Der Beitrag Der marineforum Kalender: Termine! erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

A 5% increase in transport volumes and a stable average freight rate contributed significantly to this. At EUR 1,434/TEU in 2024, it was roughly on par with the previous year's level of EUR 1,442/TEU.

The shipping company benefited from the higher freight volumes that were achieved despite the detours around the Cape of Good Hope. There had previously been speculation as to whether freight rates would therefore rise on this route, causing consumer prices to rise further. This was obviously not the case.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Suez Canal Authority said in Cairo that there were signs of a return to stability in the Red Sea and that the Danish shipping company Moller-Maersk had been asked to take this into account when planning sea routes.

kdk, hamburg.t-online, gCaptain

Der Beitrag Hamburg - Linienreederei erzielt höheren Gewinn erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

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We would like to thank the Maritime Cluster Northern Germany for this wonderful gesture and take this opportunity to wish you a relaxing festive season. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

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Der Beitrag Weihnachtsgruß vom Maritimen Cluster Norddeutschland erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

Nicholas C. "Nick" Jellicoe, grandson of Admiral Nicholas Jellicoe and author of the book "Jutland: The Unfinished Battle" has published its next book after four years of work.

It is a continuation of the book "Jutland" in the sense that it deals with the longer-term strategic outcome of the battle: Germany's decision to declare unrestricted submarine warfare in February 1917. Nick's grandfather, Admiral Jellicoe, moved to lead the Royal Navy in late 1916 to find a solution: One of his findings was to form convoys. He was much criticised for this and even accused of being against convoy tactics; he was not. An effective convoy was only possible if more escort destroyers with more sub-hunting weapons were available. Technology and reconnaissance provided the advantages. This required an extraordinary government "takeover" of merchant shipping and harbour and distribution infrastructure. This is the story of that development and the all-important close working relationship between Jellicoe and Admiral Sims of the US Navy.

Seaforthpublishing.com

Der Beitrag Buchtipp: Jellicoe's War erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

Over ten years ago, in 2011, compulsory military service was suspended in Germany. The war in Ukraine brought the discussion back. For the authors Gerrit Reichert and Benjamin Vorhölter, this was the impetus to document the West German conscription form W 15. Step by step, from the draft enrolment letter to mustering, "Grundi", basic training and leaving, they recall the structure and mentality of the conscript army of the time. Together with their readers, they marvel at what was possible back then and what the consequences were for the Bundeswehr and civil society. Anyone discussing conscription today should know how conscription worked and should definitely have read this unique book!

About the book

Der Beitrag Buchtipp: Generation W 15 - 456 Tage "beim Bund" erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

A topic that goes through time ... Today a commentary by marineforum editor-in-chief Holger Schlüter on the visit of the British aircraft carrier in Hamburg and why Germany still does not have its own aircraft carrier.

It comes back every year - the discussion about a German aircraft carrier! Has Germany's security situation and its importance in the world changed to such an extent that a national carrier capability is necessary? Why should Germany invest a lot of money and effort - it takes around 20 years to fully develop a carrier capability - in a capability that is already available in Europe?

Listen to NDR report

Article from May 2012:

Incidentally, it is quite revealing that in such discussions there is usually talk of only one German carrier as if the supporters already realised that there was no money for more than one ship. Prestige and reputation are not arguments, by the way.

Aircraft carrier eats fleet

Not only the construction of a Aircraft carrier costs an enormous amount of money, the mere operation of which tears deep holes in the defender's coffers - our European neighbours can tell you a thing or two about it. The ship itself is not enough, aircraft and weapon systems have to be procured and pilots have to be trained, and this has to continue for decades. The current procurement of the F-35C, the carrier version of the F-35 Lightning II, by the Royal Navy is causing the British an enormous headache. Operating a carrier comes at the expense of other platforms and capabilities: Carrier eats fleet!

