Marineflieger

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Naval Aviation Command
Marinefliegerkommando
Insignia of the Marinefliegerkommando
Founded1956; 68 years ago (1956)
CountryGermany Germany
BranchGerman Navy
TypeNaval aviation
Size2,500 personnel
57 aircraft
Part ofGerman Navy
Garrison/HQNordholz Naval Airbase
Website[1]
Commanders
Kommandeur des MarinefliegerkommandosKapitän zur See Thorsten Bobzin
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
AttackSea Lynx Mk 88 A
P-3C Orion
PatrolSea King Mk 41
Sea Lynx Mk 88 A
P-3C Orion
ReconnaissanceP-3C Orion
Dornier 228 LM
TrainerH135
TransportSea King Mk 41
Sea Lynx Mk 88 A

The Marinefliegerkommando (Naval Aviation Command) is the naval air arm of the German Navy.

History[edit]

During the First World War, naval aviators were part of the Kaiserliche Marine. After the war Germany was no longer allowed to maintain a military aviation capability. Heer and Marine both attempted to nevertheless maintain theoretical and practical knowledge of air warfare through concealed activities such as pilot training efforts.[1] After the National Socialists had risen to power, these activities intensified until Nazi Germany unilaterally declared its withdrawal from armament limitations in 1935. The nascent rump naval air arm was quickly absorbed by Hermann Göring's newly established Luftwaffe.

However, as a component of the air force, the Seeflieger maintained their organisational structure.[2] A carrier-based aviation component was planned for the aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin, laid down in 1936, but lack of suitable aircraft, coupled with the reluctance of the Luftwaffe to support the Kriegsmarine in the carrier's construction, culminated in its eventual cancellation in 1943.

After the Second World War, it was not until West Germany's entry into NATO in the 1950s and the establishment of the Bundesmarine, that a naval aviation force (Marineflieger) was formed.

The United Kingdom was instrumental in the creation of the Marineflieger, supplying training and aircraft. A number of Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm (FAA) officers operated as part of the German Navy in the process. The first aircraft included Hawker Sea Hawks, which were used by Marinefliegergeschwader 1 and 2, and Fairey Gannets. Until the new bases were ready, pilots were trained with the FAA in the UK.

The first Kommando der Marineflieger was created in July 1956 in Kiel-Holtenau and elevated to divisional level in 1964, renamed to Marinefliegerkommando in 1967 and to Marinefliegerdivision in 1969 as it grew in size. This Naval Aviation Division commanded five wings and several supporting units in total before 1990, including two combat aircraft wings equipped with Lockheed Starfighter fighter aircraft and then the Panavia Tornado. The Fairey Gannet maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) was replaced with the Bréguet Atlantic.

After the Cold War, the unit was renamed to Flotille der Marineflieger in 1994 and reduced to a brigade-level command. Its last combat aircraft were handed over to the German Air Force in 2005 before the flotilla was dissolved on 30 June 2006. Afterwards, the remaining wings were directly assigned to fleet command until 8 October 2012, when the current Marinefliegerkommando was created in Nordholz under Kapitän zur See Andreas Horstmann, who had already been charged with naval aviation at fleet command in Rostock from 2006 to 2009.[3] At the same time the remaining naval aviation aircraft were largely consolidated at Nordholz Naval Airbase.

Subordinate units[edit]

Apart from the staff, two - the 3rd and 5th - wings are currently assigned to the unit.

Naval Air Wing 3 (MFG 3) "Graf Zeppelin"[edit]

The German Navy's fixed-wing aircraft, namely eight Lockheed P-3C Orion MPA taken over from the Dutch Navy and two modified Dornier 228LM pollution control aircraft are assigned to the 3rd wing, Marinefliegergeschwader 3 "Graf Zeppelin". The unit is also responsible for handling flight operations in Nordholz. It was established in 1964.

The wings tasks include surveillance and control of large sea areas as well as maritime warfare against targets above (ASuW) and below water (ASW).[4] Pollution control patrols are carried out implementing the MARPOL 73/78 convention on behalf of and in cooperation with German civilian authorities, namely the German coastal states and agencies under the Federal Ministry of Transport, who do not maintain the appropriate aircraft themselves.

