German frigate Brandenburg
{{Short description|German frigate, launched 1992}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=BrandenburgF215 cropped.jpg |Ship caption=Brandenburg in 2013 }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=Germany |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Germany|naval}} |Ship name=Brandenburg |Ship namesake= |Ship ordered= |Ship builder=Blohm+Voss, Hamburg |Ship yard number= |Ship laid down= 11 February 1992 |Ship launched= 28 August 1992 |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned=14 October 1994 |Ship decommissioned= |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship struck= |Ship reinstated= |Ship identification=
|Ship honours= |Ship fate= |Ship status=Active |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class=Brandenburg-class frigate |Ship displacement=3,600 tons (4,490t full load){{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TJunjRvplU4C&pg=PA246 | page=246 | title=The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems | first=Eric | last= Wertheim | publisher = Naval Institute Press | year=2007 | isbn=9781591149552 }} |Ship length={{convert|138.85|m}} |Ship draught={{convert|4.35|m}} ({{convert|6.3|m}} over sonar) |Ship propulsion=*CODOG (combined diesel or gas)
|Ship speed=>{{convert|29|kn}} |Ship range={{convert|4000|nmi}}at {{convert|18|kn}} |Ship complement=26 officers, 193 enlisted |Ship sensors=*One Thales LW08 air search D band radar
|Ship EW=*1 EADS FL 1800S ECM suite
|Ship armament=
|Ship armour= |Ship aircraft= Two Sea Lynx helicopters equipped with ASW torpedoes, or air-to-surface missiles Sea Skua, and a heavy machine gun. |Ship notes= }} |
Brandenburg is a Brandenburg-class frigate of the German Navy, and the lead ship of her class.
Construction and commissioning
Brandenburg and the three other frigates of the Brandenburg class were designed as replacements for the Hamburg-class destroyers. She was laid in 1992 at the yards of Blohm+Voss, Hamburg and launched in August 1992. She was christened by Ingrid Stolpe, the wife of the then Minister-President of Brandenburg Manfred Stolpe.{{cite web| url=http://www.stk.brandenburg.de/cms/detail.php?gsid=5lbm1.c.173718.de| title=Ministerpräsident Platzeck gratuliert der Fregatte Brandenburg zum 10-jährigen Jubiläum ihrer Indienststellung| accessdate=2 June 2017| publisher=Land Brandenburg – Staatskanzlei| date=27 August 2004|language=German}} After undergoing trials she was commissioned on 14 October 1994, and assigned to 6. Fregattengeschwader. After the naval structure was reorganised, Brandenburg was assigned to 2. Fregattengeschwader, based at Wilhelmshaven.
Service
Brandenburg spent some time in 2006 assigned to the maritime element of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, serving as the flagship of the maritime taskforce commander Flotilla Admiral Andreas Krause. On 30 November 2006 she was visited by Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier while docked in Larnaca, Cyprus.{{cite web| url=http://www.einsatz.bundeswehr.de/C1256F1D0022A5C2/CurrentBaseLink/W26W7J25678INFODE| title=Deutscher Außenminister zu Gast auf der Fregatte BRANDENBURG| accessdate=2 June 2017| work=einsatz.bundeswehr.de| date=5 December 2006| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207192227/http://www.einsatz.bundeswehr.de/C1256F1D0022A5C2/CurrentBaseLink/W26W7J25678INFODE| archive-date=7 December 2006|language=German}} In 2009 she was deployed with Operation Atalanta, the anti-piracy patrols off the Horn of Africa. On 3 August 2009 the captured merchant vessel {{MV|Hansa Stavanger}} was released from pirate control, with Brandenburg and the frigate Rheinland-Pfalz escorting her into port in Mombasa, Kenya.