List of German Navy ship classes explained

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.

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

  1. 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

100-199 surface combatants

Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
101HamburgD181 - 18441964 - 1994upgraded to 101A, all scrapped
103LütjensD185 - 18731969 - 2003upgrades 103A and 103B, 1 museum ship, the others scrapped
119FletcherD170 - 18061958 - 19821 used as target ship, 1 scrapped, 4 sold to Greece (later scrapped),
Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
120KölnF220 - 22561961~19891 used as hulk, 1 scrapped, 4 sold to Turkey
121Fregatte 70cancelled project
122BremenF207 - 21481982 - 2022multi-purpose frigate, retired,
123BrandenburgF215 - 21841994 - presentAnti-submarine warfare frigate
124SachsenF219 - 22132003 - presentAnti-aircraft warfare AEGIS frigate
125Baden-WürttembergF222 - 22542016 - presentStabilisation and maritime surveillance frigate
130BraunschweigF260 - F26452008-presentCorvette, 5 ships active
138Hunt / Black SwanF212 - 21871958~1967Former British frigates and sloops, used for training, all scrapped
139IslesA50 - 5121956~???Former British naval trawlers, converted and redesignated Type 752
Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
140Ex NVA Korvettes41984~1991sold to Indonesia
140Jaguar / Type 55201957~19756 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)
141SeeadlerP6068 - 6077101958~1976sold to Greece last scrapped 2005/2006
142ZobelP6092 - 6101101961~19846 sold to Turkey, 1 Lürssen Shipyard, 3 German Navy (1 for training Ship safety device)
143AlbatrosP6111 - 6120101976~20056 sold to Tunisia, 2 sold privately, 2 can be bought or will be scrapped (2007)
143AGepardP6121 - 6130101982~201610 retired
144cancelled project with CODAG propulsion
145cancelled project of a missile boat
146cancelled project of a torpedo boat
148TigerP6141 - 6160201972 - 2002French origin & powered by Lürssen-Bremen, 6 sold to Chile, 5 to Egypt, 6 to Greece and 3 scrapped
149SilbermöveP6052 - 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
15050t patrol boat (cancelled project)
15150t patrol boat (cancelled project)
152NastyP6191 - 619221960 - 1973From Norway, for trials
153Vosper motor torpedo boatP6193 - 619421962 - 1967British origin, for trials
157???211969 - ???small patrol craft, given to Bundesgrenzschutz
Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
160cancelled project, Schlichting design
161cancelled project, Lürssen design
162NATO project, Bundesmarine withdrew 1977, resulted in the US Pegasus-class hydrofoil, Type 143 built instead
Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
179La Fouguex(?)11958French design, Licence built for NATO (?)

200 - 299 subsurface combatants

Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
201Type 201S180 - 18231962~1967350 ton coastal submarines
202Type 202S172 - 17321965~1966100 ton mini submarines, a large fleet was initially planned, used for trials only
203cancelled project
204cancelled project
205Type 205S183 - 191101962~2005450 ton coastal submarines, U11 was upgraded to 205A and U12 to 205B
206Type 206181973~2011500 ton, 12 have been upgraded to 206A, 7 of them still in service
207Kobben class (Type 207)16Type 205 version for Norway and Denmark (lately used only by Poland)
208Cancelled project or maybe used internally for TR-1700 class
209Type 209over 601200-1600 ton boats, for export only
210Ula class (Type 210)61200 ton boats, Built for Norway
211cancelled project or maybe used internally for Dolphin class
212Type 212S181 - 18662005 - present1800 ton, design upgraded to 212A, also built in/for Italy
213Type 213planned enhanced 2nd batch of Type 212
214Type 214larger export sub, based on Type 209 with some enhancements from Type 212
240Type 240S170 - S17121957 - 1968Upgraded former Kriegsmarine Type XXIII U-boats
241Wilhelm BauerY88011960 - 1968Upgraded former Kriegsmarine Type XXI U-boat

Type numbers 250 - 299 are not assigned.

