German Warships Are Ordered To Avoid Using The Red Sea, Concerned About Houthi Fighter Attacks
- German Warships Are Ordered To Avoid Using The Red Sea, Concerned About Houthi Fighter Attacks
Two warships of the German Navy had to avoid sailing in the Red Sea due to fears of an attack by the Houthi armed group, according to the German Ministry of Defense.
According to him, the two German warships, FGS BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG (F222) and FGS FRANKFURT AM MAIN (A1412) “were not designed to carry out air defense operations” to defend themselves and nearby ships.”
The threat level (by Houthi armed groups) is quite high in the Red Sea,” according to German Defense Ministry spokesman Colonel Mitko Mueller in a press conference yesterday.
According to him, there have been complex attacks that have occurred in the Red Sea in recent months involving tactical missiles, drones and various other weapons.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has ordered the two warships to take a more distant route, sailing around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa and avoiding the Red Sea.
The two German warships are on a voyage to the waters in the Mediterranean to join the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon under the banner of the United Nations (UN).
Before that, the ships of the German Navy, FGS BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG and FGS FRANKFURT AM MAIN were involved in the Indo-Pacific Region Deployment 2024 (IPD 2024).
IPD 2024 is a major defense diplomacy effort for the German Navy covering multinational naval exercises and operations.
The two German Navy ships have been sailing in the Pacific and Indian Oceans since June 2024, showcasing the capabilities of the German navy and their commitment to maritime security.
On 15 Oct last, the two German warships stopped at the Port Klang Cruise Terminal, the first visit of a German warship to Malaysia in 22 years.
Although categorized as a frigate, the FGS BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG has a weight of up to 7,200 tons and is more suitable to be called a destroyer.
There are reports that FGS BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG is the heaviest frigate in the world.
Commissioned in 2019, the frigate FGS BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG which has a length of 150 meters is capable of sailing at a speed of 20 knots and operates as far as 4,000 Nautical Miles.
In terms of armament, the frigate FGS BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG is equipped with a 127mm main gun, a RAM Block II (Rolling Airframe Missile) missile system and a Harpoon anti-ship missile.
In addition, the frigate also carries an NH-90 helicopter.
FGS FRANKFURT AM MAIN is a replenishment oiler ship (supply) belonging to the German Navy commissioned in 2001.
The 20,000 ton ship was carrying fuel, other supplies, ammunition and other items intended to support the operations of the warships of the German Navy. — DSA
