Recently, it has become fashionable to criticise European navies, especially the German Navy. Critics argue, among other things, that European NATO members are completely dependent on the United States for their maritime security and naval leadership in the alliance. The German Navy is criticised as a "Green Water Navy"...
In the Red Sea, the frigate Hessen successfully defended itself against a ballistic missile launched by the Huthi rebels. However, the frigates are not actually equipped to defend against such weapons. "Surprise always comes where you didn't expect it." With this quote from Wilhelm Busch, Lieutenant Captain Marius Werth, 1st Air Defence Officer, opened the...
Frigate "Hessen" as German maritime contribution The German Navy is participating in the NATO activity "Brilliant Vanguard" with the air defence frigate "Hessen" (F 221). It is a response to repeated violations by Russian-made Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in the airspace of NATO countries in the Baltic Sea. The planning of "Brilliant Vanguard" was initiated by the...
On Monday, 2 September at 08:50 a.m., the ceremony to award the combat medal to the crew of the frigate "Hessen" took place. The national and EU medals were also awarded. The frigate and its crew members are the first closed contingent of the Bundeswehr to be honoured with this operational medal.
Interview with the commander of the frigate HESSEN by Holger Schlüter. There are many questions following the end of the explosive deployment of the frigate HESSEN in the Red Sea. The commander of the ship, frigate captain Volker Kübsch, cannot answer all of them, and after all, military security also demands secrecy. The German public must accept that...
From Friday to Sunday, 9 to 11 August 2024, the gates at the naval base on Hohe Düne will open again for the "Open Stützpunkt". It's that time again: Hanse Sail! And what would this traditional event be without the Bundeswehr as an ingredient? But not only the navy is hosting the event, members of the...
The frigate "Hamburg" left Wilhelmshaven this morning to join Operation EUNAVFOR Aspides in the Red Sea. Rear Admiral Stephan Haisch, Commander of the Task Forces and Head of the Operations Department, bid farewell to the frigate "Hamburg" today. The ship is travelling to the Mediterranean to the Greek island of Crete. There, the ship and crew will prepare themselves with a...
The frigate "Hessen" is back in its home port of Wilhelmshaven after its deployment in the Red Sea as part of EU Operation ASPIDES. It was actually the same as always when it arrived: Relatives on the exceptionally crowded pier, waving, loud shouts of "there he is", posters and whole families. And yet the moving atmosphere was interspersed with...
For a long time, the Yemeni Houthi rebels received little attention in the Western press. As a result of their attacks on ships in the Red Sea, the deployment of the frigate Hessen has become the centre of attention. In connection with the Gaza war, the Houthi rebels have been attacking shipping in the Red Sea since November 2023. The attacks...
Just like the first shots fired by the "Hessians", many a report and many a statement on the subject were also quite off the mark. The difference is that the "Hessen" is drawing conclusions from this. And the leadership is facing it. We try to clarify the events as far as we can, can and want to know.... The frigate "Hessen"...
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