300 - 399 mine warfare vessels

Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
300Sömmerda(?)M2670–267151973–1991former NVA ships, 2 sold to Indonesia, 3 to Uruguay
319M type111956 - 1963former Kriegsmarine boats, 4 used as target ships (1 sunk), 6 redesignated as 730, others scrapped
Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
320LindauM1070 - 1087181958 - 198012 upgraded to type Type 331, 6 to 351
321VegesackM1250 - 125561959 - 1969French origin, sold to Turkey
Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
331Fulda121972 - 20001 museum ship, 2 scrapped, 2 each to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, 1 to Georgia, 1 to Gibraltar
332FrankenthalM1058 - 1069121992 - present
333KulmbachM1091 - 10965upgraded Type 343 boats
33961956 - 1970former French Navy vessels, Canadian origin, all scrapped
Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
340KrebsM1050 - 1059101959 - 1990decommissioned
341Scorpion201959 - 19901 redesignated as Type 903, others decommissioned
342cancelled project
343HamelnM1090 - 1099101989 - 20015 upgraded to Type 333, 5 to Type 352
350project cancelled 1973
351Ulm61989 - 2000
352Ensdorf5
355ERMISScancelled project
359Schütze241956 - 196815 used as Type 730, 1 Type 732, 1 Type 739
360HansaW2211958 - 1968redesignated as Type 392
361HansaW2111958 - 1968redesignated as Type 391
362W23 - 40181961 - 19688 redesignated as Type 393, 10 Type 394
368101956 - 19744 to Tanzania, 2 to Greece, 1 Type 740
368NordwindY83411956 - presenttraining boat
36961956 - 19944 to Kazakhstan
Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
370A1403 - 140531961 - 1971Former USN LSTs, 1 scrapped, 2 to Turkey

Type numbers 380 - 389 Netzleger und Netzleichter (net layers and net lighters) were cancelled projects.

Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
390M265111966 - presenttransformed to Type 740, two boats cancelled
391NiobeM26611transformed into Type 740
391Ahrenshop3BG31–33former NVA boats, 1 to each Tunesia, Malta, Cap Verde-->
392HansaM26621transformed into Type 732
393AriadneM2650 - 265781961 - 19921 hulk, most scrapped
394FrauenlobM2658 - 2667101966 - 20014 to Estonia, 1 museum ship

400 - 499 auxiliary ships

Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
401RheinA58 - 6681961 - 19934 scrapped, 3 sold to Turkey, 1 to Greece
402MoselA67,54,6531963 - 19912 scrapped, 1 sold to Turkey
403LahnA55 - 5621964 - 1991scrapped
404ElbeA511 - 51661993 - present
419OsteA52,5321956 - ???Former Kriegsmarine tender, redesignated and assigned to Type 753 (A52) and 754 (A53)
Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
420ThetisP6052 - 605651961 - 1992Sold to Greece
42011–1991Former NVA submarine hunters, sold to Indonesia, share type code with Thetis class despite being completely different
421Hans BürknerA144911963 - 1990Fleet service ship, scrapped
422A50,52,5331957 - 1988Former Type 753 ships, Fleet service ships, 1 scrapped, one sold to Turkey, other to Greece
423OsteA50,52,5331988 - presentConfusingly share same Pennant number and name combinations as Type 422 class
Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
430Type 43091966 - present6 upgraded to 430A, most sold to Greece, 1 maybe still in service
438Type 43871959 - 1989Former Kriegsmarine boats
439Type 439181956 - 1976Some of them redesignated as Type 740 or 945, used as patrol boats
Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
440DeutschlandA5911963 - 1990Upgraded to 440A, scrapped
441Gorch FockA6011958 - presentSailing ship
4422Sailing ship (planned)

500 - 599 landing craft

Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
502LSM 11decommissioned
520Barbe221965 - presentUtility landing craft, 5 different upgrades/versions (A - D), 10 to Greece, L762 still in service
521LCM-8281965 - present11 to Greece, decommissioned(?)
Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
540Task force support ship (cancelled project?)
550LSML750 - 75341958 - 1973Former USN LSMs
551LSML754,75521958 - 1967Former USN LSMs
552LCA91958 - 1964Former RN LCAs
553LCM111960 - 1973Former USN LCMs
554LCULCU111959 - 1967Former USN LCU, used as LCA leader
555City of HavannaWS111961 - 1965Former USN LSD, used as ferry and swimming barrack, sold to Greek Shipping company

