EVENDALE, Ohio -- GE - Marine reports that 169 of its LM aeroderivative marine gas turbines are used by 10 European navies to power a variety of surface combatants. To date, the European naval fleet of LM gas turbines has logged more than 1.5 million hours in military service.
"GE's versatile LM marine gas turbines are popular with European navies because they are reliable, efficient and capable of operation in rugged marine environments," said Karl Matson, general manager, GE - Marine, Evendale, Ohio. "The LM gas turbines can be employed for diverse marine craft such as frigates, corvettes, destroyers and aircraft carriers, and can be placed in a variety of configurations to maximize the operating characteristics of different engine types."
What follows is an update on several key European navy projects that use LM gas turbines:
-- Germany: GE's LM2500 gas turbines are used in what was the first COmbined Diesel And Gas turbine (CODAG) configuration for naval service aboard the Germany Navy's Sachsen-class F124 frigates. GE's Marine System Supplier, Motoren- und Turbinen-Union (MTU), Friedrichshafen, Germany, supplied the propulsion system for the three F124 frigates Sachsen, Hamburg, and Hessen. The vessels were constructed by shipbuilders Blohm & Voss, HDW, and Thyssen Nordseewerke, respectively, and were delivered to the German Navy in 2002, 2004 and 2005. In addition to the three LM2500s used on the F124 frigates, the German Navy has 26 LM2500 gas turbines in operation: Sixteen units are used for the F122 Bremen-class frigates and eight units are used for the F123 Brandenburg-class frigates. GE's LM gas turbines are being considered for the German Navy's F125 next-generation frigates.
-- Italy/France: Two projects jointly developed by these navies include:
- FREMM: In March 2006, GE announced the newest addition to its LM gas turbine product line, the LM2500+G4. The launch program for this new engine is with the Italian and French Navies, whereby the LM2500+G4 will power the next-generation European frigates, Fregatte European Multi-Mission (FREMM). The LM2500+G4 represents the fourth generation of the LM2500 gas turbine technology. The LM2500+G4 gas turbines for FREMM will be the basis of the propulsion module supplied by Avio of Torino, Italy. Avio is a GE Marine Systems Supplier, and is the prime contractor for the FREMM propulsion system. The French ships will be built by DCN, and Italian ships will be constructed by FINCANTIERI.
- Horizon: GE's LM2500 gas turbines currently power four Horizon frigates in a COmbined Diesel Or Gas turbine (CODOG) arrangement. The French and Italian Navies jointly developed these next-generation, anti-aircraft Horizon frigates. The eight LM2500 gas turbine propulsion packages were provided to the shipyards through Avio. The two French ships (Forbin and Chevalier Paul) and the two Italian ships (Andrea Doria and Caio Duilio) have sea trials planned for September 2006. DCN Lorient built the French vessels and FINCANTIERI constructed the Italian ships.
-- Italy: Four LM2500 gas turbines and main reduction gears power the Italian Navy's new Cavour aircraft carrier. The aircraft carrier, designed and built by FINCANTIERI, features a COmbined Gas turbine And Gas turbine arrangement. Under GE license, FINCANTIERI manufactured the Cavour gear casings, and assembled and performed running tests of the complete gear units at its mechanical workshop in Riva Trigoso, Italy. The LM2500 gas turbines were placed into propulsion modules and supplied by Avio. GE has provided 40 LM2500 gas turbines for the Italian Navy's Lupo-, Maestrale- and Artigliere-class frigates, its De la Penne-class destroyer and its Garibaldi aircraft carrier, all designed and built by FINCANTIERI.
-- Norway: Five LM2500 gas turbines power five Royal Norwegian Navy F310-class frigates built by Navantia (formerly known as IZAR) in Ferrol, Spain. This was the first naval CODAG configuration installed by Navantia, and the Royal Norwegian Navy is only the second international navy to adopt this arrangement. The vessels are Fridtjof Nansen, Roald Amundsen, Otto Sverdrup, Helge Instadt, and Thor Heyerdahl.
-- Spain: Four Spanish Navy F100 multi-purpose frigates each use two LM2500s: Alvaro de Bazan, Almirante Juan de Borbon, Blas de Lezo and Mendez Nunez. The frigates were commissioned from 2002 through 2006. Each vessel uses two LM2500s configured into a CODOG arrangement with two diesel engines. GE also supplied the Spanish Navy with 12 LM2500s that power six FFG Santa Maria-class frigates. In addition, two LM2500s are used on the aircraft carrier Principe de Asturias. Spanish shipbuilder Navantia built all of the vessels mentioned above.
Other European navies that employ LM gas turbines include:
- The Portuguese Navy uses six gas turbines in three Vasco da Gama class frigates.
- The Danish Navy uses 14 LM500 gas turbines in CODAG arrangements to power 14 Stanflex 3000 high-speed patrol boats, and three LM2500 gas turbines in CODOG configurations to power three corvettes.
- The Polish Navy has two FFG frigates that were transferred from the United States Navy. The frigates -- General Kazimierz Pulaski and General Tadeusz Kosciuszko -- are each powered by two LM2500s.
- The Turkish Navy uses eight LM2500s in CODOG configurations for four frigates: Barbaros, Orucreis, Salihreis and Kemalreis. It also has eight U.S. Navy-transferred FFG frigates.
- The Greek Navy uses two LM2500s in a CODOG arrangement for four Hydra-class frigates. The first ship was built by Blohm and Voss and the three remaining were constructed by Hellenic Shipyards in Greece.
GE - Marine is one of the world's leading manufacturers of marine products and services, including gas turbines ranging from 6,000 to 57,300 shaft horsepower, and marine main reduction gearing.