German Navy

German Navy
German Navy
Marine
Founded	2 January 1956; 70 years ago
Country	Germany
Type	Navy
Size	15,531 personnel (August 2024); 65 ships; 56 aircraft
Part of	Bundeswehr
Headquarters of the German Navy	Rostock (Navy Command)
Mottos	Wir. Dienen. Deutschland.; (We. Serve. Germany.)
March	"Kameraden auf See"
Anniversaries	14 June
Engagements	Operation Sharp Guard (1993–96); Operation Enduring Freedom; Combined Task Force 150 (2002–present); Operation Active Endeavour; UNIFIL II; Operation ATALANTA;
Website	marine.de
Commanders
Inspector of the Navy	Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack
Deputy Inspector of the Navy	Vice Admiral Rainer Brinkmann
Chief of Staff	Rear Admiral Frank Martin Lenski [de]
Notable; commanders	Friedrich Ruge; Günter Luther;
Insignia
Ensign

The German Navy (German: Deutsche Marine, pronounced [ˈdɔʏtʃə maˈʁiːnə] ^ⓘ) is part of the unified Bundeswehr (Federal Defense), the German Armed Forces. The German Navy was originally known as the Bundesmarine (Federal Navy) from 1956 to 1995, when Deutsche Marine (German Navy) became the official name with respect to the 1990 incorporation of the East German Volksmarine (People's Navy). It is deeply integrated into the NATO alliance. Its primary mission is protection of Germany's territorial waters and maritime infrastructure as well as sea lines of communication. Apart from this, the German Navy participates in peacekeeping operations, and renders humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. It also participates in anti-piracy operations.^[2]

History

German Naval history has its roots in the naval history of the Holy Roman Empire, to which the Dutch Navy and even the Spanish Navy once belonged. Proper German language early maritime history is represented by the Hanseatic League and the Brandenburg Navy, later Prussian Navy.

The modern German Navy traces its roots back to the Reichsflotte (Imperial Fleet) of the revolutionary era of 1848–52. The Reichsflotte was the first German navy to sail under the black-red-gold flag. Founded on 14 June 1848 by the orders of the democratically elected Frankfurt Parliament, the Reichsflotte's brief existence ended with the failure of the revolution and it was disbanded on 2 April 1852; thus, the modern day navy celebrates its birthday on 14 June.

The small Prussian Navy evolved in 1867 into the North German Federal Navy, which was mainly for coast defence. It became the Imperial German Navy in 1871. From 1919 to 1935, only a small Reichsmarine was permitted. Under Nazi Germany, it was transformed into the Kriegsmarine, which was disbanded in 1945 after the end of World War II in Europe.

Between May 1945 and 1956, the German Mine Sweeping Administration and its successor organizations, made up of former Kriegsmarine members, became something of a transition stage for the German navy, allowing the future Marine to draw on recently experienced personnel upon its formation. Also, from 1949 to 1952 the United States Navy maintained the Naval Historical Team in Bremerhaven. This group of former Kriegsmarine officers acting as historical and tactical consultants to the Americans, was significant in establishing a German element in the NATO senior naval staff. In 1956, with West Germany's accession to NATO, the Bundesmarine (Federal Navy), as the navy was known colloquially, was formally established. In the same year the East German Volkspolizei See (literally People's Police Sea) became the Volksmarine (People's Navy). During the Cold War all of the German Navy's combat vessels were assigned to NATO's Allied Forces Baltic Approaches's naval command NAVBALTAP.

With the accession of former East Germany's states to the Federal Republic of Germany in 1990 the Volksmarine along with the whole National People's Army became part of the Bundeswehr. Since 1995 the name German Navy is used in international context, while the official name since 1956 remains Marine without any additions. As of August 2024, the strength of the navy is 15,531 men and women.^[1]

A number of naval forces have operated in different periods. See

Preußische Marine (Prussian Navy), 1701–1867
Reichsflotte (Fleet of the Realm), 1848–52
North German Federal Navy, 1867–71
Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine), 1871–1919
Reichsmarine, 1919–35
Kriegsmarine, 1935–45
German Mine Sweeping Administration, 1945–48
Volksmarine, the navy of East Germany (GDR) 1956–90
Marine, 1956–present (Bundesmarine, colloquially)

Current operations

German warships permanently participate in all four NATO Maritime Groups. The German Navy is also engaged in operations against international terrorism such as Operation Enduring Freedom and NATO Operation Active Endeavour.

