Multimedia Archive - marineforum

Drill on the high seas - As a marine on the Gorch Fock

MarineForum — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 13:46:00 +0000

Germany is arming itself and is desperately looking for soldiers, especially in the navy.

Author Lukas Wiehler in the rigging of the "Gorch Fock". Photo: HR/Martin Sündermann

Reporter Lukas Wiehler has the exclusive honour of sailing on board the "Gorch Fock" as editor of the first TV team in 15 years. He gets an insight into everyday training on the German Navy's sail training ship and experiences at first hand what it means to become a naval officer in the Bundeswehr in these times. For ten days, he lives between the Azores and Ireland as a crew member with the officer candidates. Ten days between drill, obedience and camaraderie. In the film, it becomes clear how the committed journalist reflects on his own choice of words, which has been influenced by the reporting of recent years, how he has a new experience of "drill" and how he relentlessly involves himself. He faces the questions critically and clearly and does not shy away from the discussion with the officer candidates.

Community, discipline and routines: During the training voyage on the "Gorch Fock", the crew members become comrades. Picture: HR/Martin Sündermann

Hessian frigate captain Elmar Bornkessel, who has steered the Gorch Fock many nautical miles through the seas, will also be there. The experienced naval officer, who has already commanded a frigate and has many years of operational experience on warships, answers the journalist's questions. Wiehler wonders what kind of young people train in the navy. How do they deal with the growing threat of war, with the fulfilment of duty, pressure and rough seas? And how does the reporter experience the crossing on the large sailing ship? It is considered one of the toughest training missions in the navy. Does the reporter, who has not done any military service and was previously unfamiliar with the Bundeswehr, need to rethink his attitude on board? From our point of view, the colleague did everything right: he did not choose the security of the visitor, but became a participant. He faced up to the task with reflection. In the end, it becomes clear that he will not become addicted to seafaring. But that's a good thing: the "Gorch Fock" sorts the sailor from the non-sailor in its own way. A great documentary about a profession that is not everyone's cup of tea and a ship that will always polarise opinion.

Der Beitrag Drill auf hoher See – Als Marinesoldat auf der Gorch Fock erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

Documentary: STEALTH - Invisible technology

MarineForum — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 08:00:00 +0000

They look like spaceships from a science fiction film: jets with stealth technology. Their design makes stealth aircraft almost invisible to enemy detection systems, giving them a decisive advantage. Modern warships such as the USS "Zumwalt" also camouflage themselves in this way - their unusual shape and special paint scatter enemy radar beams down to fishing vessel level. Stealth technology is now used in all dimensions: In addition to aircraft and ships, it is also used on submarines and armoured vehicles.

kdk, World TV

Der Beitrag Doku: STEALTH - Unsichtbare Technik erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

Documentary - Ready to fight over Europe

MarineForum — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 12:52:00 +0000

During the NATO exercise "Air Defender 23" in June 2023, member states and armed forces from a total of 25 nations tested their response capabilities in European airspace. In the alliance's largest air manoeuvre to date, the ability to act and the interoperability of the various air forces were practised in various manoeuvres. Each operation with up to 10,000 exercise participants and up to 250 aircraft of all types was planned down to the smallest detail under the leadership of the German Air Force and was carried out as realistically as possible.

A challenging task with a clear signal to any aggressors: We are ready.

kdk, World TV

Der Beitrag Doku – Kampfbereit über Europa erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

Documentary - The armoury of the Bundeswehr

MarineForum — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Since the Bundeswehr was founded in 1956, the weapons used by the troops have improved enormously. Today, soldiers have access to state-of-the-art firearms. From small arms and grenade launchers to bazookas and large guns, this documentary provides an overview of the arsenal of the German armed forces. The look inside the troops' armouries shows selected weapons and explains the technology and operational tactics.

kdk, World TV

Der Beitrag Doku - Die Waffenkammer der Bundeswehr erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

Film tip: "Turning point up close - A year with soldiers"

MarineForum — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 08:00:30 +0000

The Bundeswehr documentary accompanies three male and one female soldier who have to face the current challenges of the Bundeswehr; too few personnel, too little material and many years of not being geared towards this type of war. It offers authentic insights, reporting from the perspective of those who have to shoulder the demanding tasks of national and alliance defence on a daily basis.
These exciting 60 minutes can be found under the link in the ARD media centre.

