Glossary

Amphibious operations

are operations in which troops are deployed from the sea or brought on board from land. Amphibious operations include combat landings, coup d'état operations, evacuations, support for land operations and assistance from the sea. For this purpose Landing shipstroops and special means of transport to cross the coast, such as landing craft and helicopters.

These operations are supported and secured by other naval forces, including aircraft carriers if necessary. Amphibious operations require a considerable amount of coordination between floating, flying and land-based forces. They are therefore among the most demanding military operations.

Reconnaissance ship

Intelligence Collection Vessels (NATO code AGI) are ships with the ability to receive and analyse radio signals and other electromagnetic, hydroacoustic and optical emissions. This enables them to gather information on the military activities and capabilities of foreign armed forces. The collection of this openly receivable data is legal, which is why the term spy ship is incorrect. The German Navy refers to its reconnaissance ships as fleet service boats. [Please also note the preliminary remarks. 2.]

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

The EEZ is defined as Convention on the Law of the Sea (Art. 55 et seq.) a sea area that extends from the coast of a state measured over territorial waters regularly up to 200 kilometres. Nautical miles extends. In this zone, the coastal states have extensive exclusive rights with regard to economic utilisation. All other states enjoy the same rights in this zone as on the high seas, with the exception of economic utilisation (High seas / territorial waters).

Baltic Maritime Component Command (BMCC)

The BMCC is a command and control centre of the German Navy that is currently being set up. Naval Command is located in Rostock. It is intended for maritime operations at the upper tactical level and is adapted to the special features of naval warfare in the marginal sea be specialised in the Baltic Sea. The core of the BMCC is the task force, which is also currently being set up. DEU MARFOR Staff intended.

Lake base

Basis See is a concept of the German Navy to support operations on land from the sea with all the resources available in the navy. The concept includes weapon action against land targets, the deployment of special forces and support from the sea, primarily through reconnaissance, logistics and medical services. (cf. Amphibious operations)

Crew

Crew refers to all personnel assigned to a ship. The permanently assigned permanent crew of a warship can be supplemented by medical and helicopter personnel or by a Vessel Protection Detachment, for example. (cf. Crew, Team).

Bistatic localisation

Bi- and multi-static localisation methods are used in both modern radar and Sonar-devices. With this method, unlike conventional devices, the transmitter and receiver are not located on the same platform. There are particular advantages because units can participate in a localisation network without giving themselves away by actively using sensors.

Boarding

Inspection and search of ships by a boarding team, for example when monitoring an embargo. The German Navy has grouped its boarding teams into a company in the naval battalion. They are led by Frigates and Supply ships from.

On-board helicopter

Helicopters that are carried on ships and deployed from there. They are technically designed for flight operations over the sea and for landings on board. On-board helicopters are used for reconnaissance, combating submarines and ships, in particular Speedboatsand for transport. They can be Torpedoes, Missile and light machine guns. They play a special role in the transport of Combat swimmers and boarding teams and in ensuring the medical rescue chain.

Centre of Excellence for Operations in Confined and Shallow Waters (COE CSW)

The COE CSW in Kiel is a multinational office of the German Navy that is accredited by NATO. It deals with the special features of maritime operations in marginal seas.

Choke points

are areas or zones in which maritime traffic is restricted due to the natural geography (e.g. Straits) or in the form of artificial waterways (e.g. the Suez Canal).

Crew

The Navy refers to its officer candidate training programmes as a crew. The officer candidates who began their training in July 2014 form Crew VII/14. The cohesion of a crew accompanies the officers throughout their entire career and beyond the end of their service. (Cf. Crew, Team)

DEU MARFOR Staff

This staff of the German Navy, which is currently being established, is intended for the command of multinational formations and forms the core of the future Baltic Maritime Component Command (BMCC). He is also involved in the development of tactics for the German Navy.

Task force provider (EGV)

Supply ship

Electronic warfare (EloKa)

is a part of naval warfare. EloKa includes the detection and evaluation of enemy electronic emissions, e.g. from radar equipment, their jamming and protection against enemy reconnaissance and jamming. Almost all warships are equipped with EloKa systems and can at least detect enemy transmissions.

Fleet service boat

Reconnaissance ship

Missile

are propelled by a jet engine like rockets, but unlike them they can be guided or steer themselves towards a predetermined target. They are used against ships, aeroplanes, missiles or land targets.