Presently the largest operation the German Navy is participating in is UNIFIL off the coast of Lebanon. The German contribution to this operation is two frigates, four fast attack craft, and two auxiliary vessels. The naval component of UNIFIL has been under German command.^[3]

The navy operates a number of development and testing installations as part of an inter-service and international network. Among these is the Centre of Excellence for Operations in Confined and Shallow Waters (COE CSW), an affiliated centre of Allied Command Transformation. The COE CSW was established in April 2007 and officially accredited by NATO on 26 May 2009.^[4] It is co-located with the staff of the German Flotilla 1 in Kiel whose Commander is double-hatted as Director, COE CSW.

Equipment

Ships and submarines

In total, there are about 65 commissioned ships in the German Navy, including; 11 frigates, 5 corvettes, 2 minesweepers, 10 minehunters, 6 submarines, 11 replenishment ships and 20 miscellaneous auxiliary vessels. The displacement of the navy is 220,000 tonnes.

Ships of the German Navy include:

4 Baden-Württemberg-class frigates F125
3 Sachsen-class frigates F124
4 Brandenburg-class frigates F123
5 K130 Braunschweig class corvettes (5 additional units in production, planned commissioning from 2025)^[5]
6 Type 212 submarines and additional 212 CD class submarines^[6]

In addition, the German Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy are in cooperation in the "Ark Project". This agreement made the Ark Project responsible for the strategic sealift of German armed forces where the full-time charter of three roll-on-roll-off cargo and troop ships are ready for deployments. In addition, these ships are also kept available for the use of the other European NATO countries. The three vessels have a combined displacement of 60,000 tonnes.^[7]^[8] Including these ships, the total ships' displacement available to the Deutsche Marine is 280,000 tonnes.

Procurement of joint support ships (either two JSS800 for an amphibious group of 800 soldiers, or three smaller JSS400), was planned during the 1995–2010 period but the programme appears now to have been abandoned, not having been mentioned in two recent defence reviews. The larger ships would have been tasked for strategic troop transport and amphibious operations, and were to displace 27,000 to 30,000 tons for 800 soldiers.^[9]

Aircraft

The naval air arm of the German Navy is called the Marinefliegerkommando. The Marinefliegerkommando operates 56 aircraft, in May 2021 it was announced that the German Navy intended to replace the P-3C aircraft with Boeing P-8 Poseidon MPA aircraft through a FMS agreement from 2025 onwards.^[10]

Weapons

Other equipment

Vehicles of the German Navy

Model	Origin	Type	Quantity	Notes
Mobile cranes
Grove GMK 4080-3	United States	Mobile crane	5 (7 additional for the Joint Support Service)	5 used by the German Navy, 7 to be used by the Joint Support Service.^[11] Specifications: 70 tons lifting capacity boom length is 51 meters
Merlo Roto 50.35	Germany	Telescopic handler	—	—

Structure

The German Navy is commanded by the Inspector of the Navy (Inspekteur der Marine) supported by the Navy Command (Marinekommando) in Rostock.

