On Monday, January 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., the minehunter “Fulda” will leave its home port of Kiel. The vessel, belonging to the 3rd Minesweeping Squadron, will assume the German contribution to the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG 1) for the next few months.
The 40-member crew of the “Fulda,” under the command of Commander Michael Voigt, will be deployed to the Baltic Sea during the planned deployment period. The ship and crew will participate in exercises including Dynamic Move, Open Spirit, and Baltic Operations (BALTOPS).
Commander Voigt summarizes the plans for the coming months as follows: “Long periods of absence, but also the task and function of a NATO unit in the context of current security policy are things that are new for some of the crew members.” He sees the biggest challenges in the weather conditions of the first quarter.
“Fulda” is expected to be underway for NATO until mid-June.