German Navy

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This article is about the modern navy of Germany and post-World War II navy of West Germany. For the World War I navy of Germany, see Imperial German Navy. For the interwar navy of Germany, see Reichsmarine. For the World War II navy of Germany, see Kriegsmarine. For other uses, see German Navy (disambiguation).

German Navy
Deutsche Marine
Naval Ensign of Germany.
Founded	1956 (1990)
Country	Germany
Size	15,600 personnel 84 ships 53 aircraft
Part of	Bundeswehr
Marinekommando	Rostock (Naval Command)
Engagements	Operation Sharp Guard (1993–96) Operation Enduring Freedom • Combined Task Force 150 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
Imperial German Navy
Reichsmarine
Kriegsmarine
Volksmarine
Awards, Decorations and Badges
Badge of Honour of the Bundeswehr Military Proficiency Badge Badge of Marksmanship Deployment Medal Flood Service Medal

The German Navy (German: Deutsche Marine) ( listen (help·info)) is the navy of Germany and is part of the unified Bundeswehr (the German Armed Forces). It is deeply integrated into the NATO alliance. Its mission is protection of German and Allied territories as well as peace-keeping and peace enforcement operations. The Marine 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 was disbanded on 2 April 1852; thus, the modern Marine celebrates its birthday on 14 June.

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 Marine, allowing the future Marine to draw on experienced personnel upon its formation. In 1956, with West Germany's accession to NATO, the Marine was formally established in the name of Bundesmarine. With the reunification of Germany in 1990 the Marine took over the former East German Volksmarine (“People’s Navy”) and became the current Deutsche Marine.

History

The German navy has operated under different names. See

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
Marine (or “Bundesmarine”), the navy of West Germany, 1956–90(95)
Volksmarine, the navy of East Germany, 1956–90
German Navy (Deutsche Marine), since 1990

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 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.^[1]

Equipment

Ships and submarines

Main article: List of active German Navy ships

In total, there are about 84 commissioned ships in the German Navy, including 4 submarines and 22 auxiliary ships. 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.^[2]^[3] 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.^[4]

Aircraft

Further information: Marineflieger

The naval air arm of the German Navy is called the Marineflieger. The Marineflieger operates approx. 50 aircraft.

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	Quantity^[5]	Notes
Fixed-wing aircraft
P-3C Orion - CUP	United States	Maritime patrol	P-3C MPA	8	Former Royal Dutch Navy
Dornier Do 228	Germany	Pollution control	Do 228 LM/NG	2
Helicopters
Westland Lynx	United Kingdom	Maritime helicopter	Mk 88	22	Will be replaced by NH90 NFH
Westland Sea King	United Kingdom	Search and rescue	Mk 41	21	Replacement planned
NHI NH90	Germany	Maritime helicopter	NFH	0	18 ordered^[6]
UAVs
Camcopter S-100	Austria	UAV	S-100	0	6 on order.

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.

Structure

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.^[7]

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, Konteradmiral Michael Mollenhauer (CINCGERFLEET)
- 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), Nordholz
- Naval Medical Institute (Schiffahrtsmedizinisches Institut), Kiel (responsible especially for diving medicine)

Naval Office

Naval Academy Mürwik

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

Personnel

The German Navy has a strength of 15,600 personnel.

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

Flottillen-
admiral

Kapitän
zur See

Fregatten-
kapitän

Korvetten-
kapitän

Stabskapitän-
leutnant

Kapitän-
leutnant

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
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 - Commander Juniorgrade (JG)
Fregattenkapitän - Commander Seniorgrade (SG)
Kapitän zur See - Captain
Flottillenadmiral - Rear Admiral Admiral lower half
Konteradmiral - Rear Admiral upper half / Counter Admiral
Vizeadmiral - Vice Admiral
Admiral

Petty officers 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)
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 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

VLF transmitter DHO38
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 8 Bremen class frigates 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 were planned under the name 'Korvette K131' (Corvette K131). They are now known as the Multi-purpose warship 180 (MKS 180 or Mehrzweckkampfschiff 180 in German).^[8]
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.^[9]
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.

References

↑
↑
↑
↑
↑ 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>.
↑ "Tiger & N90 orders" (in German). German MOD. 2013-03-15. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
↑
↑ Nolting, Wolfgang E. (Inspekteur der Marine). 3.1. Struktur der Marine. marine.de, 12 January 2009. Accessed 13 August 2009.
↑

External links

Military of Germany (Bundeswehr)

Army

Navy

Air Force

Joint Medical Service

Joint Support Service

v t e Current navies in Europe

Sovereign states	Albania Azerbaijan Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Iceland Ireland Italy Kazakhstan Latvia Lithuania Macedonia Malta Montenegro Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom

States with limited recognition	Abkhazia

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