German Naval Ships in Ghana
As part of an annual exercise to “improve the training standards of its units”, three German naval ships, have docked at the Tema harborur for a three-day training programme which is also aimed at firming-up German-Ghana relations.
Expressing his gratitude to Ghana for accommodating the German naval team, Rear Admiral Mannhardt, Commandant of the German Naval Academy in Murwik, was of the view that this would go a long way to improve German-Ghana relations. Among other things, the 280 cadets on the German Task Group, as they are called, will try to acquaint themselves with Ghana and learn a thing or two about its culture.
From 10 January to 18 June 2010 the German naval training team, would be visiting eleven different countries in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
In a press statement, Marco von Kolln, commander of the German Task Group 501.01 stated that beyond participation in bi-national exercises with the South African Navy in operation GOOD HOPE IV, the German naval training team would also engage in NATO operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR and EXTRICATE OWL 2010 which is aimed at strengthening international security and relationships.
The press statement further said that as a result of an intensifying globalizing world, this exercise is also aimed at strengthening Germany’s friendship and cooperation with all the countries the naval team would be visiting.
In a very short but well organised event, Marco von Kolln, took journalists around the huge war ship to show them the war gadgets they had on the ships and how operations are run.
The three ships, F 215 Brandenburg, F 208 Niedersachsen and A 1412 Frankfurt AM Main are one of the top war ships in the world.
BRANDENBURG, for instance has a 76 mm gun and two 27 mm guns. It also has four 12.7 mm heavy machine guns, four anti-ship missiles, two GDC RAM anti-air missile launchers. It also has four tubes for MK 46 lightweight ASW torpedoes and two shipborne helicopters on board.
The A 1412 FRANKFURT AM MAIN is a Combat Support Ship and has a naval surgical hospital (called MERZ) on board.
The third ship NIEDERSACHSEN has eight anti-ship missiles HARPOON, four tubes for MK 46 lightweight ASW torpedoes and two shipborne helicopters.
The Ghana Navy is among the finest in the world in terms of personnel and skill. Last year, the German Navy visited Ghana for a similar training programme.
By George Nyavor