{{cite web |url=http://www.eunavfor.eu/2009/08/eu-navfor-ship-brandenburg-leads-hansa-stavanger-safely-into-mombasa/ |title=EU NAVFOR ship BRANDENBURG leads HANSA STAVANGER safely into Mombasa |date=18 August 2010 |publisher=EU NAVFOR Public Affairs Office |accessdate=13 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104065858/http://www.eunavfor.eu/2009/08/eu-navfor-ship-brandenburg-leads-hansa-stavanger-safely-into-mombasa/ |archivedate=4 November 2010 |df=dmy-all }} On 7 September Brandenburg launched a Sea Lynx helicopter to perform a reconnaissance mission on a suspected skiff just south of Mukalla, Yemen. Five suspects were observed throwing ladders and weapons overboard. Brandenburg fired warning shots across the skiff's bow after she refused to stop, and then disabled the skiff with gunfire. A team was sent aboard using a rigid-hulled inflatable boat, took control of the crew and seized a number of weapons. One of the suspects was injured by gunfire during the incident, and later died of his wounds onboard Brandenburg while receiving medical treatment.[http://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2009/sept/12026/german_frigate_kills_suspected_pirate_off_somalia.aspx German frigate kills suspected pirate off Somalia] AFP, 7 September 2009[http://www.marinelog.com/DOCS/NEWSMMIX/2009sep00082.html German Navy kills pirate suspect] Marine Log, 8 September 2009 This was the first fatality caused by the Bundeswehr in the course of Operation Atalanta.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20180502211421/http://www.coordination-maree-noire.eu/spip.php?article10917&lang=ca German navy releases suspected pirates after thwarting attack ]}} Deutsche Press-Agentur, 16 September 2009 The weaponry found on board the skiff was later destroyed, and the four surviving suspects released.[http://eunavfor.eu/suspected-pirates-released-by-eu-navfor/ Suspected pirates released by EU NAVFOR] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502212254/http://eunavfor.eu/suspected-pirates-released-by-eu-navfor/ |date=2018-05-02 }} 14 September 2009
In 2010 Brandenburg, the frigate Niedersachsen, the replenishment ship Frankfurt am Main and the ammunition transport ship Westerwald carried out exercises together as part of the Einsatzausbildungsverband (Operational Training Association), with Brandenburg also participating in the German-South African missile exercises Good Hope IV. The following year Brandenburg and the other ships of the Einsatzausbildungsverband were temporarily involved in Operation Active Endeavour.{{cite web | url=http://www.presseportal.de/pm/67428/1631592| title=Pressetermin: Einsatz- und Ausbildungsverband 2010: Kiel und Wilhelmshaven erwarten Marinesoldaten zurück| accessdate=2 June 2017| publisher=Presse- und Informationszentrum Marine| work=presseportal.de| date=15 June 2010|language=German}} In late February 2011 Brandenburg, Rheinland-Pfalz and the replenishment ship Berlin were ordered to the Libyan coast to assist in the evacuation of German citizens during the Libyan Civil War.{{cite news| url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/naher-osten/eskalation-in-libyen-eu-schliesst-militaereinsatz-nicht-aus-1591782.html| title=EU schließt Militäreinsatz nicht aus| accessdate=2 June 2017| work=faz.net| date=24 February 2011|language=German}} They assisted in the evacuation of several hundred people, and also transported Egyptian citizens from the port of Gabes, Tunisia to Alexandria, Egypt.{{cite web| url=http://www.bundeswehr.de/portal/a/bwde/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP3I5EyrpHK9pPKUVP1wkHxKql5yfl5qCYgsSc0ryQSS6UWJJflFegX5RSU5IJnSoiKgjF5min6kgaGLk6G5AQwY1li4-nkFWhiZm7l4OgXpF-TmOgIAVBzfaQ| title=Bundeswehr beginnt hunderte Flüchtlinge in Nordafrika zu evakuieren| accessdate=7 May 2014| publisher=BMVg Presse- und Informationsstab| date=5 March 2011|language=German}}
