Pistorius visits frigate “Hessen” before deployment in the Red Sea

It is the most dangerous naval mission in the history of the Bundeswehr: The frigate “Hessen” is scheduled to sail into the Red Sea on Friday, heavily armed. Before that, she received a visit from Defense Minister Pistorius.

Early morning on the way from the center of Chania to the small NATO base on Crete: past olive trees, in the distance the still snow-covered mountains. The frigate “Hessen” lies at anchor in the rising sun and waits for the visit of the Defense Minister. In the neighborhood, US soldiers are practicing with landing craft and hovercraft.

The frigate is the Navy’s pride and joy – “our gold standard,” as Boris Pistorius would later emphasize. The next morning the warship will set off for the Suez Canal.

It takes a day and a half to get there. Then frigate captain Volker Kübsch and his team will wait for the mandate, which is to be passed in the Bundestag on Friday.

Only then will the “Hessen” continue to the operational area in the Red Sea. There, as part of the EU mission “Aspides”, which was decided on Monday, it is supposed to protect merchant ships from attacks by the Houthi militias, using everything the frigate has in terms of weapons, from machine guns to guided missiles.

A dangerous mission

The entire crew is prepared for the distinguished visit. A marine says they didn’t actually have to do that much, maybe cleaned a little more intensively than usual.

They all await their mission with a certain amount of tension. It’s a different feeling than the exercises and maneuvers the frigate has undergone in recent months. The 240 women and men – 27 women are on board – are of course also aware of the assessment that they are facing a dangerous mission.

Commander Kübsch doesn’t mince words: “I can’t rule out that the frigate ‘Hessen’ will also be a direct target of attacks.” Whether intentional or unintentional. “We shouldn’t take what we’re facing there lightly, but we’re well prepared. We’ve been practicing, practicing, practicing for an emergency for two years.” However, the German Navy has never before faced a threat from kamikaze drones, missiles and anti-ship ballistic missiles.

From sunscreen to blood supplies

The minister knows that too. That’s why it was so important to him to visit the frigate shortly before the start of operations and say goodbye to it personally. “I’m proud of them, of what they can do, how they’re trained, what they’re willing to contribute and that they’re even making this mission possible here.”

Almost exactly a year ago to the day, shortly after he took office, the frigate “Hessen” was the first warship that Pistorius visited. At the time, he couldn’t imagine that he would send her on such a mission. Now it is the first such robust and dangerous operation for which he is responsible as the holder of command and control authority.

The soldiers on board show him the ship and explain their defense options. The radar, which can detect attacks from a distance of up to 400 kilometers; the weapons, which range up to 150 kilometers. The crew is proud of what the frigate can do.

It has also been upgraded: There are two helicopters with crew on board and 14 soldiers from the sea battalion who can be deployed on merchant ships. The medical area is also important. A doctor explains to the minister that they really have everything on board, from sunscreen to blood supplies. Pistorius hopes that all they need is sunscreen.

The danger that could arise from operations in the Red Sea is present in all discussions. An 18-year-old corporal, who is responsible for communicating with other units via encrypted procedures, admits that he is tense, “but with healthy tension.”

It is important to approach this mission with caution and to have a certain amount of basic tension. “It also triggers vigilance.” This is conducive to such an operation.

He’s not afraid. That is not a factor in the crew, at least not in his inner circle with whom he communicates. He is also proud to be able to be there. And his mother supports him, but of course she wants her son to come home safely.

Use with a special meaning

The minister also passed this wish on to the marines when he spoke to them on the helicopter deck of the frigate. The “Hessen” should be back in its home port of Wilhelmshaven at the end of April.

But the crew is still facing what Pistorius openly admits is “the most difficult mission the German Navy has seen in many decades.” The mission will demand a lot from your ship.

A mission with a special significance for Germany and Europe. “It’s about security and stability in this region. We must not allow terrorism to spread further in the Middle East,” says Pistorius. “Because there is a connection between Hamas’ terrorism and its heinous attacks on civilians and the Houthis’ attacks on merchant ships. We must never forget that in everything we do here.”

It’s about something very fundamental, about the defense of the international order, which is constantly being questioned, challenged and attacked.

Purely defensive

However, it is also important for the minister to emphasize that the Bundeswehr is not only ready for such an operation, but also able to do so. Unrestricted, with the best equipment and, above all, sufficient. He knows how there is always a lack of important things, he knows the complaints from the troops about bad or inadequate equipment.

As he stands in front of the marines, you can tell he is relieved when he can announce to the entire crew that there is now a written agreement with Djibouti that will ensure the frigate’s resupply. This hurdle has also been overcome.

When the accompanying journalists asked the question about the size of the operational area, which almost extends to Iran, Pistorius answered diplomatically. You are purely defensive, so you have good arguments to counteract tensions. In the region near Iran, one only has an observational task.

No more practice

Pistorius praises the soldiers for their motivation, their quick preparation, despite far too short a rest period after the long deployment as part of NATO in the North and Baltic Seas, in the “Very High Readiness Joint Task Force Maritime”, and he makes them a promise : “Be sure, I’ll keep an eye on them every day, in a better sense of course, and find out what they’re doing, what the situation is, how they’re doing, whether they’re missing anything.”

The minister has been on board for just three hours, accompanied by four members of the Bundestag, defense politicians from the SPD, FDP and Union, who also felt it was important to assure the crew of their support. A symbolic visit, sure, but one that is perceived as recognition. The short personal encounters are valued. “It’s good that you’re here,” says one.

Even if they are not yet on site – the team is already on the so-called “war march”. All positions are always filled; changes every six hours. They left the blue navy uniform at home. Flecktarn is worn, practical and comfortable. Everyone on board is aware that this is no longer an exercise.