines)
TypeClassPennant
Numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes
201 Type 201 S180—18231962—1967350 ton coastal submarines
202 Type 202 S172—17321965—1966100 ton mini submarines, a large fleet was initially planned, used for trials only
203 cancelled project
204 cancelled project
205 Type 205 S183—191101962—2005450 ton coastal submarines,

U11 was upgraded to 205A and U12 to 205B

206 Type 206 S192—199
S171—179
181973— 500 ton, 12 have been upgraded to 206A, 7 of them still in service
207 Kobben (Type 207) 16 Type 205 version for Norway and Denmark(lately used only by Poland)]
208 Cancelled project or maybe used internally for TR-1700
209 Type 209 over 60 1200-1600 ton boats, for export only
210 Ula (Type 210) 6 1200 ton boats, Built for Norway
211 cancelled project or maybe used internally for Dolphin
212 Type 212 S181—18442005—1800 ton, design upgraded to 212A, also built in/for Italy
213 Type 213 planned enhanced 2nd batch of Type 212
214 Type 214 larger export sub, based on Type 209 with some enhancements from Type 212
240 Type 240 S170—S17121957—1968Upgraded former Kriegsmarine Type XXIII U-boats
241 Wilhelm Bauer Y88011960—1968Upgraded former Kriegsmarine Type XXI U-boat
250—299 not assigned
301—319 Hochseeminensuchboote (ocean-going minesweeper)
TypeClassPennant
number
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
319 M type F207—211
M187—192
111956—1963former Kriegsmarine boats, 4 used as target ships (1 sunk), 6 redesignated as 730, others scrapped
320—329 Küstenminensuchboote (coastal minesweepers)
320LindauM1070—1087181958—198012 upgraded to type Type 331, 6 to 351
321VegesackM1250—125561959—1969French Origin, sold to Turkey
330—339 Minenjagdboote (minehunters)
331FuldaM1071—1072
M1074—1075
M1077—1078
M1080
M1084—1087
121972—20001 museum ship, 2 scrapped, 2 each to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, 1 to Georgia, 1 to Gibraltar
332 Frankenthal M1058—1069121992—
333KulmbachM1091—10965 upgraded Type 343 boats
339 W44,45
W53—56
61956—1970former French Navy vessels, Canadian origin, all scrapped
340—369 Schnelle Minensuch- und Minenkampfboote sowie Räumfahrzeuge
(fast minesweepers, mine warfare ships and clearing vessels)
340KrebsM1050—1059101959—1990decommissioned
341SchützeM1060—1069
M1090—1099
201959—19901 redesignated as Type 903, others decommissioned
342 cancelled project
343 Hameln M1090—1099101989—20015 upgraded to Type 333, 5 to Type 352
350 project cancelled 1973
351UlmM1073,M1076
M1079
M1081—1083
61989—2000former Type 320, to South Africa in 2001

M1081 Konstanz expended as target by two Exocet MM40 surface to surface missiles fired from SA Navy frigates SAS Amatola and SAS Isandlwana during Exercise Red Lion on November 1, 2007 about 90 km west of Saldanha Bay, South Africa.

352 Ensdorf M1090
M1092—1094
M1098
5 former Type 343 boats
MCM drone controller
355ERMISS cancelled project
359 M1051—1054
M1056—1064
M1067—1089
W46—48
52,61,62
241956—196815 used as Type 730, 1 Type 732, 1 Type 739
360HansaW2211958—1968redesignated as Type 392
361HansaW2111958—1968redesignated as Type 391
362 W23—40181961—19688 redesignated as Type 393, 10 Type 394
368 W1—3
W13—19
101956—19744 to Tanzania, 2 to Greece, 1 Type 740
368NordwindY83411956—training boat
369 Y827,830
Y832,833
Y845,846
61956—19944 to Kazakhstan
370—379 Minenleger (Minelayers)
370 A1403—140531961—1971Former USN LSTs, 1 scrapped, 2 to Turkey
380-389 Netzleger und Netzleichter (net layers and net lighters)
cancelled projects
390-399 Binnenminensuchboot (inland waterway minesweepers)
390 M265111966—transformed to Type 740, two boats cancelled
391NiobeM26611 transformed into Type 740
392Hansa M26621 transformed into Type 732
393Ariadne M2650—265781961—19921 hulk, most scrapped
394FrauenlobM2658—2667101966—20014 to Estonia, 1 museum ship
401—419 Tender
TypeClassPennant
number
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
401 Rhein A58—6681961—19934 scrapped, 3 sold to Turkey, 1 to Greece
402 Mosel A67,54,6531963—19912 scrapped, 1 sold to Turkey
403 Lahn A55—5621964—1991scrapped
404 Elbe A511—51661993—
419 Oste A52,5321956—?Former Kriegsmarine tender, redesignated and assigned to Type 753 (A52) and 754 (A53)
420—429 Flottendienstboote und U-Jagdboote

