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German Navy - Bundesmarine
The primary areas of operation of the German navy (Bundesmarine) in the event
of war are the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. Until 1990 the navy's mission
had been to block the Baltic approaches on behalf of NATO to prevent the
deployment of the Soviet Baltic Fleet in the North Sea and the Atlantic
Ocean. The German navy also contributed to protection of NATO sea routes by helping
to control the North Sea and the Norwegian Sea. Although lacking large
surface units, the navy was well equipped to carry out intelligence and
reconnaissance, mine countermeasure operations, and antisubmarine and
antiship warfare. The navy regularly participated in NATO exercises as
part of the Standing Naval Force Atlantic and Standing Naval Force Channel.
The political changes that unfolded in 1990 enabled the navy to reduce
its concentration on the Baltic Sea and northern flank, shifting from
defending against a tangible Warsaw Pact threat to preparing for a broader
spectrum of maritime defense missions and tasks beyond home waters. The
deployment of mine countermeasure vessels to the Mediterranean for NATO
during the Persian Gulf crisis in 1990 and to the Persian Gulf after hostilities
broke out in 1991, as well as Germany's participation in monitoring the
naval blockade against Serbia in 1992, undoubtedly foreshadow other possible
requirements distant from German coastal waters.
Although the German navy is preparing for possible involvement in future multilateral
and humanitarian missions, its primary task will continue to be to prevent
attacking forces from controlling German territorial and adjacent waters.
The nations of the former Soviet Union are no longer regarded as hostile;
however, the presence of Russian naval units in the Baltic, with their
potential to deny Germany the use of its territorial waters and the high
seas, remains a relevant factor in strategic planning.
As of early 1995, the German navy had about 30,000 personnel, including 4,230
Naval Air Arm personnel, and 6,700 conscripts. The
ship inventory included as its principal combat units twenty submarines,
thirteen destroyers and frigates, and thirty-eight missile craft. The
Naval Air Arm is equipped with Tornado fighter-ground attack aircraft
and Breguet Atlantic aircraft fitted for long-range reconnaissance, including
some dedicated to electronic intelligence. Dornier Do-28s are used for
short-range surveillance and patrol of the Exclusive Economic Zone. Two
Westland Sea Lynx helicopters are based on each frigate for antisubmarine
warfare and target acquisition.
Four Brandenburg-class frigates are under construction to replace Hamburg-class
vessels by the end of 1996. Four Type 212 submarines are scheduled to
be introduced after 2000 to begin the replacement of Type 205 and unmodernized
Type 206 submarines.
At unification the East German navy had a substantial fleet of twenty-three
frigates, fifty-two missile boats, and twenty-four mine warfare vessels.
Because the West German navy was already facing a sharp reduction, all
East German ships were scheduled to be scrapped or sold, rather than absorbed
within the unified navy.
Proportionately, the cuts imposed on the navy in response to the improved
security situation in Europe have been the greatest among the three services.
The ship inventory will be reduced to nearly half by the year 2005. The
future German fleet will consist of about ninety vessels, including fifteen
frigates, eight submarines, fifteen corvette patrol vessels, and twenty
mine countermeasure ships. Personnel strength will decline to about 27,000
by 2000.
Under the chief of staff of the German navy are three major commands: the Fleet
Command at Gluecksburg on the Baltic Sea; the Naval Office at Rostock,
responsible for enlisted personnel, schools, armament, and the medical
service; and the Naval Logistics Command at Wilhelmshaven. Under the consolidation
plans, a number of bases will be closed and headquarters merged, leaving
four main bases: Wilhelmshaven (frigates plus support vessels); Kiel (frigates,
submarines, and support vessels); Olpenitz (mine countermeasure vessels);
and Warnemuende (patrol boats). The naval air combat arm will be reduced
from four to three wings of about forty-six Tornados based at Eggebek
(near the Danish border), mainly for reconnaissance and attack sorties.
The German naval air station at Jagel and the remaining Tornados will be assigned
to the German air force.
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