Like last year, the approximately 210 crew members will be part of the NATO Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF Very High Readiness Joint Task Force). Their operational area is the northern flank. These include the North and Baltic Seas and the North Atlantic.
“This time the ship will serve as the flagship of the new German commander of the NATO association for six months,” said the commander, frigate captain Hendrik Wißler. ” All in all, in the context of ‘deterrence and reassurance’ we can expect various large-scale NATO maneuvers alternating with presence operations.”
Flotilla Admiral Thorsten Marx will lead a maritime portion of the NATO intervention force. With VJTF Very High Readiness Joint Task Force NATO can react quickly and flexibly to security policy developments. She is the spearhead of the NATO Response Force ( NRFNATO Response Force). The management responsibility changes annually between the alliance partners. Germany took over this task in 2023.