German Navy

History

The German Navy traces its roots back to the Reichsflotte (Imperial Fleet) of the revolutionary era of 1848–52. The Reichsflotte was the first German navy to sail under the black-red-gold flag. Founded on 14 June 1848 by the orders of the democratically elected Frankfurt Parliament, the Reichsflotte's brief existence ended with the failure of the revolution and it was disbanded on 2 April 1852; thus, the modern day navy celebrates its birthday on 14 June.

Between May 1945 and 1956, the German Mine Sweeping Administration and its successor organizations, made up of former members of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine ("War Navy"), became something of a transition stage for the navy, allowing the future Marine to draw on experienced personnel upon its formation. In 1956, with West Germany's accession to NATO, the Bundesmarine ("Federal Navy"), as the navy was known colloquially, was formally established. In the same year the East German Volkspolizei See (literally "People's Police Sea") became the Volksmarine ("People's Navy"). During the Cold war the all of the German Navy's combat vessels were assigned to NATO's Allied Forces Baltic Approaches's naval command NAVBALTAP.

With the accession of East Germany to the Federal Republic of Germany in 1990 the Volksmarine along with the whole National People's Army (Nationale Volksarmee, NVA) became part of the Bundeswehr. Since 1995 the name German Navy is used in international context, while the official name since 1956 remains Marine without any additions. As of 16 December 2016, the strength of the navy is 16,137 men and women.

A number of naval forces have operated in different periods. See

Preußische Marine (Prussian Navy), 1701–1867

Reichsflotte (Imperial Fleet), 1848–52

Norddeutsche Bundesmarine (North German Federal Navy), 1867–71

Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine), 1871–1919

Reichsmarine, 1919–35

Kriegsmarine, 1935–45

German Mine Sweeping Administration, 1945–56

Volksmarine the navy of East Germany (GDR) 1956–90

Marine, 1956–present (Bundesmarine, colloquially)

German Navy, 1995–present (international contexts)

Current operations

German warships permanently participate in all four NATO Maritime Groups. The German Navy is also engaged in operations against international terrorism such as Operation Enduring Freedom and NATO Operation Active Endeavour.

Presently the largest operation the German Navy is participating in is UNIFIL off the coast of Lebanon. The German contribution to this operation is two frigates, four fast attack craft, and two auxiliary vessels. The naval component of UNIFIL has been under German command.

The navy is operating a number of development and testing installations as part of an inter-service and international network. Among these is the Centre of Excellence for Operations in Confined and Shallow Waters (COE CSW), an affiliated centre of Allied Command Transformation. The COE CSW was established in April 2007 and officially accredited by NATO on 26 May 2009. It is co-located with the staff of the German Flotilla 1 in Kiel whose Commander is double-hatted as Director, COE CSW.

Ships and submarines

In total, there are about 65 commissioned ships in the German Navy, including; 10 frigates, 5 corvettes, 3 minesweepers, 10 minehunters, 6 submarines, 11 replenishment ships and 20 miscellaneous auxiliary vessels. The displacement of the navy is 220,000 tonnes. In addition, the German Navy and the Royal Danish Navy are in cooperation in the "Ark Project". This agreement made the Ark Project responsible for the strategic sealift of German armed forces where the full-time charter of three roll-on-roll-off cargo and troop ships are ready for deployments. In addition, these ships are also kept available for the use of the other European NATO countries.

The three vessels have a combined displacement of 60,000 tonnes. Including these ships, the total ships' displacement available to the Deutsche Marine is 280,000 tonnes.

A total of five Joint Support Ships, two JSS800 and three JSS400, were planned during the 1995–2010 period but the programme appears now to have been abandoned, not having been mentioned in two recent defence reviews. The larger ships would have been tasked for strategic troop transport and amphibious operations, and were to displace 27,000 to 30,000 tons for 800 soldiers. The German Navy will use the Joint Support Ship HNLMS Karel Doorman (A833) of the Royal Netherlands Navy as part of the integration of the German Navy Marines (Seebatallion) in the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps as of 2016.

Aircraft

The naval air arm of the German Navy is called the Marinefliegerkommando. The Marinefliegerkommando operate 55 aircraft.

Structure

The German Navy is commanded by the Inspector of the Navy (Inspekteur der Marine) supported by the Navy Command (Marinekommando) in Rostock.

