Once in a lifetime

Interview by Alexander Gottschalk
 
After seven and a half months at sea and circumnavigating the globe, the German Navy's Indo-Pacific Deployment 2024 is over. Time for a chat with the two commanders of Task Group 500.01, Flotilla Admirals Axel Schulz and Helge Risch.

Flotilla Admiral Schulz, with what expectations did you set off as Commander Task Group on 7 May?

For me personally, this year's Indo-Pacific Deployment (IPD 24) is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I'm sure most of the soldiers who took part feel the same way. Travelling around the world is always something very special. What's more, the two units were the first non-training ships to circumnavigate the globe in its entirety since the German Navy was founded in 1956. Previously, only the training ship Deutschland in 1965 and 1974 and the training sailing ship Gorch Fock in 1987 had travelled around the world.

In addition to this emotional aspect, however, I already had respect for the mission and the challenges during the planning phase. For the German Navy, several missions were at the forefront: to show a presence in Indo-Pacific waters and thus stand up for the international rules-based world order, to expand partnership relations in the region and at the same time improve interoperability with its navies through bilateral and multinational exercises, and finally to train officer candidates and train within the organisation.

What were the biggest challenges in the planning, preparation and realisation of this outstanding voyage?