After having participated in maneuvers with ships belonging to NATO’s Standing Maritime Group One (SNMG1), the logistics support vessel Berlin of the German Navy visited Greenland for the first time, reinforcing the Teutonic presence in the strategic area known as the GIUK gap and at the same time sending a message of support to Denmark amid discussions on strengthening the defense partnership between both nations. Specifically, the ship arrived at the city of Nuuk, the capital of the island, the same setting chosen by senior Danish and German defense officials to hold the aforementioned meetings.
Delving into some details, it can be mentioned that the Berlin was involved, during its journey to Nuuk, in a Replenishment at Sea (RAS) maneuver together with the frigate Hamburg (F220). According to the official communication issued by the German Navy, the first positioned itself about 50 meters from the second, later extending its hoses to fill the frigate’s tank under the supervision of the crews of both ships on their respective decks. Once this maneuver was completed, the Hamburg departed to rejoin the aforementioned SNMG1.
For its part, the crew of the Berlin also took advantage of the voyage to train in shooting exercises with its machine guns intended for combat against small vessels, in addition to rescue maneuvers for people at sea. On the other hand, the German personnel trained in how to respond to emergency helicopter landings on board the ship and also in simulations of hull breaches with the consequent inflow of water into the vessel. After its visit to Greenland, the ship’s next destination will be Canadian waters, where it will join the Nanook-Tuugaalik exercises.
Recalling what was mentioned earlier, it is publicly known that the Berlin departed from the Wilhelmshaven Naval Base last August 3, making its way through the GIUK gap, consisting of the waters separating the United Kingdom and Iceland and Iceland from Greenland. Being one of the most important areas for monitoring maritime traffic in the region, the presence of NATO ships is frequent and the passage of a ship of this type allows ensuring that these remain operational for a longer period of time.
In this regard, Frigate Captain Karsten Uwe Schlüter, captain of the Berlin, stated: “As a supply ship, we offer a service that nearby units can take advantage of. Our mission is to keep combat ships at sea as long as possible, whether they are German or from other allied countries (…) By supplying German and allied units, we have also enabled other warships to remain in a maritime area whose security is crucial to keep open the sea lanes between North America and Europe.”
Further highlighting the importance of these areas, the German Navy indicated that this is one of the main routes to carry out the transport of large numbers of troops and supplies from North America to Europe in case of potential conflicts, especially directed at Russia; a capability that could not be covered if one relied solely on air assets. Moreover, for Moscow it is a key route through which to deploy its own naval assets into the North Atlantic, which it frequently assigns to its submarines.
*Image credits: German Navy
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