Formations

HQ German Navy (Marinekommando), Rostock

Flotilla 1(Einsatzflottille 1) (HQ Kiel)

2nd Flotilla (Einsatzflottille 2), Wilhelmshaven

HQ 2nd Flotilla

2nd Frigate Squadron (2. Fregattengeschwader), Wilhelmshaven

4th Frigate Squadron (4. Fregattengeschwader), Wilhelmshaven

Auxiliary Squadron (Trossgeschwader), Wilhelmshaven

Naval Base Command Wilhelmshaven

Naval Aviation Command (Marinefliegerkommando), Nordholz

Naval Air Wing 3 (Marinefliegergeschwader 3), Nordholz

Naval Air Wing 5 (Marinefliegergeschwader 5), Nordholz

Naval Support Command (Marineunterstützungskommando — MUKdo)

Naval Medical Institute (Schiffahrtsmedizinisches Institut), Kiel

Naval Academy (Marineschule Mürwik), Flensburg

Petty Officer School (Marineunteroffiziersschule), Plön

Engineering School (Marinetechnikschule), Parow, near Stralsund

Naval Operations School (Marineoperationsschule), Bremerhaven

Naval Damage Control Training Centre (Ausbildungszentrum für Schiffssicherung), Neustadt in Holstein

Officers

Seekadett – Officer Cadet

Fähnrich zur See – Midshipman

Oberfähnrich zur See – Midshipman / Ensign

Leutnant zur See – Ensign / Lieutenant Junior Grade / Sublieutenant

Oberleutnant zur See – Lieutenant Junior Grade / Sublieutenant

Kapitänleutnant – Lieutenant / Lieutenant Commander

Stabskapitänleutnant – senior to Kapitänleutnant, same pay grade as Korvettenkapitän, for specialist officers only

Korvettenkapitän – Corvette Captain

Fregattenkapitän – Frigate Captain

Kapitän zur See – Ship-of-the-line Captain

Flottillenadmiral – Rear Admiral lower half

Konteradmiral – Rear Admiral upper half / Counter Admiral

Vizeadmiral – Vice Admiral

Admiral

Petty officers and enlisted seamen

Matrose – Seaman Recruit

Gefreiter – Seaman Apprentice

Gefreiter-UA – Seaman Apprentice E2 – Petty Officer 2nd Class Candidate

Gefreiter-BA – Seaman Apprentice E2 – Petty Officer 1st Class Candidate

Gefreiter-OA – Seaman Apprentice E2 – Officer Candidate

Obergefreiter – Seaman

Hauptgefreiter – Seaman

Stabsgefreiter – Petty Officer 3rd Class

Oberstabsgefreiter – Petty Officer 3rd Class

Maat – Petty Officer 2nd Class

Maat-BA – Petty Officer 2nd Class – Probationary Petty Officer 1st Class

Obermaat – Petty Officer 2nd Class

Bootsmann – Petty Officer 1st Class

Oberbootsmann – Petty Officer 1st Class

Hauptbootsmann – Chief Petty Officer

Stabsbootsmann – Senior Chief Petty Officer

Oberstabsbootsmann – Master Chief Petty Officer, Command/Fleet/Force Master Chief Petty Officer

Radio and communication stations

DH038

DHJ58

DHJ59

Future developments

A first batch of four frigates of the F125 class (Baden-Württemberg class) specialised for persistent stabilization missions is planned to replace all eight Bremen class guided-missile frigates. Each F125 will have two crews. They are expected to enter service between 2016 and 2018.

Six medium surface combat ships are planned under the name 'Mehrzweckkampfschiff 180' (MKS 180), a multi-mission frigate

Two more Type 212A submarines will be procured within the next decade.

Five additional Braunschweig class corvettes will be procured from 2019–2023.

18 NH90 NFH Helicopters ordered to replace Lynx in ASW/AsuW role, originally ordered by the German Army as NH90 TTH variant.

12 Medium Sized Helicopters are planned to replace the current 22 Sea King helicopters of Naval Air Wing 5 in SAR & ship-based Transport Role (VertRep)

A first batch of six Camcopter S-100 UAVs for the use on the Braunschweig class corvettes has been ordered (more being planned). Deliveries will take place in 2013.

Integration of the German Navy Marines (Seebatallion) in the Netherlands Marine Corps and use of the Amphibious ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy such as the Joint Support Ship HNLMS Karel Doorman (A833) as of 2016.

In May 2013 it was announced by both Ministers of Defence that the German- & Dutch Navy agreed to integrate submarine operations, training and design for future replacements.