Frigate

Combat ship that is seaworthy and particularly suitable for defence and escort duties. In the German understanding, frigates are multi-purpose combat ships capable of fighting in three dimensions, i.e. against aircraft, surface ships and submarines. Most frigates can carry one or two On-board helicopter larger frigates can be used to command smaller naval formations. "(Corvette, Patrol boat)" [please also refer to ref. 2.]

Merchant ship

According to Convention on the Law of the Sea every privately owned ship is a merchant ship as opposed to state ships and warships. Merchant ships fly the flag of a state (flag state) whose legal system they are subject to (Art. 94 UNCLOS). Unlike state ships and warships, they do not enjoy extraterritorial status or immunity when they are on the territory of another state (Art. 27f UNCLOS). The protection of merchant shipping in wars and regional conflicts is served, among other things, by the Naval shipping management. In shipping, a distinction is made between merchant ships and private non-commercial vessels and, in a narrower sense, between fishing and research vessels.

Auxiliary vessel

There are two definitions for auxiliary vessels. Legally, they are ships of a navy that do not have the legal status of a warship because they have a civilian crew. In functional terms, warships are also referred to as auxiliary ships if they do not have combat but mainly support tasks, such as a Supply ship.

High seas / territorial waters

In legal terms, marine waters are divided into the internal or archipelagic waters, the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone and the high seas (Convention on the Law of the Sea). The sovereign rights of the coastal state decrease with increasing distance from its coast. While the coastal state has extensive sovereign rights in the internal waters and territorial sea, these are reduced in the territorial sea. Exclusive Economic Zone essentially to economic utilisation.

The high seas, on the other hand, are a state-free area in which the same rights and obligations apply to all states. These are regulated by international law, in particular by the 3rd Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982. The territorial sea comprises the territorial sea and extends up to 12 Nautical miles from the coastline of a coastal state.

Intensive utilisation

A concept in which ships with alternating Crews (Multi-crew concept) are available for longer than the workload of a single crew would allow. Ships built for intensive use have more robust technical systems and longer maintenance intervals than conventional ships. The Class 125 frigates should therefore be able to remain in the operational area for two years before they have to undergo scheduled maintenance in a shipyard.

Combat swimmer

are specialised maritime forces for special tasks in coastal areas. They can reach their area of operation by sea or by air and can be deployed from submarines, helicopters, with Speedboats or reach their destination by parachute. Their tasks include reconnaissance, targeting landing facilities or ships in the harbour and freeing hostages.

Captain

is the name for the skipper of a civilian ship. The skippers of warships are called Commander. Captain is also the standardised form of address for all naval staff officers in the ranks of corvette captain, frigate captain and captain at sea. They are addressed as Mr or Mrs Captain.

Commander

is the designation for the skipper of a ship Warship. Commanders are officers, in exceptional cases (landing craft) non-commissioned officers with a licence. They are both the military superiors of the crew and the nautically responsible skipper.

Corvette

Combat ship that is particularly suitable for protection and escort duties. Corvettes are smaller than frigates and are particularly suitable for coastal and marginal sea areas. In German terms, they are capable of fighting in at least two dimensions, i.e. against aircraft, surface ships or submarines. Some corvettes have a landing deck and can carry a helicopter or unmanned aerial vehicle. "(Frigate, Patrol boat)" [please also refer to ref. 2.]

Cruiser

a type of larger combat ship that only exists in a few navies. Cruisers are capable of fighting in three dimensions, i.e. against aircraft, surface ships and submarines. U.S. Navy cruisers are designed for the air defence of a naval formation. Most cruisers can carry one or two helicopters and are capable of commanding naval formations. [please also refer to ref. 2.]

Warship

In accordance with the Convention on the Law of the Sea (Art. 29), a ship belonging to the naval forces of a state whose crew is led by an officer (Commander) and is subject to military discipline and is included in the state's list of warships.

Landing ship

a ship that can transport troops and their equipment and land them outside of harbours and suitable infrastructure. Landing ships can either approach the beach themselves and unload personnel and material via a ramp (armoured landing ship type), or they can use helicopters and smaller landing craft for transport (helicopter carriers, dock landing ships). In addition to military landings, landing ships are particularly suitable for providing assistance from the sea. "(Amphibious operations, please also refer to ref. 2.].

Team

Bundeswehr designation for members of the lowest rank group. The lowest crew rank in the navy is called sailor, followed by the ranks corporal, lance corporal, lance corporal, lance corporal and lance corporal. As regards language usage: A single person is called "die Mannschaft", the plural "Mannschaften". In everyday usage, the grammatically incorrect version "Mannschafter" has prevailed for some time in the singular and plural. (Cf. Crew, Crew).

