Marineflieger

Last updated
Naval Aviation Command
Marinefliegerkommando
COA MFlgKdo.svg
Insignia of the Marinefliegerkommando
Founded1956;68 years ago (1956)
Country Flag of Germany.svg Germany
Branch German Navy
Type Naval aviation
Size2,500 personnel
57 aircraft
Part of German Navy
Garrison/HQ Nordholz Naval Airbase
Website
Commanders
Kommandeur des Marinefliegerkommandos Kapitän zur See Thorsten Bobzin
Insignia
Roundel Roundel of Germany - Type 1 - Border.svg
Fin flash Flag of Germany.svg
Aircraft flown
Attack Sea Lynx Mk 88 A
P-3C Orion
Patrol Sea King Mk 41
Sea Lynx Mk 88 A
P-3C Orion
Reconnaissance P-3C Orion
Dornier 228 LM
Trainer H135
Transport Sea King Mk 41
Sea Lynx Mk 88 A

The Marinefliegerkommando (Naval Aviation Command) is the naval air arm of the German Navy. It is aircraft flown by the Navy of Germany, and mostly consists of helicopters and fixed-wing maritime patrol aircraft, as well as types of drones. Naval helicopters can operate from ships, and some of their roles include utility and supply tasks, search and rescue, and ASW or naval warfare. The fixed-wing aircraft operate from land bases but will patrol over open water. The Navy also operates training aircraft and unmanned drones. Naval aviation is subordinate to the German Navy, separate from the Air Force.

Contents

History

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 zurSee 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

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

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]

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.

Aircraft

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

Current fleet

ModelImageOriginRoleOrderedIntroducedOperationalNotes
Rotorcraft
Westland Sea King Mk.41 Westland Sea King Mk.41 '89+70' (45064718845).jpg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Transport,

SAR missions

2319736As of 2024, 6 remain operational and are soon to be retired. [12] [11]
Westland Sea Lynx Mk 88 A Lynx - RIAT 2019 (48730209088).jpg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Anti-submarine warfare,

Anti-surface warfare,

26198124 [13] To be replaced by the NH90 NFH Sea Tiger from 2025 to 2030.

Equipment: [14]

NH90 NTH

"Sea Lion"

German Navy NH90 NTH 79+58 static display ILA-2022.jpg Flag of Germany.svg  Germany

Flag of France.svg  France

Flag of Italy.svg  Italy

Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands

Multi-role helicopter

(Utility helicopter,

SAR missions,

Vertical replenishment)

18201818 [15] [16]
Airplane
Lockheed

P-3 Orion

"P-3C CUP+"

Marinefliegerkommando P-3C Orion - Aviation Nation 2019.jpg Flag of the United States.svg  United States Maritime patrol aircraft 820064 [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 Dornier Do228-212NG 98+35 (9425767928).jpg Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Pollution control219912 [20] [21]
UAV
DJI Phantom IV 20160430-00226-DJI-Phantom4.jpg Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China ISR

Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance

520175 Commercial UAV

Multicopter [22]

Aerovironment RQ-20B Puma AE II

"LARUS"

Africa Partnership Station 150116-N-JP249-058.jpg Flag of the United States.svg  United States ISR

Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance

6201963 systems with 2 drones each ordered in 2018 [23]
Saab Skeldar V-200

"Sea Falcon"

Skeldar V-200 German Navy ILA-2022.jpg Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden ISR

Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance

220202Ordered 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

ModelImageOriginTypeRoleOrderedIntroductionNotes
NH90 NFH

"Sea Tiger"

French Navy NH90 lands on USS Antietam (CG-54) in the Bay of Bengal (cropped).jpg Flag of Germany.svg  Germany

Flag of France.svg  France

Flag of Italy.svg  Italy

Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands

Rotorcraft Multi-role helicopter

(Anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare,reconnaissanceand transport)

182025Ordered 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

US Navy P-8 Poseidon taking off at Perth Airport.jpg Flag of the United States.svg  United States Fixed wing aircraft Maritime patrol aircraft 82025Selected 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

The Marineflieger previously operated the following aircraft:

See also

Luftschiffer

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