Naval Force Protection Battalion (Germany)

Naval Force Protection Battalion (Seebataillon)
Coat of arms of the German Naval Force Protection Battalion
Active	2014–present
Country	Germany
Branch	German Navy
Type	naval infantry
Size	800
Garrison/HQ	Eckernförde
Commanders
Current commander	Fregattenkapitän Axel Meißel
Insignia
Beret badge

The Naval Force Protection Battalion (German: Seebataillon) is a land formation of the German Navy formed in Eckernförde on 1 April 2014, against a background of rapidly escalating tensions in Eastern Europe centering around Ukraine.

Structure

The Naval Force Protection Battalion is made up of around 800 sailors and structured into four companies plus support elements. Every company, led by a lieutenant commander (Korvettenkapitän, OF-3), is specialized in specific field of force protection.

• Seebataillon^[1]
  • HQ
    • S1
    • S2
    • S3
    • S4
    • S6
    • medical support group
  • coastal defence company (Küsteneinsatzkompanie)
    • 1st platoon
    • 2nd platoon
    • 3rd platoon
    • 4th platoon
    • 5th platoon (inactive)
  • boarding company (Boardeinsatzkompanie)
    • 1st platoon
    • 2nd platoon
    • 3rd platoon
    • 4th platoon
  • mine clearance diving company (Minentaucherkompanie)
    • diver platoon (for seabased operations, e.g. aboard minesweepers)
    • mobile platoon
    • EOD platoon
  • reconnaissance company (Aufklärungskompanie)
    • surveillance platoon (including UAVs, diver detection sonar)
    • HUMINT platoon
    • sniper platoon
    • NBC defence platoon
  • support company (Unterstützungskompanie)
    • technical support
    • logistical support
  • training centre
  • beach master platoon (planned)

Equipment

Personal Weapons

• Heckler & Koch G36, an assault rifle
• Heckler & Koch MG4, a light machine gun
• Rheinmetall MG3, a general-purpose machine gun
• M3M, a heavy machine gun
• Heckler & Koch MP7, a submachine gun
• MP2, a submachine gun
• Heckler & Koch MP5, a submachine gun
• P8, a pistol
• G22, a sniper rifle
• G82, a sniper rifle
• Heckler & Koch G3, a battle rifle
• G28, a designated marksman rifle

Anti-Tank-/Anti-Structure Weapons

• Panzerfaust 3, an anti-tank rocket launcher
• Raytheon Fliegerfaust 2, a man-portable air-defense system
• MILAN, an anti-tank missile

Vehicles

Name	Type	Picture
Eagle IV	Armored car (military)
Dingo 1/2	Infantry mobility vehicle
MAN trucks	Truck
Mercedes-Benz Axor 1829 A 4x4	Truck
Unimog trucks	Truck
Mercedes-Benz 250 GD "Wolf"	Utility car

References

External links

• Das Seebatallion (in German)