German Navy

The Deutsche Marine 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 Reichsflottes 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.

Ships and submarines
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. 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.

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



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.

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 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.

Officers

 * 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

 * 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).
 * 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.
 * 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.