600 - 699 small combatants

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

700 - 799 support vessels, docks, tugs, special vehicles

Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
701LüneburgA1411 - 141881966 - 2005Many upgrades, 701A through 701E
702BerlinA1411 - 141232001 - present
703WalchenseeA1424 - 142741966 - presentsmall fuel tanker and transport ship, 2 still in service
704RhönA1442 - 144321977 - presentLarger fuel tanker, originally built for Libya
70561963 - 2000Fresh water tanker, most sold to Turkey and Greece
706SchwarzwaldA140011961 - 1974Former French Navy ship Almathée, ammunition transport ship
7082 - 1970Maintenance ships, swimming workshops. Built out of old landing ships
710FördeA1641 - 164221967 - 1992Oil tank cleaning ships, scrapped
711Hiev21962 - present100t swimming cranes
71221961 - presentLifting docks
71341961 - presentlifting pontoons, 1 still in service?
714Dock B11963 - present4500t self-propelled swimming dock, built 1939
71531960 - present8000t swimming docks, built 1943
718LP1 - LP321964 - presentsubmarine battery loading prams, 1 still in service?
719MemmertY87511956 - 1980former US Navy USN 106 crane ship
720HelgolandA1457 - 145821966 - presentSalvage tug, upgrades 720A, 720B. A1458 Fehmarn still in service
721EisvogelA1401 - 140221961 - presenticebreaker, A1402 decommissioned
722WangeroogeA1451 - 145661968 - presentocean tugs, three redesignated as Type 754, A1451 Wangerooge and A1452 Spiekeroog still in service, upgrades 722A,722B,722C
723Lütje HörnY812 - 81981958 - 1990small harbour tugs, 5 sold to Greece, two scrapped, 1 museum ship
724Sylt81962 - presentlarger harbour tugs, 2 sold to Greece, one to Latvia, three scrapped, 1 to Bundesgrenzschutz, Y1680 still in service(?)
725NordstrandY812 - 81961987 - presentharbour tugs
726Y847 - 84821960 - 1991former landing crafts used as workshop ships
727WielandY80411956 - 1971swimming workshop
7281workshop pram, decommissioned
729PassatY800 - Y80341956 - 1978former Kriegsmarine tugs, some used as target ship, others scrapped
73028 - 1986assorted old ships used as hulks, all scrapped
732351956 - presentmine- and torpedo diver rafts, most (all?) scrapped
7341firefighting boat, decommissioned
735hospital ship, cancelled project
736hospital ship, cancelled project
737211961 - presentassorted small lighters
738BottsandY1634 - 163521985 - presentoil recovery ships
73931969 - 1981electric power supply ships
Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
740(many)31Assorted ships and boats used for trials
741A1408, Y83821967 - presentnaval mine trials ship
742Walther von Ledebur
Mülhausen
1mine trials ship, after upgrade to 742A renamed and now mine diver ship
743AM31971 - presentwork boats
74441965 - presentmultipurpose utility boats
745StollergrundY863 - 86751989 - presentsmall multipurpose utility boats; Kalkgrund (Y865) and Bant (Y867) sold to Israeli Navy
746Torpedoscheibe31959 - present2 decommissioned
74741959 - 1983experimental remote controlled mine sweepers, trials of the TROIKA system
748SchwedeneckY860 - 86231987 - presentmiddle sized multipurpose utility boats
749large multipurpose utility boats, project cancelled
750PlanetA145011967 - presentdefence trials ship
751TraveA511??? - 1977oceanographic research ship; another boat was planned, but sold to Turkey instead
752A50,5121956 - ???mine-throwing ship, one converted to Type 732, other to Type 751
75341956 - presentmeasurement boats, first three converted to 422, A1456 is now a NATO research ship
75441 former Kriegsmarine vessel (decommissioned), 3 former Type 722 tugs; diver training boats
759SeeschwalbeW631 - 1966Research vessel, redesignated Type 740
Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
760WesterwaldA1435 - 143621967 - presentA1435 still in service, A1436 decommissioned
761torpedo transport ship, not built
762SachsenwaldA1437 - 143821968 - 1993Mine transport ships, scrapped
76341956 - 1995Fuel tanker, 2 were former Kriegsmarine ships, 1 sold to Turkey, 3 scrapped
764A1408 - 140921955 - 1992Transport ships, French origin, both sold to Turkey
766A1428 - 142921963 - 1977Fuel tanker, both scrapped in Netherlands
780A1438 - 144141959 - 1977Fuel tanker, scrapped in Hamburg
785Y830 - 83231960 - 1969Depot ships, scrapped
790Ammunition transport ship, cancelled project

