Category: Armed Forces

War in the shadows

War in the shadows

Posted by | 13 Apr 2021 | , , | 1

Mine warfare in the North Sea began with a modest operation in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71. The approach to Wilhelmshaven was secured by mine barriers to prevent French forces from entering, as a French squadron had previously briefly flown the flag at Helgoland. These barriers were then intensively guarded by the existing coastal defence units, but not a single French ship came anywhere near the restricted areas during the war. After the war, the development of mines, at that time still combined with torpedoes, was further promoted, but without producing any spectacular activities. The first real naval mine, the C 77 model, was put into service in 1877. It was...

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The 75-year-old danger

The 75-year-old danger

Posted by | 12 Apr 2021 | , , | 1

Since the end of the Second World War, millions of tonnes of contaminated waste have been stored in German waters. Their removal is still the subject of controversial debate between the federal and state governments. In the twelve-mile zone of the North Sea and Baltic Sea and in the seaward Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), there are around 1.6 million tonnes of contaminated munitions, including over 5,000 tonnes of gas munitions. The nautical charts show 15 dumping areas, labelled as "unclean munitions" or "anchoring and fishing prohibited". There are also positions with scattered munitions. The inventory has not yet been finalised. Since 2011, the Federal/State Working Group on the North Sea and Baltic Sea (Blano) has published the annually updated report "Munitions contamination of German marine waters". Unfortunately, the...

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What is the Bundeswehr doing in Africa?

What is the Bundeswehr doing in Africa?

Posted by | 23 Mar 2021 | , , | 2

Wolfram Lacher recently published an SWP study entitled "Unser schwieriger Partner - Deutschlands und Frankreichs erfolgloses Engagement in Libyen und Mali" (https://www.swp-berlin.org/fileadmin/contents/products/studien/2021S03_deutschland_frankreich_libyen_mali.pdf). What makes the paper so worth reading from a German perspective is not so much the knowledgeable detailed analysis of German and French Africa policy. Rather, it is the ruthlessness with which the author reveals the differences between the two countries and the fundamental German deficits in operational security policy. It is worth reflecting on this on the basis of Lacher's study.France has tried to separate itself from colonial concepts in recent decades, but has repeatedly reverted to the ideas of the Françafrique. It...

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Navy and use of drones

Navy and use of drones

Posted by | 2 Feb 2021 | , , | 0

Naval drones: They offer many advantages and opportunities for any military, including the navy. The unmanned devices are already providing great assistance in reconnaissance and surveillance and could also significantly expand the capabilities of the navy in the future. But what are the future prospects for drones? What possible applications are there? And which different drone models are involved? What are drones? what role do drones play in the navy? are drones autonomous systems? what are drones used for by the military and the armed forces? what are the advantages of unmanned aerial and underwater drones? What are the weak points? What different drone models are there in the military? What could the prospects for the future look like?

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Covid-19: Lessons Identified - Conclusion after one year of the pandemic

Covid-19: Lessons Identified - Conclusion after one year of the pandemic

Posted by | 31 Dec 2020 | , | 0

When the first reports of the emergence of a new virus in Wuhan, China, appeared in the media at the turn of 2019/2020, hardly anyone could have imagined the drastic changes that the resulting pandemic would bring for society and therefore also for the armed forces. Today, almost a year after the first reports, it is time to draw an interim conclusion and lessons for the future. To say one thing straight away: The Navy has so far successfully overcome the challenges posed by the unprecedented events of the pandemic. In addition to the relief, support and protection measures that have often been the focus of attention,...

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