(Fleet service ships and small submarine hunters)

420 Thetis P6052—605651961—1992Sold to Greece
421Hans BürknerA144911963—1990Fleet service ship, scrapped
422 A50,52,5331957—1988Former Type 753 ships, Fleet service ships, 1 scrapped, one sold to Turkey, other to Greece
423Oste A50,52,5331988—Confusingly share same Pennant number and name combinations as Type 422 class
430—439 Torpedofangboote (Torpedo retrieving boats)
430Type 430Y851—856
872—874
91966—6 upgraded to 430A, most sold to Greece, 1 maybe still in service
438Type 438Y883—886
835
71959—1989Former Kriegsmarine boats
439Type 439Y806—807
P6015—6020
P6043—6051
181956—1976Some of them redesignated as Type 740 or 945, used as patrol boats
401—419 Schulschiffe (School ships)
440 Deutschland A5911963—1990Upgraded to 440A, scrapped
441 Gorch Fock II A6011958—Sailing ship
442 2 Sailing ship (planned)
501-539 Landungsboote (landing boats)
TypeClassPennant
number
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
502LSM 1 1 decommissioned
520BarbeL760—768
L788—791
L795—799
221965—Utility landing craft, 5 different upgrades/versions (A—D), 10 to Greece, L762 and L765 still in service
521 LCM-8 LCM1—20
A1423
A1430—1434
L786,787
281965—11 to Greece, decommissioned(?)
540-599 not assigned
540 Task force support ship (cancelled project?)
550 LSM L750—75341958—1973Former USN LSMs
551LSML754,75521958—1967Former USN LSMs
552 LCA LCA30—33
LCA35—40
91958—1964Formar RN LCAs
553 LCM LCM10
LCM602—606
LCM231,233
LCM235—237
111960—1973Former USN LCMs
554 LCU LCU111959—1967Former USN LCU, used as LCA leader
555 City of Havanna WS111961—1965Former USN LSD, used as ferry and swimming barrack, sold to Greek Shipping company

This category was formally not used. Small NVA combatants were assigned here.