800 - 899

This range of Type numbers is not allocated.

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

Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
903Stier1Y8491966 - presentformer M1061, Type 341, redesignated Type 732
905TodendorfY835 - 83951993 - presentsecurity boats
906Y861 - 86331961 - 1975former Royal Air Force aircrew rescue boats, one used as Type 740 target ship from 1975 to 1977, others scrapped
907W57 - 6041956 - 1976former Luftwaffe and USN boats, used for air crew rescue missions
908VB1 - 221973 - 1992fast messenger boats
909Y857 - 86041956 - 1993air crew rescue boats, one gone to harbour police, Bremen
Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
91026assorted small yachts, some sunk, most (all?) decommissioned
911Star8At least 2 decommissioned, named after Gemstones
91211Pirate class dinghy at least 1 decommissioned, have female given names
91312
91426another class of Pirat dinghies, have male names, all decommissioned
91517another class of Pirat dinghies, have male names,

920 - 929 Sportboote (yachts) are unassigned.

Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
93032old Kriegsmarine barges, 45 - 100PS motors, some with cabins, out of service
93181958 - 1993barges, 70/90PS motor
932151958 - 1981liaison boats, 70/120PS motor
93323pinnaces, with cabin, 70PS motor
93420barges, with cabin
93524pinnaces, wooden, without cabin, 70PS motor
93615pinnaces, wooden, cabin, 47 - 75PS motor
9372pinnaces, wooden, 70 or 54PS motor
9386motor dinghies
939Lindau1motor dinghy, 5m, wooden/GRP hull, 75PS pump-jet
94060cutter, wooden, with 20PS motor
94192cutters, wooden, with sail, no motor
94216dinghies, wooden, with sail and sword
9435dinghies, GRP hull, with sail
94475dinghies, wooden, with sail
945Y16xx16assorted harbour barges, diver service boats, motor barges, tug barges
946Y16xx51985 - presenttug barges
94765motor cutters, 20PS motor, GRP hull
94816pinnaces with cabin, GRP hull, 70PS motor, GRP hull
94948cutters, without motor, GRP hull
9502dinghies, GRP hull
95116utility motorboats, GRP hull
95212two types of open lifeboats for tankers 6.5 m (20 persons) or 6.0 m (14 persons) long, steel hull
953Emsland1prototype of closed lifeboat for tankers, GRP hull
95428pinnaces without cabin, 70PS motor, GRP hull
Type! scope="col"
ClassPennant
numbers
NumberIn serviceNotes/Fate
960partly closed
961partly closed, self erecting
962fully closed
963with air supply
964fire protected
965assorted 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
140Parchim 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
600K41—433-1991ELINT ships, 2 to Estonia, 1 to Spain
600Wilhelm PieckS411—1996scrapped in Spain
600Project 600?C112, C6612—1991Tanker, scrapped?
600A441, A1142—1991salvage vessels, 1 to Uruguayan Navy, 1 scrapped(?)
600Koni I 142, F22521986—1991Koni I, scrapped?
610RostockF22411978—1991another Koni I, sold to United Kingdom
620Balcom 10P616511990—1991to 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(?)
680Y1653, D442—1991Sea mark boats(?), scrapped(?)
690Project 602A1430—1434
V816
61983—1991Replenishment ships, Scrapped in Belgium(?)

References