As of: February 20, 2024, 10:33 a.m
By: Jakob Koch
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The Bundeswehr frigate “Hessen” is in action in the Red Sea – as part of an EU mission supporting Operation Prosperity Guardian.
© IMAGO (2) / Manfred Segerer / Wirestock
With the frigate “Hessen”, Germany is sending its most powerful warship into the Red Sea.
Boris Pistorius emphasized the importance of the mission.
Update from February 20, 2024, 10:27 a.m
.: Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has emphasized the importance of the planned deployment of the frigate “Hessen” in the Red Sea.
It is a signal with which the West shows: “We will protect international security and freedom of navigation.
The effect will not be underestimated,” said the SPD politician on Tuesday in the ZDF “Morgenmagazin”.
The operation is a “very important signal to the attacking Houthis and the organizations and states behind them.”
The freedom of trade routes and the safety of ships on the most important trade route between Europe and Asia are essential.
“At its core, it is primarily about the safety of international shipping as a whole,” emphasized the Defense Minister.
“Germany cannot stand by and do nothing.” Ex-President Horst Köhler emphasized exactly that years ago and received massive criticism - shortly afterwards he resigned from his office.
First report:
Berlin – The German frigate “Hessen” left this week for a planned EU military operation in the Red Sea to protect merchant shipping there against attacks by the militant Islamist Houthi rebels.
The German warship is to become part of the EU naval mission “Eunavfor Aspides”.
By relocating the warship, the Bundeswehr wants to create the conditions for German participation in the EU mission.
A mandate from the Bundestag is still pending - it is expected during February.
The CDU already signaled its approval on Friday.
The duration of the mission is still unclear - experts expect that the deployment of the frigate “Hessen” in the Red Sea will take longer.
Frigate “Hessen” currently: deployed in the Red Sea – armed with guns, torpedoes and rockets
When it comes to the capabilities of the frigate “Hessen”, the Navy’s self-confidence is strong: “Under the protective umbrella of the Sachsen class, every ship is safe,” says the Bundeswehr.
On paper, the “Hessen” was designed for escort and maritime control, just like her sister ships “Sachsen” and “Hamburg”.
Their radar is capable of detecting more than 1,000 targets simultaneously - and monitoring an airspace the size of the entire North Sea.
For an active attack, the “Hessen” has various guns, torpedoes and rockets with an enormous range on board.
A look at the armament:
1 x main gun 76 mm Compact, range more than 18 kilometers
2 x automatic cannon 27 mm MLG
4 x 12.7mm heavy machine gun
2 x launchers for RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, range more than 140 kilometers
1 x vertical launch system Mk41 VLS (Vertical Launching System) for anti-aircraft missiles ESSM (Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile) and SM2, range more than 160 kilometers (SM2)
2 x RIM-116 RAM short-range anti-aircraft starters
2 x torpedo tube sets for lightweight torpedo MU90
4 x decoy launchers MASS (Multi Ammunition Softkill System)
Sea Lynx Mk88A on-board helicopter part of the frigate “Hessen”: specializing in submarine hunting
In addition, the Sea Lynx Mk88A on-board helicopter is part of the ship and has an additional 18 soldiers on board.
The helicopter “significantly increases the range, flexibility and reaction speed of the ships,” according to the Bundeswehr.
It is equipped with sonar for tracking and Mk46 or MU90 torpedoes for attacking enemy submarines.
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The Sea Lynx Mk88A also has a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun.
Other tasks: Use as a rescue helicopter to rescue crew who have fallen overboard.
It also transports personnel and material, for example between the ships of an association.
Surname: |
“Hesse” (F 221) |
Ship class: |
frigate |
Home port: |
Wilhelmshaven (Lower Saxony) |
Commissioning: |
April 21, 2006 |
Crew: |
232 soldiers |
Commander and current position – Frigate “Hessen” facing “very specific threat”
The commander of the “Hesse” is Frigate Captain Volker Kübsch.
“A potential deployment in the Red Sea will represent another acid test for the ship and crew,” said Kübsch, according to a statement.
The threat there is not abstract, but very concrete and consists of a large number of weapons that are regularly used there.
In addition to warships, airborne systems such as aircraft and drones should also be able to be used.
The FDP has also warned of a dangerous mission for the frigate “Hessen” in the Red Sea.
On Thursday the “Hessen” initially set off for the Mediterranean.
The current position, as trackers like “Marinetraffic” show, is the North Atlantic coast off France and Spain.
(As of Friday afternoon).
By the way: The Houthi rebels are now even threatening to attack Italy.