Defence Minister Pistorius at the navy

From a Bundeswehr press release

On 21 February, the German Navy presented its specific capabilities in the maritime environment to the new Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius in Eckernförde. The navy in particular has to consider four dimensions in its operational areas: surface, underwater, air and land.

Together with the inspector of the navy, Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, Pistorius began his first visit to the navy with a tour of the submarine training centre at the 1st submarine squadron. Its submarines are among the most modern in the world. In order to be able to make optimum use of the high-tech equipment, their crew members are trained and further educated here.

Land and sea dimensions: Ships need a safe harbour

Visit of the Minister of Defence to the Navy - the naval battalion is part of it. Photo: Bundeswehr/T.Twardy

If there is no safe berthing option, German armed forces must find or create a suitable place for their own warships or those of their partners. Members of the naval battalion demonstrated how they ensure the safety of a ship at a pier at the harbour facility at the Eckernförde base.

During the subsequent sea voyage on the minehunting boat "Bad Bevensen" of the 3rd Minehunting Squadron, the minister sought dialogue with the soldiers. This gave him a personal impression of their everyday work and experiences.

Germany regularly deploys warships like the "Bad Bevensen" to SNMCMG 1 and SNMCMG 2: NATO provides these two permanent mine defence units to search for and combat sea mines. The "Bad Bevensen" itself and its crew were last deployed off the new LNG terminal in Lubmin to provide administrative assistance.

Repair: More independence for the naval forces

Press conference of the Minister on the helodeck of the frigate "Hessen". Photo: Bundeswehr/T.Twardy

"The navy makes a very important contribution to national and alliance defence on the eastern flank, but at the same time it is also involved in international crisis management at considerable expense," said Pistorius. "I have promised the naval inspector that I will support him wholeheartedly to ensure that our naval forces are ready for action in the future."

In this context, he referred to the takeover of the former MV shipyard site in Rostock-Warnemünde by the federal government: "The acquisition of the Warnowwerft shipyard was a major step forward. Our capacities and expertise have increased considerably as a result. More independent maintenance is now possible. This was therefore a landmark decision to make the navy a little more independent."

After the introduction to mine defence, Pistorius boarded the air defence frigate "Hessen" from the 2nd frigate squadron. From here, he experienced a complex, cross-dimensional exercise. In order to demonstrate the versatility of the maritime environment, the navy and air force trained together with U.S. Navy in the Eckernförde Bay.

Air and sea dimensions: the space above the water

"U 32" and "Arleigh Burke" as a training backdrop. Photo: Bundeswehr/T.Twardy

At the start, soldiers from the Navy's Special Forces Command (KSM) boarded the "Hessen" from H145M helicopters. At the same time, other KSM soldiers boarded the ship in a speedboat.

In the frigate's operations centre, the minister was able to follow how an American P-8A Poseidon maritime reconnaissance aircraft reported a previously undetected submarine. The crew of an on-board helicopter Sea Lynx from Marinefliegergeschwader 5 then located "U 32" with its dipping sonar.

Most recently, the formation consisting of the German frigates "Hessen" and "Baden-Württemberg" and the US destroyer "Arleigh Burke" simulated air defence in combat. The "Hessen" is equipped with the powerful SMART-L air surveillance radar for this purpose. If it is part of a larger formation, it provides protection against threats from the air.

At the end of these several hours of impressions on land and at sea, Federal Minister Pistorius was impressed. "Germany demands a lot from its navy and its 13,000 men and women. And they deliver," he said. "Today I have experienced an incredibly motivated navy working for the cause - servicemen and women who do their job with passion."