DMC to supply rudders for German frigates

Each vessel will be equipped with two Atlantic type full spade rudders, purpose-built to fit the specific hull form and operational profile of the frigates.

Sales and Marketing director Wim Knoester of DMC called the frigates ‘state-of-the-art’. “With these twin-screw high-speed vessels, we can demonstrate the quality, efficiency and durability of our rudders,” he said.

The rudders feature DMC’s asymmetric rudder technology which is said to direct turbulent water in front of the rudders more smoothly along the surface, reducing cavitation and drag and increasing efficiency.

Further improvement of efficiency is achieved with the Silent Bulb which is incorporated in the rudders, right in the wake of the propeller axis. This energy saving addition is said to improve water flow coming from the propeller, increasing thrust at higher loads.

As the F126 vessels are equipped with twin counter rotating propellers, the rudders are designed to direct the water flows in the wake of propellers moving opposite to each other.