German destroyer Mölders (D186)
Class 103/103A/103B
The guided missile destroyer Mölders was provided as a second unit of the class 103 ( Lütjens class) into service and was a warship of the German Navy. The destroyer was named after Air Force Colonel Werner Mölders.
History
On the slipway of the Bath Iron Works in Maine as the construction DDG 29 was begun on 12 April 1966. The baptism of the new building took place on 13 April 1968 the name Molders The naming ceremony was performed by the mother of Air Force Colonel Werner Mölders, Anna Maria Molders. Subsequently, the launch took place. The destroyer was made on September 20, 1969 in Boston by its first commander Commander Günter Fromm, for the first destroyer squadron in Kiel in service. The destroyer Mölders was assigned at entry into the registration D 186 and the radio call sign DBYC. By 1 December 1981, the call sign was changed in draf.
From November 1977 to April 1978 a modernization Class 103A took place. The reconstruction and equipment for Destroyer Class 103B was made in April 1982 to January 1983. Early 1995, then the RAM starter came on board.
Inserts
The Molders participated in numerous NATO exercises in part, among them regularly as part of the permanent task forces of NATO in the Atlantic ( STANAVFORLANT ) and the Mediterranean ( STANAVFORMED ).
On the night of December 15, 1987, there was on the way back from a mission in the Mediterranean during the passage through the English Channel, a major fire [A 1]. In the galley [A 2], a fire broke out, which spread through cable trays and ventilation shafts and was hard to get with available materials under control. With the support of the Association of accompanying ships the fire could be contained and cleared on the east by the crew. The Molders could then start on its own its home port of Kiel. People have not been applied to the fire damage.
1992 began the Mölders a German cargo ship loaded with Czechoslovakian T-72 tanks in the Mediterranean from - the first action of this kind for the German Navy. She was also in the enforcement of the embargo against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Operation Sharp Guard ) involved.
Whereabouts
After 34 years of service, the destroyer Mölders was made on 28 May 2003 at the Naval Arsenal Wilhelmshaven out of service after the ship was commissioned on 21 November 2002 except motor pool. After the ex Mölders was initially included in the Defense Technical Study Collection of the Federal Koblenz, she came on permanent loan to the German Navy Museum in Wilhelmshaven. Since June 24th 2005, she is available as a floating museum exhibit to the public.
Sister ships
- Destroyer Lütjens (D 185 ), from 1 March 1966 to 18 December, 2003 service.
- Destroyer drum ( D 187), dated 2 May 1970 to 30 June 1999 in service.