It was a cold Friday with temperatures around zero degrees when the Werra left Kiel at the beginning of January. Under her commander, Corvette Captain Robert Lehmann, 61 servicemen and 10 servicewomen took their leave on board the tender and set course for the Mediterranean. As part of the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2), they took on a variety of tasks in the Aegean over the following four months. The focus was on gathering information to build up a picture of the situation and cooperating with the Greek and Turkish coastguards and the European border protection agency Frontex. One Turkish and one Greek liaison officer were embarked to enable a direct connection to the partners on land. The aim of Operation Sea Guardian was to prevent smuggling activities in the area of operation and save human lives. In addition, a large number of secondary tasks had to be completed. Whether providing logistical support to other units at sea, monitoring suspicious ships in potential operation for terrorist organisations or as a platform for representative purposes, the tender was always on hand.
For the crew of the Werra it was not only the long absence that was a burden. A technical fault with the propulsion diesel forced the soldiers to find creative solutions in collaboration with the manufacturer in order to get the ship operational again as quickly as possible. Due to the pandemic, shore leave and the associated rest had to be foregone during this voyage as well. Only two harbours were visited - Souda and Izmir. The soldiers are all the more pleased that they were able to return home to Kiel yesterday (28 May). After covering around 22,000 nautical miles, friends and relatives will be able to embrace them again on 11 June.
Tender Werra off Mykonos
MarineForum Online asked Commander Lehmann about his impressions and experiences over the past few weeks.
What special features did this mission involve for you and your crew?
Of course, the corona pandemic must be mentioned first and foremost. 158 days away from home without going ashore on a boat 100 metres long is very demanding for the crew. Despite these adversities, the camaraderie within the crew in particular surprised me in a very positive way and makes me proud of what we have achieved as commander.
What were your personal expectations and were they met?
The mission was basically nothing special for a German Navy tender. As part of the main task of maritime surveillance, we were able to rely on our good training and mission preparation, so there were no major challenges. Nevertheless, the mission was a new experience in parts, especially for the crew members who were deployed for the first time, and they would not have wanted to miss it.
What will you remember most about the past few months and why?
I think that we will make the corona pandemic manageable in the near future. This mission will therefore be particularly memorable due to the circumstances of having spent 158 days on a boat with this great team without going ashore.
What happens after the ship enters the harbour? Is your crew free after entering the harbour? Is there already a follow-up order?
After this long absence, the crew will be released into the hands of their families and loved ones. Their partners and children, parents and friends have had to cope long enough without them under the special circumstances of the pandemic. The crew have more than earned their holiday.
What are you personally looking forward to when you return?
I can't even put into words how much I'm looking forward to a few wonderful days together with my partner Nina. Even if a holiday won't be possible yet, I will stay connected to the water even on holiday so that I can explore the beautiful lakes and waterways with her in my home city of Berlin.
Text: mb/Robert Lehmann; Photos: Bundeswehr/Tender Werra
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