Frigate ‘Brandenburg’ departs for UN mission in the Mediterranean

The German frigate ‘Brandenburg’ has set off from its home port of Wilhelmshaven on a UN mission in the eastern Mediterranean. The warship with around 216 servicemen and women on board departed as planned, according to a spokesman for the naval base in Wilhelmshaven. Families, friends and comrades bid farewell to the crew at the pier and numerous onlookers turned up.

The ‘Brandenburg’ was already involved in the Unifil mission in the eastern Mediterranean off the coast of Lebanon last year. As part of the mission, the navy is helping to secure sea borders and prevent weapons smuggling in the sea area off Lebanon. The soldiers also supported the training of the Lebanese navy.

Replacement for another frigate

The commander of the ‘Brandenburg’, frigate captain Robert Meyer-Brenkhof, said in a statement from the navy that the security situation in the Middle East made this mission particularly explosive. ‘I am confident about the mission and am certain that the ship and its well-trained and motivated crew will complete it successfully.’

The deployment of the ‘Brandenburg’ is expected to last around six months. In addition to the regular crew, soldiers from Eckernförde and a team of dentists are also on board. The warship will replace the frigate ‘Baden-Württemberg’, which will then return to Wilhelmshaven, as the navy also announced.