These circumstances have meant that France and the UK have, until not so long ago, been seriously considering the possibility of Aircraft carrier to procure and operate jointly. These considerations have since been shelved, ultimately because the foreign and security policy objectives of both countries occasionally diverge. National interests therefore stand in the way of such cooperation - for now!

The European solution

The fact that security with aspiration is the Aircraft carriers and support groups should be clear. Since European interests are indeed global, there is also a need for a carrier capability in European hands. Even if the European mills grind more slowly than some would like and we are still a long way from a truly European understanding of security, something will happen and the integration of the European armed forces will be one of the catalysts.

Pooling & Sharing was not just a topic at the NATO conference in Chicago; in view of the tight European and British budget situation, it has become a necessity. The budgetary pressure will unleash unimagined creativity! Consider that France and the UK, unlike Germany, have not yet made the necessary adjustments to their armed forces to reflect the reality of their budgets (!).

European consolidation will therefore come from this direction, and Germany could contribute in various ways:

• Why not German aircraft on American, British or French carriers, depending on the situation and mission? The Eurofighter is also available as a carrier version!
• Aircraft carrier are always accompanied, Germany could concentrate on providing the escort ships.
• In any case, Germany could contribute to the costs, as we are getting used to it at other construction sites. But it is also true that those who pay, also decide!

Instead of Germany laboriously acquiring a new capability for itself, existing European structures should be utilised sensibly. This would enable Germany to make an essential contribution together with our European and alliance partners.

Germany does not need Aircraft carrier! What we need is a true European understanding of security that recognises the need for European Aircraft carriers then derives by itself. And of course Germany could and should make a contribution here!

Post Scriptum

Incidentally, the Federal Republic of Germany already had a carrier: it was called "Schleswig-Holstein", was largely stationary and, with around 120 aircraft on two runways in Eggebek and Jagel, was very powerful! Back then, naval warfare was still practised and practised from the air. A small insertion for the Luftwaffe: naval warfare from the air is more than just flying over water! But that's another story.

Der Beitrag Warum es keinen deutschen Flugzeugträger geben wird erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

U 96 seems indestructible. Following the success of "Das Boot" as a book (1973) and film (1981), its final chapter has now been revealed. The boat on which Lothar-Günther Buchheim collected his material for "Das Boot" as a war correspondent in the autumn of 1941 still exists, in Wilhelmshaven! Here, on the North Sea, U 96 was bombed shortly before the end of the war and a few years later, in 1948, its remains were used as filling material in the newly built Grodendamm. The journalist duo Gerrit Reichert and Dr Frank Ganseuer have now traced this trail with a wealth of facts. Starting with a Royal Air Force aerial photograph of the broken U 96 in mid-April 1945 and ending with the photographed sinking of the stern section three years later in Grodendamm. The exciting research is the exclusive 8th additional chapter in the bestseller "U 96 Reality and Myth", now in its fourth edition. Its author, Gerrit Reichert, thus concludes ten years of work on the U 96 complex: "In the beginning, I just wanted to know who the person behind Buchheim's main character of the "Old Man" actually was; in the end, after 80 years, I even managed to track down his boat, and that's the end of it."

29,95 € incl. VAT. to order from Koehler Mittler Shop

Der Beitrag „Das Boot“ – aufgetaucht in Wilhelmshaven! erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

The Reibert has been the standard handbook for the Bundeswehr for decades and offers comprehensive basic knowledge of laws, ordinances, decrees and service regulations. Indispensable for soldiers of all ranks. The new edition was published on 24 September 2024 "The Reibert - The handbook for soldiers of the German Armed Forces" published by Mittler Report Verlag GmbH. The comprehensively revised and updated edition also includes the organisational changes in the armed forces and the Ministry of Defence, information on the new Cyber and Information Space organisational area and details on the newly introduced hand weapons in the Bundeswehr.

This standard reference work with over 950 pages is divided into three parts and is based on the current status of laws, ordinances, decrees and service regulations. It provides soldiers with basic knowledge about the state, society and the Bundeswehr.

