On Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 12 noon, the replenishment ship “Berlin” under the command of Frigate Captain Martin Kiesewetter will leave its home port of Wilhelmshaven to participate in the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG 1).
“Over the past few months, we have completed an extremely challenging operational training program – operational readiness and combat capability were paramount,” says Commander Kiesewetter. “This has profoundly shaped the crew and forged us into a cohesive fighting unit. We are now ideally equipped to conduct joint exercises and maneuvers with our task force in the coming weeks and months. This, too, will be new and challenging for many crew members, but knowing the men and women of our ship, I know we will approach it with great commitment, discipline, and pride,” he continues, looking ahead to the challenges to come.
The German replenishment ship will undertake various tasks within the NATO task force. The “Berlin” will participate in operational maneuvers and ensure the resupply of other combat units. For example, it will refuel other units at sea. Up to three warships will sail side by side, with just 50 meters between them. In port, the crew will also represent NATO and Germany as “ambassadors in blue.”
In addition to the regular crew, the ship will also carry soldiers from Naval Air Wing 5 in Nordholz and medical personnel. The replenishment ship “Berlin” will depart Wilhelmshaven with approximately 200 sailors and will be part of SNMG 1 until the end of January 2027.
