.jpg) Museum shipMölders | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Germany | |
| Name | Mölders |
| Namesake | Werner Mölders |
| Ordered | 3 March 1965 |
| Builder | Bath Iron Works,Bath, Maine |
| Laid down | 12 April 1966 |
| Launched | 13 April 1967 |
| Commissioned | 23 February 1969 |
| Decommissioned | 28 May 2003 |
| Status | Museum ship atWilhelmshaven |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Lütjens-classdestroyer |
| Displacement | 4,800 t (4,724 long tons) standard |
| Length | 134 m (439 ft 8 in) |
| Beam | 14.5 m (47 ft 7 in) |
| Draught | 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in) |
| Propulsion | |
| Speed | 33knots (61 km/h; 38 mph) |
| Complement | 334 |
| Armament | 2 × 127 mm/54 Mk 42 mod 10 guns 2 ×Rheinmetall Rh202 20 mmautocannons 1 × Mk 13 Model 4 Missile Launcher (32SM-1MR Missiles and 8Harpoon Missiles) 2 × Mk 49Rolling Airframe (RAM) Missile Launcher (21RAM surface-to-air missiles) 6 × 324 mm torpedo tubes, DM4A1 andMark 46 torpedoes 1 × RUR-5 ASROC launcher (8 ASROC Missiles) |
Mölders (D186) was one of threeLütjens-classguided-missile destroyers, a modified version of the AmericanCharles F. Adams class, built for theBundesmarine (West German Navy) during the 1960s.
TheCharles F. Adams class was based on a stretched Forrest Sherman-class destroyer hull modified to accommodate an RUR-5 ASROC Launcher and all their associated equipment. The ships had anoverall length of 134.4 meters (440 ft 11 in), abeam of 14.4 meters (47 ft 3 in) and a deepdraft of 4.5 meters (14 ft 9 in). Theydisplaced 4,526 metric tons (4,455 long tons) at full load. Their crew consisted of 333 officers and enlisted men.[1]
The ships were equipped with two gearedGeneral Electricsteam turbines, each driving onepropeller shaft, using steam provided by four D-V2Mwater-tube boilers. The turbines were intended to produce 70,000shaft horsepower (52,000 kW) to reach the designed speed of 36knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). TheLütjens class had a range of 4,500nautical miles (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at a speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph). Unlike theirhalf-sisters, the ships had twomacks.[1]
They were armed with two5-inch/54-caliber Mark 42 gun, one each forward and aft of thesuperstructure. The ships were fitted with an eight-roundASROC launcher between thefunnels. Close-rangeanti-submarine defense was provided by two triple sets of 324-millimetre (12.75 in)Mk 32 torpedo tubes. The primary armament of the ships was theTartarsurface-to-air missile system designed to defend acarrier battle group. They were fired via the single-armMk 13 missile launcher and the ships stowed a total of 40 missiles for the launcher.[1]
On 3 March 1965Bath Iron Works got the order to buildMölders and her keel waslaid down on 12 April 1966 with thehull number DDG-29. On 13 April 1967Mölders waslaunched and christened forLuftwaffe Oberst (Colonel)Werner Mölders by his mother Anne-Marie Mölders.Mölders was commissioned on 23 February 1969 into the1. Zerstörergeschwader (first destroyer squadron) based inKiel.
During her 33 years in commission 14,000 sailors served on her under 16 commanders, and she traveled 675,054.6 nautical miles (1,250,201.1 km; 776,839.0 mi).Mölders was decommissioned 28 May 2003 inWilhelmshaven.
Unlike her sistersLütjens andRommel,Mölders was preserved and is now on display asmuseum ship at theDeutsches Marinemuseum atWilhelmshaven, although she was never stationed in Wilhelmshaven during her active career. She is the sole surviving member of theCharles F Adams-class destroyers.
 United States Navy | |
|---|---|
 Royal Australian NavyPerth class | |
 German NavyLütjens class | |
 Hellenic NavyKimon class |
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53°30′49″N8°8′19″E / 53.51361°N 8.13861°E /53.51361; 8.13861