German Navy

German Navy Deutsche Marine
Naval Ensign of Germany.
Founded	1956 (1990)
Country	Germany
Size	17,000 personnel, 47 surface vessels, 4 submarines, 43 auxiliary vessels, 55 aircraft
Part of	Bundeswehr
Engagements	Operation Sharp Guard (1993–96) Operation Enduring Freedom  • Combined Task Force 150 (2002– ) Operation Active Endeavour UNIFIL II Operation ATALANTA
Commanders
Inspekteur der Marine	Vice Admiral Axel Schimpf
Insignia
Logo of the German Navy

German Navy Deutsche Marine
Components Organization Ships Naval Air Arm Kampfschwimmer Command Fleet Command Marineamt Equipment Ship Classes History and Traditions Prussian Navy Norddeutsche Bundesmarine Kaiserliche Marine Reichsmarine Kriegsmarine Volksmarine Awards, Decorations and Badges Badge of Honour of the Bundeswehr Military Proficiency Badge Badge of Marksmanship Service Medal Flood Service Medal

The German Navy (Deutsche Marine ( navy of Germany and is part of the unified Bundeswehr (the German Armed Forces).

The German Navy traces its roots back to the Imperial Fleet (Reichsflotte) of the revolutionary era of 1848 – 52 and more directly to the Prussian Navy, which later evolved into the Northern German Federal Navy (Norddeutsche Bundesmarine, 1866 – 71) and became the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) of 1872–1918. From 1919 to 1921 it was known as the Temporary Imperial Navy (Vorläufige Reichsmarine) and then became the Reichsmarine. It was known as the Kriegsmarine (War Navy) from 1935 to 1945.

From 1945 to 1956, the German Mine Sweeping Administration and its successor organizations, made up of former members of the Kriegsmarine, became something of a transition stage for the German Navy, allowing the future Bundesmarine to draw on experienced personnel upon its formation.

In 1956, with West Germany's accession to NATO, a new Navy was established and was referred to as the Federal Navy (Bundesmarine). With the reunification of Germany in 1990, and the taking-over of units of the former East German Volksmarine ("People's Navy"), it was decided to simply use the name Deutsche Marine ("German Navy").

In total, there are about 90 commissioned warships in the German Navy, including four submarines and 43 auxiliary ships; the displacement of the navy is 220,000 tonnes. In addition to this, 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.^[1][2] Including these ships, the total ships' displacement available to the Deutsche Marine is 280,000 tonnes.

Mission

The German Navy is part of the German armed forces (Bundeswehr), and is deeply integrated into the NATO alliance. Its mission includes the participation in peace-keeping and peace enforcement operations as well as the protection of German and Allied territories.

Operations

A German Navy boarding team member assigned to the frigate FGS Augsburg (F213) provides security with a P8 pistol for the remainder of his team as they board a local cargo dhow by fast rope to conduct a search of the vessel.

German war ships 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 II 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.^[3]

Organization

The German Navy is commanded by the Inspekteur der Marine in the Federal Ministry of Defence in Bonn. The major commands are the Fleet Command at Glücksburg near Flensburg and the Naval Office at Rostock. The Fleet is commanded by the Befehlshaber der Flotte (Commander-in-Chief German Fleet or CINCGERFLEET) and comprises all combat vessels, aircraft, helicopters and other combat forces, while schools, naval bases and test installations are under the purview of the Naval Office. The strength of the Navy is about 17,000 men and women.^[4]

The navy as a part of the Bundeswehr is responsible for developing and providing the maritime capabilities of the German armed forces. Therefore it is operating a number of development and testing installations as part of an inter-service and international network.

The Fleet

• Fleet Command (Flottenkommando), Glücksburg
  • 1st Flotilla (Einsatzflottille 1), Kiel
    • HQ 1st Flotilla
      • Centre of Excellence for Operations in Confined and Shallow Waters (COE CSW)
    • 1st Corvette Squadron (1. Korvettengeschwader), Warnemünde
    • 1st Submarine Squadron (1. Unterseebootgeschwader), Eckernförde
    • Submarine Training Centre (Ausbildungszentrum Unterseeboote), Eckernförde
    • 3rd Mine Countermeasures Squadron (3. Minensuchgeschwader), Kiel
    • 7th Fast Patrol Boat Squadron (7. Schnellbootgeschwader), Warnemünde
    • 5th Mine Countermeasures Squadron (5. Minensuchgeschwader), Kiel
    • Force Protection Group, (Marineschutzkräfte), Eckernförde
      • HQ
      • 3x Force Protection companies (Marinesicherungskompanie)
      • HUMINT platoon (Feldnachrichtenzug)
    • Special Warfare Group, (Spezialisierte Einsatzkräfte Marine), Eckernförde
      • HQ
      • combat diver company (Kampfschwimmerkompanie)
      • mine clearance diver company (mine countermeasures and explosive ordnance disposal; Minentaucherkompanie)
      • Boarding company
      • Training Company (Ausbildungsinspektion)
  • 2nd Flotilla (Einsatzflottille 2), Wilhelmshaven
    • HQ 2nd Flotilla
    • 2nd Frigate Squadron (2. Fregattengeschwader), Wilhelmshaven
    • 4th Frigate Squadron (4. Fregattengeschwader), Wilhelmshaven
    • Auxiliary Squadron (Trossgeschwader), Wilhelmshaven/Kiel
  • Naval Air Wing 3 (Marinefliegergeschwader 3), Nordholz
  • Naval Air Wing 5 (Marinefliegergeschwader 5), Kiel
  • Naval Medical Institute (Schiffahrtsmedizinisches Institut), Kiel (responsible especially for diving medicine)

