Bundeswehr shipyard for NATO partners

The Warnowwerft Naval Arsenal refurbished two patrol boats of the British Royal Navy in mid-May. This is the first time the new Bundeswehr shipyard has shown its location advantage also for allies operating in the Baltic Sea.

After a last-minute request via the Naval Base Command Warnemünde, the vessels HMSHis/Her Majesty's Ship “Trumpeter” and HMSHis/Her Majesty's Ship “Charger” of the Royal Navy docked in Rostock on 10 May. They were then refitted for work on the underwater hull. Their maintenance was completed a week later. 

“Already with the timely completion of the repair of the reconnaissance vessel ‘Alster’, our employees at the Warnowwerft site in Rostock proved their efficiency,” says the Executive Director of the German Naval Arsenal, Rainer Sacher. “Now they have also been able to do the same with the repair of the two patrol boats of the Royal Navy. In this way, in addition to the German Navy, we also support our allies in the Baltic Sea with important work services.” He said the operation was a good example of the repair capabilities and flexibility of the naval arsenal, even at very short notice.

“Trumpeter” and “Charger” are part of a naval formation consisting of a total of six vessels currently on a training cruise in the Baltic Sea. They are expected to take part in the NATO naval exercise BALTOPSBaltic Operations in June and will be guests at the Kiel-Wik naval base for Kiel Week.

Strategic location advantage for the defence of the northern flank

The shipyard, which was officially taken over by the German government on 11 January this year, belongs to the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support, as does the entire Naval Arsenal with its sites in Wilhelmshaven, Kiel and Rostock. The arsenal is responsible for the technical readiness of the German Navy. Options for maintenance and repair by the German armed forces themselves have improved considerably with the acquisition of the Rostock site. At the same time, this significantly increases the Navy's capabilities in national and allied defence.

The British Archer class comprises 16 small patrol vessels in service with the Royal Navy. There, they are mainly used as „fast training boats“. They can operate in harbours and narrow waters not accessible to other warships. This allows them to perform various special tasks. These include the protection of British strategic nuclear submarines during entry into and exit from home ports, monitoring maritime security in narrow maritime straits, but also the practical training of junior officers.

by  German Navy Press and Information Centre  email