Change of command on the "Frankfurt am Main"

On Thursday, 16 January 2025, the commander of the Trossgeschwader, Kapitän zur See Andreas Schmekel, handed over command of the Einsatzgruppenversoger (EGV) "Frankfurt am Main" from Frigate Captain Hanno Weisensee to Frigate Captain Sebastian Fliege at the Wilhelmshaven naval base.

"After five years in command of the EGV 'Frankfurt am Main', it is time for me to leave the bridge and hand over the helm to my successor," says the outgoing commander, Frigate Captain Weisensee.

In his speech, Frigate Captain Weisensee compared his five years in command to a rollercoaster ride. He took command of the "Frankfurt am Main" during the shipyard phase, which he described as anything but easy. This was followed by the demanding operational training programme, which was completed in exemplary fashion."Whether it was the 'BALTOPS' manoeuvre, NATO support in the Aegean or preparing for the evacuation of German citizens from Lebanon as part of Operation Gulfstream, the crew mastered every challenge brilliantly," sums up Frigate Captain Weisensee. A very special part of the rollercoaster journey was the participation in the Indo-Pacific Deployment 2024. 14 ports in eleven countries were visited and 42,000 nautical miles travelled in the seven months. He was able to experience countless highlights with his crew during this once-in-a-lifetime tour. Weisensee would have loved to remain in command of the "Frankfurt am Main" for longer. "But you always have to get off the rollercoaster when it's at its best," says Weisensee, looking at his successor, Frigate Captain Fliege.Frigate Captain Weisensee is moving from the North Sea coast to the Federal Office of Defence Infrastructure, Environmental Protection and Services (BAIUDBw) in Bonn."After assignments at the Naval Command and the Federal Ministry of Defence, it is important for me to get back on board quickly and make my contribution to the operational readiness of the 'Frankfurt am Main' so that the obligations within the German Navy, but also towards NATO and our allies, can be fulfilled. It is with great pleasure that I take on this task and the associated responsibility and I am ready to tackle the numerous challenges together with an experienced crew," says the new Commander Frigate Captain Fliege.He is no stranger to the squadron, as he was first officer of the sister ship "Berlin" for three years back in 2015.