Blue helmet corvette "Erfurt" back in Warnemünde - with 230 days at sea under her belt

230 days absence: Corvette Erfurt back in home port

The corvette Erfurt is back in its home port after 230 days away. Today, Sunday 18 December, the German Navy's last homecoming arrived in its home port. The crew, led by Corvette Captain Dohnke, has completed the approximately 4,000 nautical mile transit from the Levant to the Bay of Mecklenburg and is back in Warnemünde in time for Christmas.

The corvette Erfurt originally left Warnemünde in February 2022 and was intended for mandated deployment under the UN flag. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine necessitated a change at short notice, so that the boat was assigned to a NATO unit in the North Sea and Baltic Sea region.

Since October 2021, the corvette Erfurt has been regularly deployed as the flagship for enforcing UN resolutions in the UNIFIL mission. At a meeting between Israel and Lebanon in the border area with Israel, the Erfurt was given a special role. During the signing of a historic agreement between Lebanon and Israel, the Warnemünde corvette secured the sea and air space directly off the coast of the UN headquarters in Naqoura.

The Lebanese Navy has recently been authorised to monitor part of its territorial waters itself. This is the result of training and involvement by the Maritime Task Force and the German Navy in the Cedar State. The training is aimed at the coastal radar organisation and sea rescue procedures. The Maritime Task Force UNIFIL has been under the command of a German admiral since 2021.

The Erfurt's returnees can now look forward to a peaceful Christmas with their families. After an eventful and challenging 2022, the 1st Corvette Squadron has more than fulfilled its mission. Not least thanks to the dedication and professionalism of the crews from Hohe Düne.

marineforum wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Text and photos: Daniel Angres