Naval Office

• Naval Office (Marineamt), Rostock
  • Department for Development of the Navy, Bremerhaven
  • Navy Schools (Admiral Naval Training)
    • Naval Academy (Marineschule Mürwik), Flensburg-Mürwik
    • Petty Officer School (Marineunteroffiziersschule), Plön
    • Engineering School (Marinetechnikschule), Parow, near Stralsund
      • Damage Control Training Centre (Ausbildungszentrum für Schiffssicherung), Neustadt in Holstein
    • Naval Operations School (Marineoperationsschule), Bremerhaven
  • Supporting Installations (Admiral Naval Logistics)
    • Naval Base Command (Marinestützpunktkommando) Wilhelmshaven
    • Naval Base Command (Marinestützpunktkommando) Eckernförde
    • Naval Base Command (Marinestützpunktkommando) Kiel
    • Naval Base Command (Marinestützpunktkommando) Warnemünde
    • Naval Service Test Command (Kommando Truppenversuche der Marine), Eckernförde
    • Naval Command & Control Systems Command (Kommando Marineführungssysteme), Wilhelmshaven

Ranks

Officers

NATO Code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1		OF(D)	Student Officer
Germany (Edit)	No Equivalent	Admiral	Vizeadmiral	Konteradmiral	Flottillenadmiral	Kapitän zur See	Fregattenkapitän	Korvettenkapitän	Stabskapitänleutnant Kapitänleutnant	Oberleutnant zur See	Leutnant zur See	Oberfähnrich zur See Fähnrich zur See	Seekadett Enlisted rank plus a star indicating cadet's career

• Seekadett - Officer Cadet
• Fähnrich zur See - Midshipman 2nd class
• Oberfähnrich zur See - Midshipman 1st class
• Leutnant zur See - Ensign
• Oberleutnant zur See - Lieutenant (junior grade)/Sublieutenant
• Kapitänleutnant - Lieutenant
• Stabskapitänleutnant - First Lieutenant
• Korvettenkapitän - Lieutenant Commander
• Fregattenkapitän - Commander
• Kapitän zur See - Captain (naval)
• Flottillenadmiral - Flotilla Admiral
• Konteradmiral - Rear Admiral, Counter Admiral
• Vizeadmiral - Vice Admiral
• Admiral

NCOs and Enlisted Seamen

NATO Code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5			OR-4		OR-3		OR-2		OR-1
Germany (Edit)
	Oberstabsbootsmann						Stabsbootsmann		Hauptbootsmann		Oberbootsmann			Bootsmann			Obermaat		Maat	Oberstabsgefreiter	Stabsgefreiter	Hauptgefreiter	Obergefreiter	Gefreiter		Matrose

• Matrose - Seaman Recruit
• Gefreiter - Seaman Apprentice
• Gefreiter-UA - Seaman Apprentice E2 - Petty Officer Candidate
• Gefreiter-BA - Seaman Apprentice E2 - Chief Petty Officer Candidate
• Gefreiter-OA - Seaman Apprentice E2 - Officer Candidate
• Obergefreiter - Seaman
• Hauptgefreiter - Ordinary Seaman
• Stabsgefreiter - Able Seaman
• Oberstabsgefreiter - Leading Seaman
• Maat - Petty Officer 3rd Class
• Maat-BA - Petty Officer 3rd Class - Probationary Chief Petty Officer
• Obermaat - Petty Officer 2nd Class
• Bootsmann - Petty Officer 1st Class
• Oberbootsmann - Chief Petty Officer
• Hauptbootsmann - Senior Chief Petty Officer
• Stabsbootsmann - Master Chief Petty Officer
• Oberstabsbootsmann - Command Master Chief Petty Officer, Fleet/Force Master Chief Petty Officer

Gallery

• 

  A1411 Berlin Berlin class replenishment ship

• 

  The Gorch Fock Gorch Fock (1958), Gorch Fock (1933)

• 

  Research ship Planet class research ship

• 

  Bottsand oil recovery ship

• 

  P3-C Orion

• 

  P3-C Orion

• 

  Breguet Atlantic Br.1150

• 

  Sea Lynx Mk 88A

• 

  Sea King Mk41 from MFG5 in a 30th anniversary colour scheme at Weston-super-Mare, England, in 2005

• 

  Westland Sea King Mk41.

