Minehunter “Fulda” sets sail for the Mediterranean
In order to be prepared for a possible deployment in the Strait of Hormuz, Germany is sending the minehunter “Fulda” to the Mediterranean.
Kiel (d.de) – The German minehunter “Fulda” is leaving the Kiel-Wik naval base today bound for the Mediterranean. According to the Federal Ministry of Defence, the deployment is for forward positioning. The vessel is to be kept closer to the potential area of operations around the Strait of Hormuz.
Any deployment in the Strait of Hormuz itself would require a Bundestag mandate. Initially, the “Fulda” is to be integrated in a NATO mine countermeasures unit in the Mediterranean, where it will search for naval mines. There are around 40 service personnel on board, including specialised mine clearance divers. To search for mines, the crew uses such equipment as sonar systems and remotely operated underwater drones which can systematically scan larger sea areas.