Formations

Navy Command (Marinekommando^[de]), Rostock
- Einsatzflottille 1 (HQ Kiel)
  - 1st Corvette Squadron (1. Korvettengeschwader), Warnemünde
  - 1st Submarine Squadron (1. Ubootgeschwader^[de]), Eckernförde
  - Submarine Training Centre (Ausbildungszentrum Unterseeboote), Eckernförde
  - 3rd Minesweeping Squadron (3. Minensuchgeschwader), Kiel
  - Sea Battalion, Eckernförde
  - Kommando Spezialkräfte Marine, Eckernförde
  - Naval Base Command Kiel (Marinestützpunktkommando Kiel)
  - Naval Base Command Eckernförde
  - Naval Base Command Warnemünde
- Einsatzflottille 2, Wilhelmshaven
  - HQ 2nd Flotilla
  - 2nd Frigate Squadron (2. Fregattengeschwader), Wilhelmshaven
  - 4th Frigate Squadron (4. Fregattengeschwader), Wilhelmshaven
  - Auxiliary Squadron (Trossgeschwader), Wilhelmshaven
  - Naval Base Command Wilhelmshaven
- Naval Aviation Command (Marinefliegerkommando^[de]), Nordholz
  - Naval Air Wing 3 (Marinefliegergeschwader 3), Nordholz
  - Naval Air Wing 5 (Marinefliegergeschwader 5), Nordholz
- Naval Support Command (Marineunterstützungskommando^[de] – MUKdo)
- Naval Medical Institute (Schiffahrtsmedizinisches Institut^[de]), Kiel
- Naval Academy (Marineschule Mürwik^[de]), Flensburg
- Naval Petty Officer School (Marineunteroffiziersschule^[de]), Plön
- Naval Engineering School (Marinetechnikschule^[de]), Parow, near Stralsund
- Naval Operations School (Marineoperationsschule^[de]), Bremerhaven
- Naval Damage Control Training Centre (Ausbildungszentrum für Schiffssicherung^[de]), Neustadt in Holstein

Ranks

Officers

NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1
German Navy^[12] v t e
German Navy^[12] v t e			Admiral		Vizeadmiral		Konteradmiral		Flottillenadmiral		Kapitän zur See		Fregattenkapitän		Korvettenkapitän		Stabskapitänleutnant	Kapitänleutnant	Oberleutnant zur See			Leutnant zur See

Petty officers and enlisted seamen

NATO code	OR-9	OR-8	OR-7	OR-6		OR-5		OR-4				OR-3		OR-2	OR-1
German Navy^[12] v t e															No insignia
German Navy^[12] v t e	Oberstabsbootsmann	Stabsbootsmann	Hauptbootsmann	Oberbootsmann	Bootsmann	Obermaat	Maat	Stabskorporal	Korporal	Oberstabsgefreiter	Stabsgefreiter	Hauptgefreiter	Obergefreiter	Gefreiter	Matrose
German Navy (Officer designate) v t e
German Navy (Officer designate) v t e			Oberfähnrich zur See	Fähnrich zur See		Seekadett

Radio and communication stations

DHO38
DHJ58
DHJ59

Future developments

Planned investments

As of August 2025, Germany plans to invest €350 billion in new equipment through 2041. These investments come on top of the special fund of €100 billion. This includes the following estimated budgets:^[13]

German Navy:
- Naval vessels and other equipment: €36.6 billion
German Army:
- Communications equipment: €15.9 billion
- Vehicles and accessories: €20.8 billion
- Combat vehicles: €52.5 billion
- Munitions: €70.3 billion
- Field and logistics material: €20.9 billion
German Air Force:
- Aircraft and missiles: €34.2 billion
- Satellite communications: €13.3 billion

Equipment on order

Three Type 424 Electronic reconnaissance ships ordered in July 2023 to replace the Type 423 Oste. It will be delivered from 2029 to 2031. The cost of this project is €3.26 billion, and the financing comes from the regular defence budget.^[14]
The German government has announced the selection in January 2020 and contracting in June 2020 of Damen Group as the main contractor, together with partners Blohm+Voss and Thales, for supplying four Multi-Purpose Combat Ship F126 frigates to the German Navy with an additional Order for 2 ships in 2024. The ships will be built at Blohm + Voss shipyard in Hamburg and at other shipyard locations of the North German Lürssen Group.^[15]
Two further-developed Type 212 submarines with significant advancements (Known as Type 212CD) will be designed & procured with the Royal Norwegian Navy in the next decade.^[16] The contract was signed in July 2021,^[17] where according to the official statement the "NDMA and its German counterparts in the Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) will acquire six new submarines – four Norwegian (in June 2024 increased to six) and two German – as well as Naval Strike Missiles for use on both German and Norwegian naval vessels." According to ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems the delivery of the two boats for the German Navy is scheduled for 2032 and 2034.^[18]
Five additional Braunschweig-class corvettes are ordered and will be delivered 2020–2023.^[19]^{[needs update]}
NH90 NFH 'Sea Tiger' Helicopters ordered to replace Lynx in ASW/AsuW role, originally ordered by the German Army as NH90 TTH variant with deliveries planned from 2025 onwards. Up to 31 could be ordered.
Integration of the German Navy Marines (Seebataillon) in the Netherlands Marine Corps and use of the Amphibious ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy such as the joint support ship HNLMS Karel Doorman (A833) as of 2016.
In June 2020 it was announced that German Navy and Royal Netherlands Navy will cooperate and plan the future replacement of both the Sachsen-class frigate and De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate from 2030 onwards.^[20]