Naval aviator

Air force with On-board helicopters and aeroplanes, Maritime reconnaissance aircraft and other aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles for use at sea or from the sea. Tasks include reconnaissance and localisation, combat against ships and submarines, tactical transport, search and rescue.

Naval Infantry

(Marines are troops who specialise in being deployed from on board for combat and security tasks on land or on board ships. They can be part of a navy, land forces or a separate branch of the armed forces. They have different scopes and capabilities. The largest naval organisation in the world is the United States Marine Corps with several large units and its own combat units. The German Navy has a small infantry component, particularly for the protection of harbour facilities and ships or the search of ships "(Amphibious operations, Boarding).

Naval Command

The Naval Command, based in Rostock, is the supreme command centre of the German Navy and staff of the Inspector of the Navy. Integrated into the naval command are the Maritime Operations Centre (MOC) and in future the Baltic Maritime Component Command (BMCC)

Naval officer

are all officers in naval uniform, including reserve officers. At the top are the flag officers (admirals), followed by the staff officers (captain at sea, frigate captain, corvette captain) and the staff captain lieutenants, captain lieutenants, first lieutenants at sea and lieutenants at sea.

Naval officers serve in various career paths. Officers in the military service are particularly qualified for leadership roles. Their careers range from lieutenant at sea to admiral. Officers in the Military Specialist Service are from the career path of Portepee non-commissioned officers (Corporal) and primarily fulfil tasks from their specialist background. This career path extends to the rank of lieutenant captain.

There are also the career paths of medical service officers (with their own ranks), geo-information service officers and military music service officers.

Naval shipping management

serves the protection of merchant shipping by naval forces in crises and conflicts and thus the maritime safety. NATO has established the Naval Co-operation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) procedure, which many other nations around the world have joined. The German Navy maintains a naval shipping control centre in Hamburg.

Maritime Operations Centre (MOC)

The MOC is the situation centre of the Naval commandsfrom which naval units are managed insofar as they are deployed under the responsibility of the Inspector of the Navy. The MOC is currently still located in the former naval command centre in Glücksburg. In future, it will move to the headquarters of the naval command in Rostock. Parts of the MOC are the SAR control centre (Search and Rescue (SAR)) and the German-Polish command cell for submarine operations.

Maritime security

There is no binding definition for the term maritime security. In common parlance, maritime security is understood to mean the protection of non-military activities at sea against threats and dangers. This includes, among other things, legislative, administrative, police and military measures to protect shipping, fishing and Offshore-activities. Broader definitions of maritime security include marine environmental protection and the enforcement of the law of the sea.

Maritime strategy

A maritime strategy is a document in which a state or an international organisation defines the totality of maritime interests, objectives, challenges and threats and describes how different means of its own are to be deployed in a coordinated manner in order to safeguard its interests and achieve its objectives.

Examples

• NATO: Alliance Maritime Strategy, March 2011 (further information LINK)
• EU: European Union Maritime Security Strategy, June 2014 (further information LINK)
• USA: A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower, March 2015 (further reading LINK)

Straits

are connections between two seas that lie entirely within the territorial waters of one or more states. They may be used in accordance with the Convention on the Law of the Sea (Part III, Art. 34 et seq.) in compliance with its regulations (e.g. Strait of Gibraltar, Strait of Hormuz). Shipping routes and traffic flows converge and intersect at many straits (Choke points).

Multi-crew concept

A concept in which there is more than one ship class Crews than ships. The crews take turns while the ship remains in operation. (Intensive utilisation)

MERZ

SEE Rescue Centre

Trade fair

On the one hand, the mess room is a communal space that serves as a place to stay during times when the ship is not awake or to eat meals, and on the other hand, it is also a community for all members of the same rank group on board. Mess rooms are located on ships and boats that have the necessary space. They are organised separately by rank group in order to maintain freedom of movement for other rank groups. For this reason, a member of another rank group only has access to a mess by invitation.

Minesweeper/minehunting boat

Vehicles with the special task of mine defence. Minesweepers are used to clear an area. They combat anchor mines by pulling clearing cables through the water. To render bottom mines harmless, minesweepers simulate the noise and magnetic fields of larger ships. Minehunting boats search for individual mines with an acoustic localisation device (Sonar) and fight them specifically with the help of underwater drones and mine divers. [note also pref. 2.]

Mine diver

are specialists who dive for mines and other underwater explosive devices and render them harmless by defusing or detonating them. Mine divers are deployed from minehunting boats or from land.

