The frigate Lübeck left her home port today, 11 May. After travelling around Europe, she will join the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2) in the Mediterranean. She will replace the tender Werra, which has been deployed there until now and will then start its journey home to Kiel. The ship and crew will face weeks of labour and hardship. The central task will be to monitor the sea area in the Aegean and to cooperate with the Greek and Turkish coastguards and the European Coastguard and Border Agency Frontex.
While shore leave in various southern European harbours provided diversion and entertainment before the pandemic, the crew will not be allowed to leave the ship until further notice. For the 220 or so soldiers on board, this means moving closer together and treating each other with care. In contrast to the newer frigates or task force supply ships, space on the 130 metre long and 3680 tonne displacement ships is a scarce commodity. When the Lübeck is expected to return to Wilhelmshaven in mid-September, she can look back on 122 days of absence.
Flotilla Admiral Ralf Kuchler, Commander of Operational Flotilla 2, bids farewell to the Lübeck
Text: mb; Photos: Bundeswehr/Leon Rodewald
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