References

^ ^a ^b "Wie gross ist die Bundeswehr?". Retrieved 22 October 2024.
^ "Marine". www.bundeswehr.de (in German). 21 October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
^ "Bilanz und Ausblick". Archived from the original on 1 January 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
^ Deutsche Marine – press release: Neues Nato-Expertenzentrum an der Kieler Förde nimmt Fahrt auf; Faermann, 2009
^ "Germany's K130 Batch 2 Corvette Program 2 Years Behind Schedule". 17 October 2022.
^ "Record order: thyssenkrupp Marine Systems granted order expansion in the 212CD program". Thyssenkrupp Marine systems. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
^ "The ships chartered for the ARK Project". Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
^ "The ARK project". Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
^ "Inspekteur der Marine : Zielvorstellung Marine 2025+" (PDF). Geopowers.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 June 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
^ Seidenstuecker, Hans. "Germany backs 1.4 bln euro purchase of Boeing maritime patrol aircraft – source". Reuters. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
^ "Bundeswehr erhält neuen mobilen Schwerlastkran". CPM (in German). 9 August 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
^ ^a ^b "Dienstgradabzeichen Marine". bundeswehr.de (in German). Bundeswehr. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
^ Malyasov, Dylan (19 August 2025). "Germany unveils $409B defense procurement plan". defence-blog.com. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
^ "Chinook-Helikopter, Flottendienstboote, luftlandefähige Fahrzeuge für die Truppe". www.bmvg.de (in German). 13 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
^ damen.com – DAMEN AND BLOHM + VOSS SELECTED FOR CONSTRUCTION GERMAN MKS180 FRIGATES (14 January 2020).
^ "Ceremony for the major submarine contracts between Norway and Germany". thyssenkrupp. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
^ "Norway and Germany sign agreements for submarine and missile acquisition". Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
^ "NTKMS To Build Six Type 212CD Submarines For German And Norwegian Navies". navalnews. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
^ "Koalition will Boote kaufen: Bundeswehr soll fünf neue Korvetten bekommen". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. 14 October 2016. ISSN 0174-4909. Archived from the original on 15 October 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
^ Vavasseur, Xavier (18 December 2020). "Germany and the Netherlands Joining Forces for F-124 / LCF Frigate Replacement". Naval News. Retrieved 14 March 2021.

External links

[bundeswehr-1] "Wie gross ist die Bundeswehr?". Retrieved 22 October 2024.

[2] "Marine". www.bundeswehr.de (in German). 21 October 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.

[3] "Bilanz und Ausblick". Archived from the original on 1 January 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2009.

[4] Deutsche Marine – press release: Neues Nato-Expertenzentrum an der Kieler Förde nimmt Fahrt auf; Faermann, 2009

[5] "Germany's K130 Batch 2 Corvette Program 2 Years Behind Schedule". 17 October 2022.

[6] "Record order: thyssenkrupp Marine Systems granted order expansion in the 212CD program". Thyssenkrupp Marine systems. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2025.

[7] "The ships chartered for the ARK Project". Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2010.

[8] "The ARK project". Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 27 October 2010.

[9] "Inspekteur der Marine : Zielvorstellung Marine 2025+" (PDF). Geopowers.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 June 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2016.

[10] Seidenstuecker, Hans. "Germany backs 1.4 bln euro purchase of Boeing maritime patrol aircraft – source". Reuters. Retrieved 25 June 2021.

