Departure order for fleet service boat

Further reinforcement for NATO's northern flank: Fleet service boat "Alster" also leaves service

On Saturday, 26 February 2022 at 12 noon, the fleet service boat "Alster" will set sail for the Baltic Sea to be the eyes and ears not only for the navy, but for the entire Bundeswehr. The Oste-class fleet service boat is a reconnaissance vessel that specialises in monitoring sea and coastal areas. It is equipped with particularly efficient electronic, hydro-acoustic and electro-optical sensors. It is operated by the German Navy in close cooperation with the organisational unit Cyber and Information Region (CIR). The current reason for this measure is the Russia-Ukraine crisis and the increased threat perceived by Germany's partners in Eastern Europe in particular. "The German Navy, the Bundeswehr and the entire Alliance now need a reliable picture of the situation. In addition to other activities, the Navy is also contributing to this with the fleet service boat 'Alster'," emphasises Vice Admiral Jan C. Kaack (59), Commander of the fleet.

This means that the navy has provided another unit for the weekend. It also shows that the Baltic Sea is still a sea area of high strategic interest; the naval service boats were once designed to monitor the Baltic region. Cold War units are now doing what they were built for. Most recently, the "Alster" and its sister ships "Oker" and "Oste", which belong to the 1st UGeschwader, had operated more on the southern flank. This also sent a clear signal to the Allies.