The first part deals with civics, internal leadership, international humanitarian law and general troop training. The second part focuses on security policy issues, the various armed forces and relevant institutions and alliances. The structure, equipment and tasks of the army, air force, navy and medical service are also described in detail, as are training opportunities and routes. As a practical companion, the third part contains valuable information for service and military training. In addition, "Der Reibert" also serves as a reference work for reservists. A detailed index also makes it easier to search for specific topics.

The author is Dr phil. Jan-Phillipp Weisswange, Lieutenant Colonel (ret.), currently posted as deputy battalion commander. He is a freelance PR consultant and publishes on security policy, military and weapons technology and history topics.

"Der Reibert - Das Handbuch für Soldatinnen und Soldaten der Bundeswehr" is available in softcover format 10.5 x 14.8 cm at a price of €23.95 from bookshops and in the publisher's online shop at www.koehler-mittler-shop.de.

Der Beitrag „Der Reibert “- ab sofort bei Mittler bestellbar! erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

Launch Sea Sparrow from VLS on frigate M-Class. Photo: cavdkm.nl

While the official announcement does not go into the causes, the error is said to have occurred during a test firing of the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile system when it was not ejected from the canister during launch. The incident is said to have occurred during practice firing with a simulated drone approach. After the Sea Sparrow misfired, the "simulated" drone could no longer be successfully countered by the other defence systems.

If this information is correct, then the fault that has occurred and its consequences belong more to the "not so quickly rectifiable" category, even if the vertically mounted launch container (VLS) emits the booster jet on the side deck athwartships (see photo).

The "Louise-Marie" is one of two frigates of the Dutch Karel Doorman class, which only entered service with the Royal Belgian Navy in 2007/08 after almost 20 years under the Dutch flag. The ship is 124 metres long and displaces 3,400 tonnes. In addition to the 16 RIM-7 Sea Sparrow launchers (on the port side of the helicopter hangar), her armament includes a further 8 Harpoon ship-to-ship missiles, Mark 46 torpedoes, a Goalkeeper CIWS system, a 76 mm OTO Melara gun and other light artillery weapons. Its flying component consists of an NH-90 NFH helicopter.

Dutch frigate "Van Speijk" fires ESSM Sea Sparrow.
Photo: Royal Netherlands Navy

The incident has prompted the international media to comment with suspicion on what is now the third defence failure by European navies when deploying missile systems. The Danish frigate "Iver Huitfeldt" and the German frigate "Hessen" are of course repeatedly cited on the rocky road to "war capability at sea". "Do not despair - dare to go on . . . " the rest of the text is well known to seafarers!

Source: belga, marineschepen.nl,

Der Beitrag ASPIDES: Teilnahme belgischer Fregatte verzögert sich erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

The first boat has already been successfully integrated on the "Hamburg", F124 and sister ship of the "Hessen", which left for the Red Sea on Thursday, 8 February 2024 in preparation for the yet-to-be-mandated EUNAVFOR "Aspides" mission, and is operationally available as a so-called boarding boat, for sea rescue and for the transport of people and material.

The two standby and operational boats were procured to supplement the twelve existing boats of the same type, which are up to 15 years old, and are intended to gradually replace the ageing boats.

Old look - modern interior

The new boats have hardly changed visually, but now comply with the latest safety requirements and state-of-the-art technology. The completely new drive train consists of a 350 hp engine with gearbox and a water jet drive. In addition to modern radio and navigation systems, shock-absorbing seats have also been installed to soften extreme impacts on the body. There are also many smaller adjustments, including individually adjustable deck rails to secure the seats and materials, as well as a replaceable and easy-to-repair hose fender to protect the boat's outer skin.

The modernised boat is a great advantage, especially for the crews. The technology and mode of operation are already familiar and the boats can therefore be used immediately and are ready for action.

Der Beitrag Einsatzboote für Fregatten: Neueste Technik - bewährte Funktion erschien zuerst auf marineforum.