On Tuesday, 15 November 2022 at 10 a.m., the frigate "Hessen" returned to Wilhelmshaven from Carrier Strike Group 2022 (CSG) in the Atlantic.
The frigate "Hessen" left Wilhelmshaven at the beginning of September to join the American aircraft carrier battle group. The F124 class frigate trained there together with several escort ships from other nations. Operational training and operational cooperation have been the focus of the last few weeks. Within the US-led group, the primary mission of the "Hessen" was to protect the group around the aircraft carrier "USS Gerald R. Ford" from potential threats from the air. The Sachsen-class frigates are specially designed for air defence. With its SMART-L radar, the "Hessen" can, for example, monitor the airspace over the entire North Sea. The F124's radar is capable of detecting more than 1,000 targets simultaneously.
"When we set sail for the Carrier Strike Group at the beginning of September, I announced a demanding programme for the ship and crew in which we would have to prove our mastery of our weapon system. The hard months of preparation for the deployment were more than worth it. We are returning with a wealth of experience of operating in a (multinational) aircraft carrier group and the unforgettable impression of having seen an aircraft carrier in action at close quarters," says the commander, frigate captain Volker Kübsch (43).
"We are also returning home proud to have been part of the first operational deployment of the world's largest and most modern aircraft carrier and proud to have fulfilled all the tasks assigned to us in the organisation. Our contribution was highly appreciated and certainly helped to further strengthen the reputation of the German Navy as a reliable partner at international level," the commander continues.
The frigate "Hessen" arrived in its home port with 215 soldiers. After arriving, the crew will first go on a short holiday before embarking on a three-week deployment training programme. This is primarily in preparation for integration into a French aircraft carrier battle group around the "Charles de Gaulle", for which the frigate is expected to leave at the end of January. It is not unusual for the "Hessen" to operate in such a formation: in 2018, it was already part of the aircraft carrier battle group of the "USS Harry S. Truman".
Carrier Strike Group 12 - Danish frigate Willemoes, behind it Canadian and American units. Photo: US Navy/2ndFleet
Background information on the aircraft carrier "USS General R. Ford"
The "USS Gerald R. Ford" is the newest and largest American aircraft carrier. It is named after the former US president and is the type ship of the Nimitz-class successor of the same name. The "Gerald R. Ford" was commissioned on 22 July 2017 to replace the "USS Enterprise", which was decommissioned on 3 February 2017.
Carrier Strike Group (CSG)
An aircraft carrier group is a multifunctional naval unit consisting of an aircraft carrier and up to ten other naval vessels. The wide range of tasks includes the protection of civil and military shipping, support for amphibious landing operations and other sea-based missions. As a mobile base of operations for aircraft, the fleet is able to monitor air and sea areas over a long range as well as operate inland. Not least due to the high number of naval vessels, the aircraft carrier group is a means of security policy.
Source: Rostock Naval Command press release
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