Change of command on the frigates "Mecklenburg-Vorpommern" and "Sachsen"

State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Tourism and Labour Ines Liess and Commander of Operational Flotilla 2, Flotilla Admiral Axel Schulz

Both ships are being modernised and are not available for use

There was a lot going on at the Wilhelmshaven base on Friday: the commander of the 2nd Frigate Squadron, Captain Olliver Pfennig, handed over command of the frigate "Mecklenburg-Vorpommern" from Frigate Captain Wolfgang Eckmüller to Frigate Captain Daniel Wolter. Frigate Captain Eckmüller then took command of the frigate "Sachsen" from Frigate Captain Thomas Liebert. The frigate "Sachsen" is currently still undergoing a planned shipyard project at the naval arsenal.

The handover of command at the berth of the frigate "Mecklenburg-Vorpommern" was again combined as a "triangle" to enable the commanders to "burden share" their tasks in the shipyard and at sea, said Commander Olliver Pfennig, adding that although it was unusual for everyone, it was a good solution for everyone.

Captain Olliver Pfennig hands over first from Frigate Captain Wolfgang Eckmüller to Frigate Captain Daniel Wolter, then from Frigate Captain Liebert to Frigate Captain Wolfgang Eckmüller

Frigate Captain Liebert becomes a staff officer on the EU Military Committee in Brussels. He looks back on a fulfilling time in command on the "Sachsen", having commanded the first successful laser shot by a German frigate on a moving aerial target as part of the test campaign of the same name. In his brilliant speech, he made no secret of the fact that it had been a challenge both to have to do without the main weapon system and to take an initially "hated" test system to sea. After all, you are a fighting crew, not a development engineer, said Liebert. He used conciliatory words to describe the crew's high level of motivation, which ultimately led to the successful completion of the trials. Of course, they were less pleased to have to operate without a main weapon system for four years, which is no longer acceptable in today's world. The commander of the squadron also lamented this.

The frigate "Mecklenburg-Vorpommern" is a military home for Frigate Captain Wolter: he was already part of the crew of the frigate twice between 2009 and 2014.he frigate. In the meantime, he was assigned to the Naval Operations School and the Naval Command. His time in command will be a special one for him, as the ship is about to undergo a major shipyard and refit phase, which will form part of the modernisation of the F123 frigate class. The ships are to be equipped with new command and control systems, new radars and fire control systems to make them operational again by 2035. Abeking & Rasmussen, Elektroniksystem- und Logistik GmbH (ESG), Atlas Elektronik and Emden Dockyard are working together on this major project with SAAB as the contractor. In particular, representatives of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, State Secretary Ines Jesse and the commander of the state command, Brigadier General Uwe Nerger, were present. The situation illustrates the dilemma of having too few units: while the "Sachsen" is nearing completion, the "Mecklenburg-Vorpommern" will have to be withdrawn from the navy for a long time.

Text/Photos: hsc