The Charles 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 an overall length of 134.4 meters (440 ft 11 in), a beam of 14.4 meters (47 ft 3 in) and a deep draft of 4.5 meters (14 ft 9 in). They displaced 4,526 metric tons (4,455 long tons) at full load. Their crew consisted of 333 officers and enlisted men.[1]
They were armed with two 5"/54 caliber Mark 42 gun forward, one each forward and aft of the superstructure. The ships were fitted with an eight-round ASROC launcher between the funnels. Close-range anti-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 the Tartar surface-to-air missile system designed to defend a carrier battle group. They were fired via the single-arm Mk 13 missile launcher and the ships stowed a total of 40 missiles for the launcher.[1]
Construction and career
Plaquette of destroyer Mölders at the German Naval Museum Wilhelmshaven
On 3 March 1965 Bath Iron Works got the order to build Mölders and her keel was laid down on 12 April 1966 with the hull number DDG-29. On 13 April 1967 Mölders was launched and christened for Luftwaffe Oberst (Colonel) Werner Mölders by his mother Anne-Marie Mölders. Mölders was commissioned on 23 February 1969 into the 1. Zerstörergeschwader (first destroyer squadron) based in Kiel.
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 in Wilhelmshaven.
Unlike her sisters Lütjens and Rommel, Mölders was preserved and is now on display as museum ship at the Deutsches Marinemuseum at Wilhelmshaven, although she was never stationed in Wilhelmshaven during her active career.
german, destroyer, mölders, d186, mölders, three, lütjens, class, guided, missile, destroyers, modified, version, american, charles, adams, class, built, bundesmarine, west, german, navy, during, 1960s, museum, ship, möldershistorygermanynamemöldersnamesakewer. D186 Molders was one of three Lutjens class guided missile destroyers a modified version of the American Charles F Adams class built for the Bundesmarine West German Navy during the 1960s Museum ship MoldersHistoryGermanyNameMoldersNamesakeWerner MoldersOrdered3 March 1965BuilderBath Iron Works Bath MaineLaid down12 April 1966Launched13 April 1967Commissioned23 February 1969Decommissioned28 May 2003StatusMuseum ship at WilhelmshavenGeneral characteristicsClass and typeLutjens class destroyerDisplacement4 800 t 4 724 long tons standardLength134 m 439 ft 8 in Beam14 5 m 47 ft 7 in Draught6 5 m 21 ft 4 in Propulsion2 turbines 4 high pressure steam boilers 2 shafts 70 000 PS 51 MW Speed33 knots 61 km h 38 mph Complement334Armament2 127 mm 54 Mk 42 mod 10 guns 2 Rheinmetall Rh202 20 mm autocannons1 Mk 13 Model 4 Missile Launcher 32 SM 1MR Missiles and 8 Harpoon Missiles 2 Mk 49 Rolling Airframe RAM Missile Launcher 21 RAM surface to air missiles 6 324 mm torpedo tubes DM4A1 and Mark 46 torpedoes 1 RUR 5 ASROC launcher 8 ASROC Missiles Contents 1 Design and description 2 Construction and career 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksDesign and description EditThe Charles 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 an overall length of 134 4 meters 440 ft 11 in a beam of 14 4 meters 47 ft 3 in and a deep draft of 4 5 meters 14 ft 9 in They displaced 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 geared General Electric steam turbines each driving one propeller shaft using steam provided by four D V2M water tube boilers The turbines were intended to produce 70 000 shaft horsepower 52 000 kW to reach the designed speed of 36 knots 67 km h 41 mph The Lutjens class had a range of 4 500 nautical miles 8 300 km 5 200 mi at a speed of 20 knots 37 km h 23 mph Unlike their half sisters the ships had two macks 1 They were armed with two 5 54 caliber Mark 42 gun forward one each forward and aft of the superstructure The ships were fitted with an eight round ASROC launcher between the funnels Close range anti 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 the Tartar surface to air missile system designed to defend a carrier battle group They were fired via the single arm Mk 13 missile launcher and the ships stowed a total of 40 missiles for the launcher 1 Construction and career Edit Plaquette of destroyer Molders at the German Naval Museum Wilhelmshaven On 3 March 1965 Bath Iron Works got the order to build Molders and her keel was laid down on 12 April 1966 with the hull number DDG 29 On 13 April 1967 Molders was launched and christened for Luftwaffe Oberst Colonel Werner Molders by his mother Anne Marie Molders Molders was commissioned on 23 February 1969 into the 1 Zerstorergeschwader first destroyer squadron based in Kiel 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 Molders was decommissioned 28 May 2003 in Wilhelmshaven Unlike her sisters Lutjens and Rommel Molders was preserved and is now on display as museum ship at the Deutsches Marinemuseum at Wilhelmshaven although she was never stationed in Wilhelmshaven during her active career Notes Edit a b c Gardiner Chumley amp Budzbon p 143References EditFriedman Norman 1982 U S Destroyers An Illustrated Design History Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 733 X Gardiner Robert Chumbley Stephen amp Budzbon Przemyslaw 1995 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1947 1995 Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 55750 132 7 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to D 186 Zerstorer Molders in German Zerstorer Molders Archived 2005 12 17 at the Wayback Machine in German MaritimeQuest Molders D 186 photo gallery Photo gallery of Molders at NavSource Naval History Coordinates 53 30 49 N 8 8 19 E 53 51361 N 8 13861 E 53 51361 8 13861 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German destroyer Molders amp oldid 1126631234, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
