Einsatzflottille 2

''Einsatzflottille 2'' (EinsFltl 2 or EF 2) is one of the three brigade-level units of the German Navy, in addition to '' Einsatzflottille 1'' and the Naval Air Command. It is based in Wilhelmshaven, Lower Saxony, and is subordinated to Navy Command, based in Rostock.

History

''Einsatzflottille 2'' was set up on June 27, 2006, as part of a major reorganization of the fleet when the previous ''Zerstörerflotille'' (Destroyer Flotilla), which was founded on April 1, 1958, as ''Kommando der Zerstörer'' (Destroyer Command), was renamed. It mostly consists of the largest units of the fleet, namely frigates and supply ships, together with some smaller support vessels.

Subordinate units

The staff of ''Einsatzflottille 2'' are based at , Wilhelmshaven. All of the frigates and some of the supply ships are stationed in Wilhelmshaven, others have their home ports on the Baltic Sea.

2nd Frigate Squadron

The first ''2. Fregattengeschwader'' was created on October 1, 1988, succeeding the 2nd Escort Squadron (''2. Geleitgeschwader'') at the same base. At first, the ''Bremen-''class frigates F211 ''Köln'' and F212 ''Karlsruhe'' were transferred to the squadron with the 2nd batch, consisting of frigates F213 ''Augsburg'' and F214 ''Lübeck'', following in 1989 and 1990 respectively''.''

The current unit was created on January 9, 2006, when the 1st ( ''Sachsen''-class frigates) and the 6th squadrons ( ''Brandenburg''-class frigates) were combined to form the new 2nd Frigate Squadron.Kern, Ulrich; Jonas, Oliver: Wilhelmshaven Naval Base leaflet, 4th edition. January 2018 (in German
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* ''Sachsen''-class (124) frigates
** F219 ''Sachsen''
** F220 ''Hamburg''
** F221 ''Hessen''
* ''Brandenburg''-class (123) frigates
** F215 ''Brandenburg''
** F216 ''Schleswig-Holstein''
** F217 ''Bayern''
** F218 ''Mecklenburg-Vorpommern''

4th Frigate Squadron

Created on 16th November 1981, the ''4. Fregattengeschwader'' initially consisted of four ''Bremen-class'' frigates. On January 9, 2006, it was merged with the "old" 2nd Frigate Squadron to unite all eight ''Bremen''-class frigates. They are being replaced by four ''Baden-Württemberg''-class frigates intended for overseas peacekeeping missions and special forces support.

* ''Baden-Württemberg''-class (125) frigates
** F222 ''Baden-Württemberg''
** F223 ''Nordrhein-Westfalen''
** F224 ''Sachsen-Anhalt''
* ''Bremen''-class (122) frigates
** F214 ''Lübeck'' (to be decommissioned in 2022)

Auxiliaries Squadron

The ''Troßgeschwader'' followed the 1st and 2nd Supply Squadrons (''1./2. Versorgungsgeschwader'') which were transferred to the 2nd Flotilla (then: Destroyer Flotilla) in 1997 after the Supply Flotilla (''Versorgungsflotille'') was dissolved. The first squadron used to be stationed at Kiel Naval Base, the second in Cuxhaven, supporting navy units in the Baltic and North Seas with liquid and solid consumables. Today, eight ships remain stationed in both Kiel and Wilhelmshaven. Some are manned by navy members and others by civilian crews.

* ''Berlin''-class (702) replenishment-ship
**A1411 ''Berlin'' in Wilhelmshaven
**A1412 ''Frankfurt am Main'' in Wilhelmshaven
**A1413 ''Bonn'' in Wilhelmshaven
* ''Rhön''-class (704) tanker
**A1443 '' Rhön'' in Wilhelmshaven
**A1442 ''Spessart'' in Kiel
* ''Fehmarn''-class (720) tug
**A1458 ''Fehmarn'' in Kiel
* ''Wangerooge''-class (722) tug
**A1451 ''Wangerooge'' in Wilhelmshaven
**A1452 ''Spiekeroog'' in Kiel

Naval Base Command Wilhelmshaven

The command is responsible for operations and logistics at the Heppenser Groden naval base and directly subordinate to 2nd Flotilla.

Service

The ships of ''Einsatzflottille 2'' are often deployed on overseas assignments, usually as part of the German contribution to the standing NATO squadrons Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG 1) and Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2), and participate in NATO operations in this context. The commander of ''Einsatzflottille 2'' often serves as the leader of national or multinational naval squadrons and is supported in this task by his staff.

Commanders

References

{{Authority control

Military units and formations of the German Navy