Bayern and the three other frigate of the Brandenburg class were built to replace the Hamburg-class destroyers. She was constructed at Nordseewerke in Emden in 1993 and delivered in June 1994. Karin Stoiber, the wife of Bavarian Minister-President Edmund Stoiber at the time, baptized her. She was commissioned on June 15, 1996, after conducting testing and assigned to the 6. Bayern was assigned to the 2. Fregattengeschwader, stationed in Wilhelmshaven, once the naval system was restructured.