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.
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.
Comment