- Alster (A 50)
The "Alster" (A 50) is an intelligence ship of the
German Navy . She is the lead ship of the "Klasse 423".The "Alster" is meant as a reconnaissance ship, with a wide array of modern elektromagnetic, hydroacoustic and electro-optic sensors for strategic intelligence gathering. She can be used as an advanced warning unit. The design was originally intended to gather data on Soviet ships.
On the 26th of October 2006, Israeli planes flew over the "Alster", [cite web |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,445473,00.html |title=Israel versus Germany: Confrontation off Lebanon Leads to Questions |accessdate=2008-10-01 |publisher=Der Spiegel online |first1=Christoph |last1=Schult |first2=Alexander |last2=Szandar |date=2006-10-30] stirring an international incident. [http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2605423] dead link|date=October 2008 [http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2605423] dead link|date=October 2008 [http://www.politicalgateway.com/news/read/44657] dead link|date=October 2008 [http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20061030-105309-9500r] dead link|date=October 2008 [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/6AC0E56E-B043-496B-84F3-08C9786A4EC2.htm] dead link|date=October 2008 German authorities declared that the planes had fired shots at the ship and evaded from the scene launching flares. The Israeli side, though denying that firing had occurred, acknowledged the incident and declared that no aggression was meant. Diplomatic activity resulted in a settlement, though none of the parties backed from its position.
Namesake
Alster is the name of a small river inHamburg andSchleswig-Holstein .References
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