• 

  F218 Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

• 

  Naval Academy Mürwik

• 

  German frigate Karlsruhe rescuing shipwrecked people off the coast of Somalia while participating in the international anti-terror operation Enduring Freedom, April 2005

• 

  The Laboe Naval Memorial for sailors who lost their lives at sea, during the World Wars, or while on duty at sea, with U-995

• 

  Modern air defence frigate F221 Hessen, commissioned 2006

• 

  Braunschweig -class corvette F 261 Magdeburg

• 

  S79 Wiesel – A Gepard -class fast attack craft

• 

  Type 212A Submarine with air independent propulsion, commissioned in 2005

Ships and weapon systems

Ships

See: List of Active Ships of the German Navy

Aircraft

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[5]	Notes
Transport/Utility Helicopter
Sea Lynx	United Kingdom	Anti-submarine helicopter	Sea Lynx Mk 88	22
Sea King	United Kingdom	Multipurpose naval helicopter	Sea King Mk 41	21
Maritime Patrol
P-3C Orion	United States	Maritime patrol	P-3C	8	Formerly owned by the Netherlands Navy Maritime Patrol
Dornier Do 228	Germany	Pollution control	Do 228 LM	2	Under orders by the Federal Ministry of Transport
Reconnaissance Aircraft
Camcopter S-100	Austria	unmanned aerial vehicle	Camcopter S-100	0	A first batch of six UAVs has been ordered (more being planned)

Radio and communication stations

• VLF transmitter DHO38
• DHJ58
• DHJ59

Developments

• A first batch of four frigates of the F125 class (Baden-Württemberg class) specialised for persistent stabilization missions is planned to replace some of the older Bremen class warships (eight 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 Korvette "K131" (corvette "K131")
• Two Joint Support Ships (JSS) for strategic troop transport and amphibious operations are planned. of the type "JSS800" of 27.000 to 30.000 tons for 800 soldiers, i.e. "Juan Carlos",^[6] http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/de-navy.htm
• Three "JSS400+" of more than 20.000 tons for 400 soldiers, i.e. "Johan de Witt" or "JSS400" for 400 soldiers and in need of supporting units, i.e. "Bay" Class.^[7]
• A new development called "Mehrzweckeinsatzschiff" (multi-mission ship) was announced in January 2009.^[8]
• One more Berlin class replenishment ship was ordered in December 2008.
• 30 × MH90 frigate helicopters are planned to replace the 22 old Sea King helicopter of Naval Air Wing 5 and some of the Sea Lynx helicopters.
• 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.^[9]

References

1. ^ http://forsvaret.dk/SOK/eng/International/ARK/Ships/Pages/default.aspx
2. ^ http://forsvaret.dk/SOK/eng/International/ARK/Pages/default.aspx
3. ^ http://www.marine.de/portal/a/marine/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKLNzKODzIMBMmB2d5mIfqRcNGglFR9X4_83FR9b_0A_YLciHJHR0VFAIngHDk!/delta/base64xml/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS80SVVFLzZfMjNfUjFR?yw_contentURL=%2F01DB070000000001%2FW27G6EFV180INFODE%2Fcontent.jsp
4. ^ http://www.bundeswehr.de/portal/a/bwde/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKLd443cTQCSYGYxgEh-pEwsaCUVH1fj_zcVH1v_QD9gtyIckdHRUUATi3qcg!!/delta/base64xml/L3dJdyEvd0ZNQUFzQUMvNElVRS82X0NfNENM
5. ^ Aviation Week & Space Technology 2009, . (2009): n. pag. Web. 13 September 2009. <http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/sourcebook/content.jsp?channelName=pro&story=xml/sourcebook_xml/2009/01/26/AW_01_26_2009_p0240-112924-59.xml&headline=World%20Military%20Aircraft%20Inventory%20-%20Germany>.
6. ^ http://geopowers.com/Konzepte/Bw_2010__/Marine2025_.pdf
7. ^ Nolting, Wolfgang E. (Inspekteur der Marine). 3.1. Struktur der Marine. marine.de, 12 January 2009. Accessed 13 August 2009.
8. ^ Nolting, Wolfgang E. (Inspekteur der Marine). 3.1. Struktur der Marine. marine.de, 12 January 2009. Accessed 13 August 2009.
9. ^ http://www.marineforum.info/HEFT_5-2009/Camcopter/camcopter.html

External links

• Official Website of German Navy in English
• Die Flotte 2006 – official fleet listing and presentation in German and English
• Uniforms

See also

• Kampfschwimmer, combat divers/combat swimmers
• List of ships of the German navies
• List of ship classes of the Bundesmarine and Deutsche Marine
• Marineamt
• Marine-Regatta-Verein
• U-boat
• Volksmarine