From March to August 2014 Brandenburg was again deployed with Operation Atalanta, serving as the flagship of the Force Commander, Flotilla Admiral Jürgen Mills.{{cite web|url=http://eunavfor.eu/half-time-for-fgs-brandenburg/|title=Half-time for FGS Brandenburg|work=eunavfor.eu|accessdate=23 September 2016|archive-date=23 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923131918/http://eunavfor.eu/half-time-for-fgs-brandenburg/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.marine.de/portal/a/marine/!ut/p/c4/PYzBCsJADAX_KNmCUPVmKaiXHrzUeottKMHtbklTBfHj3T3oG5jLwMMbJgI9ZSSTGMjjFbte9vcXTKRAD1vZewaWsJC9GcjIUzD6pwXb_DEw9DGwZRsHk-RRyaLCHNV8LqtqKiADdq6oK1e634rPrilP7XHjtvW5uuA8TYcviif98Q!!/|title=Axel Schulz heißt Fregatte "Brandenburg" nach Einsatz Willkommen|work=www.marine.de|accessdate=23 September 2016|language=German}} On 20 March 2017 Brandenburg left Wilhelmshaven to replace the frigate Sachsen in Standing NATO Maritime Group 2, taking over from the Sachsen in early April at Souda, Crete.{{cite web|url=http://www.einsatz.bundeswehr.de/portal/a/einsatzbw/start/aktuelle_einsaetze/!ut/p/z1/hY_NDoIwEITfiG1RLBzBKiFBNII_9GIaaBCDLWkq8eDDW2L0RtzDJDuz-20WGJyBST60DTetkryzfckWl8hPi9QNXJcWhxAlKw9t8yWdxYjAEU7_RpiN0USFCPJaQGkZZJIRY8iBAauFUykpzKhGSNNabTQ3Sju90qYbk4fWNnHaGkqEaYTJ_HsKv8KUkM0ycDFNov0IvPGBP3-7vBqfhvLKZd2JnarCj9Hf136Wec0bTCr-tg!!/dz/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/#Z7_B8LTL2922DTUA0IE50OSCD3GG1|title=Wechsel in der Ägäis: Neues Flaggschiff "Brandenburg"|date=7 April 2017|accessdate=15 August 2017|language=German}} During her time with the Group she served as the flagship of the force's commander, Flotilla Admiral Axel Deertz.{{cite web| url=http://www.presseportal.de/pm/67428/3585972| title=Fregatte "Brandenburg" wird Flaggschiff in der Ägäis| date=15 March 2017| accessdate=20 March 2017|language=German}} While leaving Piraeus on 17 April 2017, Brandenburg collided with a pier, damaging her steering gear and a propeller. The Greek tug Christos XVII escorted the damaged frigate to the floating dock at Paloukia, Salamis Naval Base.{{cite web|url=http://www.kn-online.de/News/Aus-der-Welt/Nachrichten-Aus-der-Welt/Fregatte-Brandenburg-kollidiert-mit-Hafenmole-in-Piraeus|title=Deutsche Marine: Fregatte kollidiert mit Mole|work=kn-online.de|accessdate=1 June 2017|language=German|archive-date=27 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527214047/http://www.kn-online.de/News/Aus-der-Welt/Nachrichten-Aus-der-Welt/Fregatte-Brandenburg-kollidiert-mit-Hafenmole-in-Piraeus|url-status=dead}} On 22 May 2017 Brandenburg was able to resume her patrol activity after repairs. On 4 July 2017, Deertz handed command of the Group over to a British commodore, and the Brandenburg ceased to be the flagship.{{cite web|url=http://www.einsatz.bundeswehr.de/portal/a/einsatzbw/start/aktuelle_einsaetze/!ut/p/z1/hY_NDoIwEITfiC0gf0ewSogEiaBCL6aBBjHYkqYSDz68JUZvxD1MsjO732aBQAWE06nvqOoFp4Pua-JeIj8tUyuwLFweQ5RsHLQv1tiOkQcnOP8bITpGCxUiKFoGtWZ4i4zYhAIIkJYZjeBMzaoYV73WTlIlpDEKqYY5eUipE6NvoUYmjkxv9T1lvsKsCvKdG9g4iQ4z8EYn-vzt0mZ-Guor5e3ActGEH2O8b_0sc7o3gPmzIg!!/dz/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/#Z7_B8LTL2922DTUA0IE50OSCD3GG1|title=NATO Unterstützung Ägäis: Kommandoübernahme des 4. Deutschen Einsatzkontingentes|date=4 July 2017|accessdate=15 August 2017|language=German}}
References
{{commonscat|F215 Brandenburg (ship, 1994)}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Brandenburg-class frigate}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brandenburg}}
Category:Brandenburg-class frigates