Aegean: German minehunter as flagship

Minehunting boat "Grömitz" of the Kiel minehunting squadron ordered to the Aegean Sea

On Wednesday, 10 January 2024 at 10 a.m., the minehunting boat "Grömitz" will leave Kiel for the Aegean. Over the next six months, the boat, which is part of the 3rd Minehunting Squadron, will thus provide the German contribution to both the NATO Aegean Support Mission as a command platform and the German contribution to NATO's Standing NATO Maritime Group 2.

The operations centre of the Grömitz minehunting boat. Photo: Bundeswehr/ Björn Wilke

According to the navy's press release, the task of the "Grömitz" is "to act as a command platform with all partners and relevant agencies to ensure professional, mission- and situation-appropriate cooperation in a region of foreign and military policy importance". That reads very unwieldy, and it is, because a minesweeper is not really common in an SNMG 2, one of NATO's four permanent task forces. But, according to Mr Behling from the KN, the German Navy is running out of units to fulfil all NATO obligations. Until now, the task of the Aegean mission has been to create a situational picture and investigate smuggling activities in the sea area. The liaison officers deployed come from Turkey and Greece, including a FRONTEX officer. In recent years, these tasks have primarily been carried out by frigates, task force supply vessels and tenders.

From mid-January, the convoy will be led by the German sea captain Felix Hornung (53). The boat and crew are expected to return before Kiel Week in June.

Here are some sound bites from the commander of the minesweeper "GRÖMITZ" before she set sail.