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German Navy Future Expeditionary Navy

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  • German Navy Future Expeditionary Navy

    The German Navy last year issued a study for its future outfit post-2025.

    Plans focus around two main taskforces:
    - a ready taskforce for deployment on peace-enforcing high-intensity missions
    - a sustainable deployed number of units for mid-intensity missions

    Both taskforces will be related to the Basis See naval taskforce concept, albeit with a different focus in either case.

    The Intervention Taskforce will be in essence an amphibious ready group with appropriate escorts capable of landing 800 troops. With this taskforce it is planned to deploy for 6 months at any time: Two LPDs or LHDs, five frigates and corvettes, two submarines, two multi-purpose ships (mini-LPD* logistic ships used for transport, supply and MCM) and two large auxiliary units (one AOR and AO each). Three MPA would be assigned for ASW and ASuW missions.

    *- alternative solutions include e.g. a FloFlo transport.

    The second taskforce will be responsible for stabilization missions; it can be split into two independently operating taskgroups, one with a ASW and AAW focus for mid-intensity missions (in particular for littoral areas), the second with a littoral MCM and MIO focus for low-intensity missions. Additionally, units can be detached to Allied operations. This second taskforce can operate throughout the year in sustainable deployment, and will be able to deploy: Six frigates and corvettes, three MCM vessels, one submarine, three auxiliary ships (one "mini-LPD" for supply, one AOR and AO each). Additionally, three MPA would be sustainably deployed to support surveillance and ASW missions.

    Frigates and corvettes, under German doctrine, differ only in their capability spectrum; while frigates have a full 3D capability spectrum (ASW, ASuW, AAW) and deploy helicopters, corvettes may have only a 2D spectrum (usually no ASW, AAW self-defense only), deploy surveillance drones - and, in the future, potentially UCAVs - and can support helicopter operations temporarily. AAW in the above refers to ESSM and above ("limited escort capability"), self-defense AAW to any lesser missile system (read: RAM Block 2).
    The exact disposition of frigates and corvettes - such as what classes - towards the two taskforces will be on-demand; a large pool will be operated, with ships of any capability set likely available to either force.

    Within both task forces, land attack capabilities will be available; in the case of the intervention taskforce, to support the landed troops with missile strikes against high-value targets, in the case of the stabilization taskforce with both sustained naval gunfire and missile strikes in escalating support of e.g. peacekeeping forces ashore.
    Both taskforces have dedicated MCM facilities - in the intervention taskforce, this is provided by large-scale minehunting/minesweeping drones deployed from the multi-purpose ships; in the stabilization taskforce, deployed "regular" MCM vessels will take over these duties in concert with such drones.
    Either taskforce will have a maritime protection element with naval infantry and appropriate vessels to provide 3D force protection and e.g. riverine operations.

    To sustain the above two taskforces, the German Navy would need to consist of likely 24 frigates and corvettes (from 22 planned currently), 8 SSKs (from 6 planned currently), 3 LPDs or LHDs (different solutions being evaluated), 6 multi-purpose ships (succeeding 6 tenders), around 10 MCM vessels, 8 large auxiliaries (three additional). In flying assets, roughly a dozen MPA, 60 onboard helicopters and two dozen VTOL UAVs (or UCAVs) will be needed.

  • #2
    Glad to see them looking so far ahead to the future.:)
    Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

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    • #3
      A dedicated aviation platform would also be in order here I think...

      Best Regards

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      • #4
        Razorback:
        As in a carrier? Nah, gotta still keep it within the budget - and the approved manpower limits, which are likely to get tighter in the future.
        There's an option of procuring two amphibious ships of sufficient size to be used alternatively as small carriers (like a BPE/Juan Carlos) instead of the three LPDs/LHDs. Described as amphibious ships transporting 800+ troops each with a displacement of 27,000 to 30,000 tons. Extremely unlikely though.

        Dreadnought:
        It's not really that far in the future - it's essentially the "next" procurement round, stuff that will will be evaluated in the above composition over the next 2-3 years, and ordered in 5-6 years. Reason for that is that there's some air in the procurement budget post-2016, and the navy is of course trying to secure a good part of that for itself.

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        • #5
          Looks good for the future for the German Navy, at least they appear to be thinking pretty big and have a coherent plan in place, now they just need to fund it.

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          • #6
            and wouldn't a single carrier not be pretty pointless except as a prestige object?

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            • #7
              Wasn't really thinking along the lines of a full carrier, something like the new Japanese Hyuga's or the RAN's new helipads would very useful and flexible for these types of missions as well as serving as natural command centers.

              I think a couple of such ships would fit quite nicely in the Bundesmarine.

              Best Regards

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              • #8
                Originally posted by Tarek Morgen View Post
                and wouldn't a single carrier not be pretty pointless except as a prestige object?
                A carrier would also be hard to sell to the German public, I'd say.

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                • #9
                  Razorback:

                  One proposal for JSS 400+ is the Meko MESHD (by category), which in LHD form would carry up to 14 helicopters. In the plain JSS 400 form, probably a LPD platform carrying around 6 helos would be realized, in the JSS 800 form (only two ships instead of three), we'd be looking at two large LHDs with 20+ helos in the same style as what the RAN ordered.

                  The Navy is looking for 60 helicopters (about 10-15 more than planned currently). Those aren't tied to a specific ship, but in one large pool. For deployment, that pool could probably be distributed like: 12 with frigates, 8-12 on MZES and AORs, max. 12-16 for land-based duties (SAR, VERTREP from FSBs etc).
                  That leaves 20-28 for the maintenance reserve pool and whatever amphibious platform will be procured, meaning something like 4-6 per LPD/LHD - plus, for the actual vertical deployment of troops, helos (NH-90, CH-53) from the Army.

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                  • #10
                    Interesting!

                    I'm looking forward to seeing what is actually procured.

                    Thank you sir.

                    Best Regards

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