[11] "Bundeswehr erhält neuen mobilen Schwerlastkran". CPM (in German). 9 August 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.

[Germany_Navy-12] "Dienstgradabzeichen Marine". bundeswehr.de (in German). Bundeswehr. Retrieved 30 May 2021.

[13] Malyasov, Dylan (19 August 2025). "Germany unveils $409B defense procurement plan". defence-blog.com. Retrieved 20 August 2025.

[14] "Chinook-Helikopter, Flottendienstboote, luftlandefähige Fahrzeuge für die Truppe". www.bmvg.de (in German). 13 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.

[15] .com – DAMEN AND BLOHM + VOSS SELECTED FOR CONSTRUCTION GERMAN MKS180 FRIGATES (14 January 2020).

[16] "Ceremony for the major submarine contracts between Norway and Germany". thyssenkrupp. Retrieved 30 August 2021.

[17] "Norway and Germany sign agreements for submarine and missile acquisition". Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency. Retrieved 10 July 2021.

[18] "NTKMS To Build Six Type 212CD Submarines For German And Norwegian Navies". navalnews. Retrieved 10 July 2021.

[19] "Koalition will Boote kaufen: Bundeswehr soll fünf neue Korvetten bekommen". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. 14 October 2016. ISSN 0174-4909. Archived from the original on 15 October 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.

[20] Vavasseur, Xavier (18 December 2020). "Germany and the Netherlands Joining Forces for F-124 / LCF Frigate Replacement". Naval News. Retrieved 14 March 2021.

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v t e Bundeswehr
Army Navy Air Force Cyber and Information Domain Service — Bundeswehr Support Area
Leadership	Inspector General Inspector of the Army Inspector of the Navy Inspector of the Air Force
Equipment	Army equipment Navy equipment Air Force equipment
Ranks and insignia	Command and obedience in the Bundeswehr Bundeswehr rank insignia
Germany and weapons of mass destruction

v t e German Navies
Pre–unification German states	Brandenburg Navy (16th century – 1701) Prussian Navy (1701–1867) Schleswig–Holstein Navy (1848–1851) Austro–Hungarian Navy (1786–1918)
German Confederation	Reichsflotte (1848–1852) Bundesflotte (Planned)
North German Confederation	Norddeutsche Bundesmarine (1867–1871)
German Empire	Kaiserliche Marine (1871–1918)
Weimar Republic	Reichsmarine (1919–1935)
Nazi Germany	Kriegsmarine (1935–45)
Allied–occupied Germany	German Mine Sweeping Administration (1945–1947) German Mine Sweeping Formation Cuxhaven (1948–1951) Labor Service Unit (B) (1951–1957) Seegrenzschutz (1951–1956, West Germany) Main Administration Sea Police (1950–1956, East Germany)
Post WWII German Navy	Deutsche Marine (1956–today) Volksmarine (1956–1990, East Germany)

v t e Navies in Europe
Sovereign states	Albania Azerbaijan Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Iceland Ireland Italy Kazakhstan Latvia Lithuania Malta Montenegro Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovenia Spain Sweden Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom
States with limited recognition	Abkhazia Northern Cyprus
Historical states	Austria-Hungary Brandenburg Byzantine Empire Catalonia Czechoslovakia East Germany Genoa German Confederation German Empire Hospitaller Malta Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Yugoslavia Nazi Germany North German Confederation Ottoman Empire Papal States Prussia Roman Empire Sardinia Scotland Soviet Union Two Sicilies Venice Weimar Germany Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

v t e NATO Allied Maritime Command
Structure	Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2
NATO maritime forces	Albanian Naval Force Belgian Navy Bulgarian Navy Royal Canadian Navy Croatian Navy Royal Danish Navy Estonian Navy Finnish Navy French Navy German Navy Hellenic Navy Icelandic Coast Guard Italian Navy Latvian Naval Forces Lithuanian Naval Force Montenegrin Navy Royal Netherlands Navy Royal Norwegian Navy Polish Navy Portuguese Navy Romanian Naval Forces Slovenian Navy Spanish Navy Swedish Navy Turkish Naval Forces Royal Navy Royal Marines United States Navy United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard

History

Current operations