Nigerian frigate Aradu

The Aradu at the dock

  • 8 × Otomat Mk1 SSM
  • Albatross starter for vestibule
  • 1 × Sk 12.7 cm L/54
  • 8 × Mk Breda 4.0 cm
  • 6 × torpedo tube Ø 53,3 cm
  • DA -08
  • Decca 1226SS (I)
  • Signaal STIR (I / J / K)
  • Signaal WM25 (I)

The Aradu ( thunder) ( ID: F89 ) is a frigate of the Nigerian Navy. The ship was the first of its series laid in 1980 at the German shipyard Blohm Voss in 1978 to Kiel and sold as arms exports to Nigeria. The Aradu is the largest ship of the Nigerian Navy and was with his delivery, the most powerful military ship of the entire African continent. In its checkered history, the ship was due to lack of financial and human resources of Nigeria mostly on the quay. A sharp projectile was fired from the frigate was the last time in the 1980s. 2012 presented the Nigerian Navy with the Thunder a more modern frigate in service.

Construction

The Aradu comes from German production of the Blohm Voss shipyard in Hamburg and was the first ship of the MEKO 360 class, which was commissioned. It was launched on January 25, 1980. The ship corresponded to the type MEKO 360 H1. It is still the largest ship of the Nigerian Navy.

The ships of the MEKO -360 class are designed to be modular. However, although it may not be without interfering with the bow changed or exchanged items.

Use

On the occasion of the stack run the ship in Hamburg baptized the wife of the former Nigerian Senate President Wayas it in 1980 to the name Republic. A little later, in 1980, they ordered the renaming in Aradu ( thunder).

As Nigeria made the Aradu 1982 in service, it was by far the most powerful warship of the continent. In the 1980s it was rarely in use. In 1987, there were two groundings and collisions. Blohm Voss repaired the ship in Lagos 1991-1994 The repair was expensive and not very effective. Aradu 1997 was again no longer operational. 2001 was made with American support, a new start, this time successful. The important AWS 5 radar and sonar PHS have been refitted, overhauled and cleaned all systems. The defective board helicopters Westland Lynx was replaced by an Agusta 109E.

Since 2005, the Aradu has made trips back into international waters. She participated in the 200 - year anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar and the 200 - year celebration in honor of Brazil's rise as an equal part of the Portuguese motherland part.

The ship was from the late 2000s again in a worse condition. According to a newspaper report, visited the former Nigerian defense minister Olusola Obada Erelu 2011, the Western Naval Command, Apapa. She held out the prospect, the ship repair and let back into operation. A technician who was involved in the construction of the vessel should be consulted.

Otobreda 127/54 Compact Keel laying USCGC Chase (WHEC-718) Shipboard helicopter operations
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