701—736 Transporter, Schlepper und Betriebsfahrzeuge
(transport ships, tugs and utility vessels)
TypeClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
701 Lüneburg A1411—141881966—2005Many upgrades, 701A through 701E
702Berlin A1411—141222001—Third unit ordered
703 Walchensee A1424—142741966—small fuel tanker and transport ship, 2 still in service
704 Rhön A1442—144321977—Larger fuel tanker, originally built for Libya
705 A1403—1406
Y865—866
61963—2000Fresh water tanker, most sold to Turkey and Greece
706SchwarzwaldA140011961—1974Former French Navy ship Almathée, ammunition transport ship
708 2—1970Maintenance ships, swimming workshops. Built out of old landing ships
710Förde A1641—164221967—1992Oil tank cleaning ships, scrapped
711Hiev 21962— 100t swimming cranes
712 21961— Lifting docks
713 41961– lifiting pontoons, 1 still in service?
714Dock B 11963— 4500t self-propelled swimming dock, built 1939
715 31960— 8000t swimming docks, built 1943
718 LP1—LP3 21964— submarine battery loading prams, 1 still in service?
719MemmertY87511956—1980former US Navy USN 106 crane ship
720Helgoland A1457—145821966— Salvage tug, upgrades 720A, 720B. A1458 Fehmarn still in service
721Eisvogel A1401—140221961—icebreaker, A1402 decommissioned
722Wangerooge A1451—145661968—ocean tugs, three redesignated as Type 754, A1451 Wangerooge and A1452 Spiekeroog still in service, upgrades 722A,722B,722C
723Lütje Hörn Y812—81981958—1990small harbour tugs, 5 sold to Greece, two scrapped, 1 museum ship
724Sylt Y820—823
Y1680—1682
81962—larger harbour tugs, 2 sold to Greece, one to Latvia, three scrapped, 1 to Bundesgrenzschutz, Y1680 still in service(?)
725NordstrandY812—81961987—harbour tugs
726 Y847—84821960—1991former landing crafts used as workshop ships
727WielandY80411956—1971swimming workshop
728 1 workshop pram, decommissioned
729PassatY800—Y80341956—1978former Kriegsmarine tugs, some used as target ship, others scrapped
730 Y809—811
WBM I—VI
WBR I—XVII
28—1986assorted old ships used as hulks, all scrapped
732 351956—mine- and torpedo diver rafts, most (all?) scrapped
734 1 firefighting boat, decommissioned
735 hospital ship, cancelled project
736 hospital ship, cancelled project
737 211961—assorted small lighters
738BottsandY1634—163521985—oil recovery ships
739 31969—1981electric power supply ships
740—759 Erprobungs-, Forschungs- und Spezialschiffe
(trials, research and special ships)
740 (many)31 Assorted ships and boats used for trials
741 A1408,Y83821967—naval mine trials ship
742 Walther von Ledebur
Mülhausen
A1410
M1052
11967—1994
1995—
mine trials ship, after upgrade to 742A renamed and now mine diver ship
743AMY1674,1675
Y1679
31971—work boats
744 Y1670,1683
Y1684,1686
41965—multipurpose utility boats
745StollergrundY863—86751989—small multipurpose utility boats
746Torpedoscheibe 31959—2 decommissioned
747 41959—1983experimental remote controlled mine sweepers, trials of the TROIKA system
748SchwedeneckY860—86231987—middle sized multipurpose utility boats
749 large multipurpose utility boats, project cancelled
750PlanetA145011967—defence trials ship
751Trave A511—1977oceanographic research ship; another boat was planned, but sold to Turkey instead
752 A50,5121956—?mine-throwing ship, one converted to Type 732, other to Type 751
753 A50,52,53
A1456
41956—measurement boats, first three converted to 422, A1456 is now a NATO research ship
754 Y1662
A1439—1441
4 1 former Kriegsmarine vessel (decommissioned), 3 former Type 722 tugs; diver training boats
759SeeschwalbeW631—1966Research vessel, redesignated Type 740
760—790 Transporter (transport ships)
760 Westerwald A1435—143621967—A1435 still in service, A1436 decommissioned
761 torpedo transport ship, not built
762 Sachsenwald A1437—143821968—1993Mine transport ships, scrapped
763 A1406—1407
Y824—Y825
41956—1995Fuel tanker, 2 were former Kriegsmarine ships, 1 sold to Turkey, 3 scrapped
764 A1408—140921955—1992Transport ships, French origin, both sold to Turkey
766 A1428—142921963—1977Fuel tanker, both scrapped in Netherlands
780 A1438—144141959—1977Fuel tanker, scrapped in Hamburg
785 Y830—83231960—1969Depot ships, scrapped
790 Ammunition transport ship, cancelled project