The P-3Cs are to be replaced with five P-8 Poseidon MPAs from 2024 on[5] in order to avoid a looming capability gap caused by bringing forward the out-of-service date of the P-3Cs to 2025. A prior attempt to extensively refurbish the aircraft and extend their service time to 2035 was abandoned due to cost and technical issues.[6]

A technical support group (Gruppe) and a flying group, each with two flights (Staffeln) make up the unit along with an airbase group which is responsible for logistics, command infrastructure and air traffic:[7]

  • Staff
    • Flying Group
      • 1st Flight (P-3C)
      • 2nd Flight (P-3C, Do-228LM)
    • Technical Group
      • Technical Flight (P-3C)
      • Technical Flight (general purpose)
    • Air Base Group

Naval Air Wing 5 (MFG 5)[edit]

Marinefliegergeschwader 5 commands the navies rotorcraft fleet of Westland Sea Lynx MK 88 A and Sea King Mk 41 helicopters, tasked with ship-based anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, transport and special forces support duties and is responsible for search and rescue (SAR) duty in the North and Baltic seas. The Sea King fleet is currently transitioning to the NH90 Sea Lion.[citation needed] Sea Lion operations began during June 2020 and the wing will eventually have 20 in service.[8] The NH90 in its Sea Tiger version will also replace the Sea Lynx from 2025 on as the navies frigate-based helicopter.[9]

The unit redeployed in 2012-2013 to Nordholz from Kiel-Holtenau where it had been stationed since its creation in 1958.

  • Staff
    • Flying Group
      • 1st Flight (Sea Lynx Mk 88 A)
      • 2nd Flight (Sea King Mk 41)
      • ? Flight (Sea Lion)
      • Instruction Flight
    • Technical Group
      • Technical Flight (Sea Lynx Mk 88 A)
      • Technical Flight (Sea King Mk 41)
      • Technical Flight (Sea Lion)
      • Technical Instruction Flight

Aircraft[edit]

The command had 2,500 personnel on active duty in 2020.[10] As of 2019, it operates 54 aircraft.[11]

Current fleet[edit]

Model Image Origin Role Ordered Introduced Operational Notes
Rotorcraft
Westland Sea King Mk.41  United Kingdom Transport,

SAR missions

23 1973 6 As of 2024, 6 remain operational and are soon to be retired.[12][11]
Westland Sea Lynx Mk 88 A  United Kingdom Anti-submarine warfare,

Anti-surface warfare,

26 1981 24[13] To be replaced by the NH90 NFH Sea Tiger from 2025 to 2030.

Equipment: [14]

NH90 NTH

"Sea Lion"

 Germany

 France

 Italy

 Netherlands

Multi-role helicopter

(Utility helicopter,

SAR missions,

Vertical replenishment)

18 2018 18 [15][16]
Airplane
Lockheed

P-3 Orion

"P-3C CUP+"

 United States Maritime patrol aircraft 8 2006 4[17] 8 P-3 Orion purchased to the Netherlands as a replacement to the 20Bréguet 1150 Atlantic. [18]

Their replacement was decided in 2021 with the purchase of 5 P-8 Poseidon that will be delivered in 2025.

6 P-3 Orion are being sold to Portugal, with the first delivered in 2024. [19]

Dornier 228 LM  Germany Pollution control 2 1991 2[20] [21]
UAV
DJI Phantom IV  China ISR

Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance

5 2017 5 Commercial UAV

Multicopter [22]

Aerovironment RQ-20B Puma AE II

"LARUS"

 United States ISR

Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance

6 2019 6 3 systems with 2 drones each ordered in 2018 [23]
Saab Skeldar V-200

"Sea Falcon"

 Sweden ISR

Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance

2 2020 2 Ordered in 2017 as part of an urgent research programme VorMUAS to equip the K130 Braunschweig class [24]

8 additional Sea Falcon are eventually planned.