MPA

Maritime reconnaissance aircraft

Nautical mile

also called nautical mile, is the length measure of 1852 metres commonly used in nautical science.

Offshore

Offshore activities are activities at sea or on the seabed, primarily marine mining, including oil and gas extraction. Within the Exclusive Economic Zone they are subject to the powers of the coastal state.

Patrol boat

Patrol boats are a variety of different small, mostly lightly armed boat types used by the armed forces, coast guards and police. Other designations are (coastal) patrol boat and, particularly in the case of the police, patrol boat. The NATO designation "P", derived from patrol boat, is also used for combat boats up to the size of missile speedboats (Speedboat) and submarines. (Note also preliminary remark 2)

Piracy

or piracy is the plundering or seizure of ships and aircraft on the high seas (Art. 101 UNCLOS). Corresponding criminal offences within territorial waters are regulated by national law and are not regarded as piracy, but as robbery, deprivation of liberty or similar. According to international maritime law, only Warships and marked state vessels or corresponding aircraft (Art. 107 UNCLOS) are authorised to take action against piracy on the high seas. This includes, among other things, the boarding and arrest of ships used for piracy and the detention of persons involved in piracy for the purpose of prosecution.

Petty officer (PUO)

Bundeswehr designation for members of the rank group of sergeants (army, air force) or boatswains (navy). The lowest rank of PUO in the Navy is Boatswain, followed by the ranks of Chief Boatswain, Chief Boatswain, Chief Boatswain and Chief Boatswain's Mate. The navy commonly refers to boatswains, PUOs or masters. The latter term reflects the special qualification of these soldiers in their speciality (e.g. as master navigators, artillery masters). This special qualification also results in a stronger differentiation from non-commissioned officers without a licence to serve (cf. Non-commissioned officer) than is customary in the army or air force, and which is reflected, for example, in separate trade fairs (cf. Trade fair).

marginal sea

Marginal seas are seas that are largely enclosed by land masses but are connected to the world's oceans. The marginal seas include the North Sea, the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Different nautical and physical conditions prevail in marginal seas than in open oceans, which influences military operations. In Germany, the Centre of Excellence for Operations in Confined and Shallow Waters (COE CSW) with the special features of the marginal seas.

SEE Rescue Centre

A SEE Rescue Centre (formerly Marine Emergency Rescue Centre/MERZ) is a combination of containers and the medical and logistical capacities of a task force provider (Supply ship) for initial emergency surgical and internal medicine care. Two operating theatres, 18 hospital beds, two intensive care beds and two shock beds can be made available. The casualties are transported to or from the RZ-SEE by helicopter.

Speedboat

Small, fast warship with high combat power but limited seaworthiness and endurance (cf. Speedboat, Patrol boat). Their main area of operation is the coastal apron. All newer fast patrol boats of the German Navy were equipped with Missiles against sea targets and partly against air targets. In terms of size and combat power, the transition between these larger fast patrol boats and Corvettes fluent. [please also refer to ref. 2.]

Search and Rescue (SAR)

The navy is involved in the German Armed Forces' search and rescue service. The SeaKing helicopters are primarily used for this purpose. It also operates a SAR control centre in Glücksburg, which is part of the Maritime Operations Centre (MOC) is.

Maritime reconnaissance aircraft

(MPA: Maritime Patrol Aircraft, also MRPA: Maritime Reconnaissance and Patrol Aircraft) are aircraft with a long range and flight time. They are equipped with various sensors such as radar and sonobuoys (Sonar). As weapons they can Missile and Torpedoes or carrying water bombs. Their main tasks include the Maritime surveillance the fight against submarines.

Nautical mile

Nautical mile

Sea mines

Sea mines are explosive devices that lie on the seabed or are anchored there. Unlike anti-personnel mines on land, their use is not outlawed, but is subject to special legal regulations.

Maritime surveillance

The monitoring of sea areas for unwanted, illegal or hostile activities. Sea area surveillance requires a situation centre and various sensors such as Maritime reconnaissance aircraft, Warshipsin particular Patrol boats Coastal radar stations or underwater listening systems.

Law of the Sea (Convention)

The law of the sea comprises the international legal order on the seas and national regulations for the coastal area. In addition to customary international law, the main source of international law is the 3rd Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982. LINK)

Sonar

(Sound navigation and ranging is the term for underwater sound localisation. Active sonar devices transmit acoustic signals, receive their echo and use it to determine the direction and distance of their target. Passive devices detect the sound emitted by the target itself. Sonar devices in various forms are installed on ships and submarines. Aircraft and helicopters can drop sonobuoys that transmit their localisations by radio.