This range of Type numbers is not allocated

900-999 Safety, rescue, liaison & boats for special purposes

901—909 Sicherheits- und Seenotrettungsfahrzeuge (safeguard and rescue vessels)
TypeClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes
903Stier1Y8491966—former M1061, Type 341, redesignated Type 732
905TodendorfY835—83951993—security boats
906 Y861—86331961—1975former Royal Air Force aircrew rescue boats, one used as Type 740 target ship from 1975 to 1977, others scrapped
907 W57—6041956—1976former Luftwaffe and USN boats, used for air crew rescue missions
908 VB1—221973—1992fast messenger boats
909 Y857—86041956—1993air crew rescue boats, one gone to harbour police, Bremen
910—919 Dienstsegelboote (service sailing boats)
910 26 assorted small yachts, some sunk, most (all?) decommissioned
911 Star 8 At least 2 decommissioned, named after Gemstones
912 11 Pirate class dinghy at least 1 decommissioned, have female given names
913 12
914 26 another class of Pirat dinghies, have male names, all decommissioned
915 17 another class of Pirat dinghies, have male names,
920—929 Sportboote (yachts)
unassigned
930—959 Verkehrs- und Beiboote (liaison boats and dinghies)
930 32 old Kriegsmarine barges, 45—100PS motors, some with cabins, out of service
931 81958—1993barges, 70/90PS motor
932 151958—1981liaison boats, 70/120PS motor
933 23 pinnaces, with cabin, 70PS motor
934 20 barges , with cabin
935 24 pinnaces, wooden, without cabin, 70PS motor
936 15 pinnaces, wooden, cabin, 47—75PS motor
937 2 pinnaces, wooden, 70 or 54PS motor
938 6 motor dinghies
939Lindau 1 motor dinghy, 5m, wooden/GRP hull, 75PS pump-jet
940 60 cutter, wooden, with 20PS motor
941 92 cutters, wooden, with sail, no motor
942 16 dinghies, wooden, with sail and sword
943 5 dinghies, GRP hull, with sail
944 75 dinghies, wooden, with sail
945 Y16xx 16 assorted harbour barges, diver service boats, motor barges, tug barges
946 Y16xx51985—tug barges
947 65 motor cutters, 20PS motor, GRP hull
948 16 pinnaces with cabin, GRP hull, 70PS motor, GRP hull
949 48 cutters, without motor, GRP hull
950 2 dinghies, GRP hull
951 16 utility motorboats, GRP hull
952 12 two types of open lifeboats for tankers 6.5 m (20 persons) or 6.0 m (14 persons) long, steel hull
953Emsland 1 prototype of closed lifeboat for tankers, GRP hull
954 28 pinnaces without cabin, 70PS motor, GRP hull
960—965 Motorrettungs- und Bereitschaftsboote (motor lifeboats and stand-by boats
960 partly closed
961 partly closed, self erecting
962 fully closed
963 with air supply
964 fire protected
965 assorted stand-by boats

Type numbers 966—999 are not allocated

Former NVA units

After the unification of the German Navies, the Eastern German ship classes got Type codes of the Western system. Especially for those that were soon sold afterwards to foreign navies, this process did not strictly follow the previous rules. Sometimes already allocated codes were reused or the previously spared x00 codes were assigned. But the vast majority was categorized in the previously unused 600-699 range, but even here the same Type code is often used more than once. And sometimes, ships of the same class are spread over different Type codes.

TypeClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/fate
140 Parchim I P6167—617041984—1991sold to Indonesia
300Projekt 89.2M2670—267151973—19912 sold to Indonesia, 3 to Uruguay
391Projekt 89.1BG31—33 3—19961 to each Tunisia, Malta, Cape Verde
420Parchim 213—214
222—224
231—233
242—244
11—1991submarine hunters, sold to Indonesia, see also Type 140
600 K41—433-1991 ELINT ships, 2 to Estonia, 1 to Spain
600Wilhelm PieckS411—1996scrapped in Spain
600Project 600?C112,C6612—1991Tanker, scrapped?
600 A441,A1142—1991salvage vessels, 1 to Uruguayan Navy, 1 scrapped(?)
600Koni I 142,F22521986—1991 Koni I, scrapped?
610Rostock F22411978—1991another Koni I, sold to United Kingdom
620Balcom 10P616511990—1991 to Bundesgrenzschutz
621Tarantul I571—575
P6166
61985—19912 to USN, 3 scrapped, 1 ??
630GrevesmühlenP616411984—1991Parchim I, sold to Indonesia
640TangerhütteM266911972—1991Project 89.2 minesweeper, ??
650Project 162Y890—89561984—2002Swimming base, habitat
660assorted tugboatsY1650—1651
Y1654—1656
...
? ??, two still in service
660assorted salvage vessels ? ?? ??
670Gustav KönigsY1652,Y16572—1994Tankers, scrapped(?)
680 Y1653,D442—1991Sea mark boats(?), scrapped(?)
690Project 602A1430—1434
V816
61983—1991Replenishment ships, Scrapped in Belgium(?)

References

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