Future fleet[edit]

Model Image Origin Type Role Ordered Introduction Notes
NH90 NFH

"Sea Tiger"

 Germany

 France

 Italy

 Netherlands

Rotorcraft Multi-role helicopter

(Anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, reconnaissance and transport)

18 2025 Ordered in 2020, to be delivered from 2025 to 2030. Qualifications trials started in 2023. [25][26]

The equipment for the helicopter is:

The armament will be:

Boeing

P-8A Poseidon

 United States Fixed wing aircraft Maritime patrol aircraft 8 2025 Selected to replace the P-3C Orion in 2021:[27]
  • 5 ordered in 2021
  • 3 additional ordered in 2023

Delivery of first in 2024, 8 to be introduced in service in 2025

Former fleet[edit]

The Marineflieger previously operated the following aircraft:

Gallery[edit]

See also[edit]

Luftschiffer

References[edit]

  1. ^ Paterson, Lawrence (2019). Eagles Over the Sea: Luftwaffe Maritime Operations 1935–1942. Great Britain: Seaforth Publishing. pp. 15–18. ISBN 978-1-5267-4002-1.
  2. ^ "100 Years of German Naval Aviation". Joint Air Power Competence Centre. 2014-09-14. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  3. ^ "Startschuss für das Marinefliegerkommando in Nordholz". presseportal.de (in German). 4 October 2012. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  4. ^ "Naval Aviation Command". www.bundeswehr.de. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  5. ^ ES&T editorial team (29 September 2021). "P-8A Poseidon ordered from Boeing for the German Navy". esut.de. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  6. ^ Manaranche, Martin (2020-06-17). "German MoD Ends P-3C Orion MPA Modernization Program - Seeking Alternative". Naval News. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  7. ^ Seedorf, Mark. "Standortbroschüre Cuxhaven/Nordholz" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 April 2015.
  8. ^ AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. August 2022. p. 18.
  9. ^ Donald, David. "Germany Orders NH90 Sea Tiger Helicopters". Aviation International News. Retrieved 2021-10-29.
  10. ^ "Marineflieger im Umbruch" (in German). 25 October 2023.
  11. ^ a b "World Air Forces 2019". Flightglobal: 16. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  12. ^ "What's the Condition of Sea King Helicopters Germany is Giving to Ukraine and Will They Carry Weapons | Defense Express". en.defence-ua.com. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  13. ^ ES&T Redaktion (2020-11-24). "Marine erhält 31 Sea Tiger als Ablösung für 24 Sea Lynx". esut.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  14. ^ "Bordhubschrauber Sea Lynx Mk88A". www.bundeswehr.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  15. ^ "NH-90 NTH Sea Lion". www.bundeswehr.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  16. ^ Cuenca, Oliver. "German Navy receives last Sea Lion". AirMed&Rescue. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  17. ^ "Joker zieht nicht mehr: Kein Seefernaufklärer der Marine einsatzbereit – Augen geradeaus!". augengeradeaus.net. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  18. ^ "P-3C Orion German Navy Deutsche Marine MPA". www.seaforces.org. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  19. ^ "Portugal to buy German Orion MPAs". Janes.com. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  20. ^ Page 19 of the pdf: https://www.flightglobal.com/download?ac=75345
  21. ^ "Die Flugzeugflotte der Bundesmarine - Dornier Do 228-212 | FLUG REVUE". www.flugrevue.de. Archived from the original on 2017-06-08.
  22. ^ http://dipbt.bundestag.de/doc/btd/19/010/1901082.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  23. ^ "Puma AE für die Marine - FLUG REVUE". www.flugrevue.de. Archived from the original on 2020-09-22.
  24. ^ "Skeldar V-200 Archives - bundeswehr-journal". Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  25. ^ "German Navy NH90 Sea Tiger performs maiden flight". www.airbus.com. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  26. ^ "Maiden Flight of German Navy NH90 Sea Tiger". Joint Forces News. 2023-12-05. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  27. ^ Luck, Alex (2023-11-18). "Germany buying more Poseidon, question marks on MAWS". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-03-22.

External links[edit]