Speedboat

Small, very fast motorboat. Speedboats are used by special forces as well as irregular fighters and smugglers. They can carry light armament such as a machine gun or a bazooka. Due to their speed, manoeuvrability and small size, they are suitable for Boarding and Combat swimmer The other is for attacks on ships, including -> piracy and the smuggling of people and goods. [please also refer to ref. 2.]

Tanker

Specialised ships for transporting liquids, usually fuels, in tanks. Most naval tankers are equipped to supply other ships at sea with fuel. [please also refer to ref. 2.]

Tender

Support ships for smaller warships such as Speedboats and Minesweepers. Tenders carry supplies and have a military hospital, workshops and accommodation for the staff of a boat convoy. [please also refer to ref. 2.]

Torpedo

A torpedo is an underwater weapon used to combat submarines and surface ships. Torpedoes consist of a propulsion section, an explosive charge and a homing head. They can be deployed from ships and submarines. Torpedoes against submarines ( U-Hunt) are smaller than sea-targeted torpedoes and can be dropped from aeroplanes and helicopters.

Submarine

Military submarines are underwater vehicles with a wide variety of types and tasks. A distinction is made between nuclear-powered and conventional submarines. Nuclear submarines mainly serve as carriers of strategic nuclear weapons (strategic submarines) or to combat other submarines (attack submarines). Conventional submarines are primarily used to combat surface ships and submarines. They usually have a diesel-electric propulsion system; modern boats also have an air-independent propulsion system, such as a fuel cell in the German submarines. In addition to the aforementioned tasks, submarines can also be used for reconnaissance and special tasks such as the deployment of combat swimmers. [please also refer to ref. 2.]

Non-commissioned officer (NCO)

The Bundeswehr's designation for members of the lowest rank group of non-commissioned officers, the non-commissioned officers without portepee (cf. Corporal). The ranks of the UO of the navy are called mate and chief mate.

U-Hunt

Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) refers to the fight against submarines. Modern submarine hunting takes place in a three-dimensional approach from the air with On-board helicopterssurface vessels and Submarines. The most important means of localisation is underwater sound (Sonar), the most important weapon against submarines is the Torpedo.

Supply ship

Supply ships are used to supply naval units at sea with fuel, ammunition, rations, spare parts and other requirements. They have special loading gear with which they can transfer the goods to another ship travelling close alongside. General cargo can also be transported with On-board helicopters be delivered. Larger supply ships such as the German Einsatzgruppenversorger (EGV) can be equipped with additional facilities such as a larger military hospital (SEE Rescue Centre) or premises for a staff. [please also refer to ref. 2.]

Vessel Protection Detachment (VPD)

is a group Naval Infantrywhich is embarked on merchant ships or warships to protect them against asymmetric threats, in particular during transit through endangered areas, such as at Choke pointsaccompanied. A special form of VPD is the Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD), which can operate independently for around three weeks and is therefore more self-sufficient.

Destroyer

A type of ship with the same tasks as a Frigate. In the German understanding, destroyers were larger, faster and more heavily armed than contemporary frigates, but did not carry helicopters. In many navies, destroyers have since been replaced by ships known as frigates, some of which are considerably larger than earlier destroyers. [Note also ref. 2].

Weblinks

Marine

Convention on the Law of the Sea

Footnote

¹ The authors:

Christian Walter MeyerFlotilla Admiral, DCOS Ops Markdo. Focus in the navy: speedboats

Ulrich OttoRear Admiral (ret.), most recently Chief of the Naval Office. Specialisation in the navy: naval aviator

Dirk Peters, frigate captain, lawyer, Head of Maritime Security at the European Defence Agency. Specialisation in the Navy: Maritime Security

Karsten Schneider, Rear Admiral (ret.), most recently Chief of Staff at Naval Command. Focus in the navy: speedboats and frigates

Heinz Schulte, journalist, griephan letters. Focus: Security policy and armaments

Hans-Joachim StrickerVice Admiral (ret.), most recently Commander of the Fleet. Main focus in the navy: mine forces

Abbreviations

Preliminary remark

The list of abbreviations in PDF format offers the possibility to look up abbreviations used in the maritime sector (and beyond), if necessary with a search function (Mac: cmd + f); (Windows: Ctrl + f).
The list is based on publications of the magazine MarineForum, official notices and the Internet.
Some abbreviations with the same meaning have different meanings; the meaning can only be determined from the textual context.
It is updated on a quarterly basis.

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