Der Beitrag Filmtipp: „Zeitenwende hautnah - Ein Jahr mit Soldaten“ erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

#Knowledge Round 6: Ocean depths

MarineForum — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 09:27:31 +0000

While deep-sea trenches are usually elongated trenches, a Sea low a rather small lake area that lies partly in such a channel. Some of the deepest places are:

Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench (10,984 m; Pacific Ocean)
Milwaukee Deep in the Puerto Rico Trench (8,376 m; Atlantic Ocean)
Diamantina Fracture Zone (7099 m; Indian Ocean)
Molloy Deep (5,669 m; Arctic Ocean)
Calypso Deep (5,267 m; Mediterranean Sea)
Norwegian Gully (725 m, North Sea)
Landsort Low (459 m; Baltic Sea)

Der Beitrag #Bescheidwisserwissen Round 6: Meerestiefen erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

#Bescheidwisserwissen Round 5: Bathing guest

MarineForum — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 12:12:24 +0000

Any person on board who has no seamanship whatsoever and is only good at one thing: standing in the way. Even the bamboos are more seaworthy, although this term is only used to describe really bad sailors to whom you really have to explain everything.

Der Beitrag #Bescheidwisserwissen Round 5: Badegast erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

#Knowledge Round 4: Sailor's greeting

MarineForum — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 14:54:33 +0000

This greeting is also known as dipping. It consists of lowering and raising the national flag.

Merchant ships are obliged to give the first salute to warships of all states. The dipping salute is not given between warships because it is derived from the striking of the sails (or striking the flag; handing the ship over to the enemy), the sign of subordination and submission. The salute commonly used between warships is the front.

Der Beitrag #Bescheidwisserwissen Round 4: Seemannsgruß erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

#Knowledge Round 3: Elms fire

MarineForum — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 14:49:52 +0000

The Saint Elmo's fire (short: Elms fire) is a rare light phenomenon caused by electrical discharges during thunderstorms. The St Elmo's fire occurs on exposed, high objects, such as ship masts. It resembles small, tufted lightning bolts that flicker around the object with a typical buzzing sound. Saint Elmo's fires are caused by corona discharges in the atmosphere. St Elmo's fires glow blue-violet due to oxygen and nitrogen in the earth's atmosphere. St Elmo's fire was first observed at churches of St Erasmus.

The name is therefore derived from St Erasmus of Antioch (Italian: Elmo), who was invoked by sailors in stormy weather. A St Elmo's fire on the mast was rightly interpreted as an ominous sign, as the phenomenon often indicates an imminent lightning strike. In literature, it was also used as an omen signalling doom, for example in Shakespeare's "The Tempest" or in Melville's "Moby Dick". The St Elmo's fire itself is not really dangerous despite the high voltage and the electrical tension in the atmosphere.

Der Beitrag #Bescheidwisserwissen Round 3: Elmsfeuer erschien zuerst auf marineforum.

#Knowledge Round 2: The Klabautermann

MarineForum — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 09:02:43 +0000

No ship should set sail without a good ship's spirit: The Klabautermann is a goblin who protects the ship. Its name is derived from the former name of the ship's carpenter, the Kalfatermann. Calfing is still the name given to the sealing of the ship's planks today. At night, the Klabautermann He walks around the ship and taps it for rotten and damaged areas. They say: If you hear him knocking, he stays. But if you hear him planing, he will leave. The latter is not good at all, because then the ship is about to sink. However, the invisible troll gives the captain one last warning beforehand: He shows himself to him. Bathers see the Klabautermann usually not.

Der Beitrag #Bescheidwisserwissen Round 2: Der Klabautermann erschien zuerst auf marineforum.