As of: February 14, 2024, 6:07 a.m
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The crew of the frigate “Hessen” leaving the harbor.
© Sina Schuldt/dpa
The “Hessen” is on its way to the Red Sea.
As soon as the Bundestag approves the mandate, operations against Houthi attacks can begin.
In the “war march” combat readiness applies around the clock.
Berlin - The inspector of the German Navy, Jan Christian Kaack, sees the frigate “Hessen” as ideally equipped to take part in the EU military operation against attacks by the Houthi militia in the Red Sea.
Additional weapon systems were brought on board the ship designed for such orders, said the vice admiral of the German Press Agency in Berlin.
“Anything that threatens us is dangerous.
“We will never take refuge in a feeling of superiority, but we are well prepared to deal with the threats,” he said.
The EU wants to send several warships and airborne early warning systems to protect merchant ships from attacks by missiles and drones for the “Eunavfor Aspides” mission.
The militant Islamist Houthi militia wants to use the attacks to force an end to Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip.
The 143 meter long “Hessen” left Wilhelmshaven on Thursday.
“The direct threat to the ship and crew is clearly tangible”
Kaack reiterated that it was the most serious deployment of German naval forces in many decades.
“The direct threat to the ship and crew is clearly tangible.
And of course no one can ignore that,” he said.
And: “We have brought additional weapons on board, we have brought anti-drone systems on board.
We have trained to recognize them better.
System oversaturation is always a danger.
But fortunately we are not alone.
There is a broad coalition with many ships, with great capabilities.”
According to Kaack, it is in principle possible to protect corridors for civilian shipping with warships or to accompany the cargo ships in a closed convoy.
However, the operation planning is currently underway.
What is new is the threat from a larger number of drones
Frigates like the “Hesse” are equipped and intended to bring larger supply groups from the east coast of America to Europe and to protect aircraft carrier groups against threats.
“They assume long-range missile systems.
“Near the coast there are also very fast-acting missile systems or surface vehicles that can be used in kamikaze mode or in autonomous mode against such ships,” said Kaack.
What is new is the threat posed by many and cheap drone systems.
The “Hessen” is sufficiently equipped for the mission and is capable of lasting endurance.
Basically, his three priorities remained: ammunition, ammunition and ammunition.
“The processes have to be faster,” demanded the navy chief.
When the active operation begins, the crew of the “Hesse” will go on the so-called war march.
The soldiers on board are divided into two teams.
Kaack: “One half is always at the combat station.
Why?
Because with this strength they can deal with any threat quickly.
If there were more, the alarm bell would be pressed and then the entire crew would go on station.”
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Keeping sea routes clear is the responsibility of the Navy
Kaack said he viewed the operation in the Red Sea as “extended national defense.”
“90 percent of goods travel by sea.
Keeping sea routes open is a core task of the Navy.
If we cannot do this, then we will neither be able to keep our economy running in peace nor maintain our defense readiness in a crisis or conflict.” No one can achieve the simultaneity of national and alliance defense as well as international crisis management better than the Navy.
With a view to the tasks in the Baltic Sea and the Atlantic, which are again a central part of the alliance's defense, the question also arises as to how long the Navy can sustain the operation.
Kaack said: “The duvet is short at some point.
I have the smallest navy of all time with 48 ships and boats.” He refers to the Navy’s target image for 2035. The future concept envisages entry into artificial intelligence and unmanned systems.
The Navy is also drawing lessons from the war in Ukraine
The Navy also analyzed the maritime part of the Ukraine war, including a threat analysis and demographic developments.
“We come to the conclusion that we still need large, well-armed, heavy units to occupy spaces in the North Atlantic for a longer period of time,” said Kaack.
“You need a certain size to be able to stand there and deny the enemy the use of the North Atlantic.
And to prevent nuclear submarines from breaking through, so that they can't blackmail us from behind us or work against us." The closer we get to the danger and to the coasts, the more unmanned systems will be used in the future.
“One thing is clear,” says the vice admiral.
“We wouldn’t be able to tolerate what’s happening in Ukraine in our society.
Sending people into the fire en masse and not getting them back.” dpa