German Navy Warships Take Much Longer Route To Avoid Red Sea Amid Houthi Attacks

Germany’s navy decided to change the route of the frigate Baden-Wurttemburg, which had previously been deployed to the Red Sea.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has ordered the vessel and its supply ship, Frankfurt-am-Main, to avoid the Red Sea, extending their route by thousands of miles around the Cape of Good Hope.

The Baden-Wurttemburg and the fleet auxiliary Frankfurt-am-Main are currently returning to Germany after an extensive deployment that included stops at prominent locations around the globe, such as the Panama Canal, San Diego, Incheon, the Taiwan Strait, and Goa, India.

During a recent visit to India, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with the crew to express his gratitude and best wishes for their journey home.

The decision to avoid the Red Sea is influenced by both the Houthi threat and the frigate’s defensive limitations. Baden-Wurttemburg has two RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile launchers, but it lacks long-range air defense capabilities.

As a result, Germany was unable to acquire a joint escort to assure safe passage through the dangerous waters, which are known for Houthi anti-ship missiles and explosive-laden boats, reports say.

The Baden-Wurttemburg class is similar to the U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship, designed for low-intensity combat but with developmental issues.

The frigate was first delivered overweight and listing to the right, leading to its rejection by Germany’s defense procurement agency before starting on its first mission in 2023, four years after commissioning.

Since last fall, Houthi rebels have increased attacks on international shipping, using Iranian ballistic and cruise missiles, along with drones, to threaten Western vessels.

Although U.S. forces tried to reduce the threat by striking land-based missile launch facilities, the Houthis, supported by Russian intelligence and Iranian weapons, continue to attack unguarded merchant ships in the Red Sea.

The terrorist group recently announced an attack on the Greek bulker Motaro, which was their first missile strike attempt in 18 days.

Reference: Washington Times

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