The frigate “Baden-Württemberg” returns to its home port of Wilhelmshaven after 540 days away.
The frigate departed on October 20, 2023 to take part in the mandated foreign mission UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) off the coast of Lebanon. This was followed by participation in the Indo-Pacific Deployment (IPD). Stops included New York for Fleet Week, Hawaii for the multinational maneuver RIMPAC (rim pf the Pacific) and various stays in Southeast Asia before returning to the Mediterranean for UNIFIL after a stop in Cape Town.
Under the command of frigate captain Bogislav-Jesko von Puttkamer, the crew has been providing maritime surveillance and training support to the Lebanese Navy as part of the UNIFIL mission off the Lebanese coast since December 2024. The crew had previously taken over the “Baden-Württemberg” in Singapore and completed the IPD with stops in Malaysia, India, South Africa and most recently Rota in Spain.
Unique historic event for the navy
“After an absence of more than six months, we are delighted to return to Wilhelmshaven,” says Commander Frigate Captain von Puttkamer. “With our participation in Indo-Pacific Deployment 2024 and our involvement in the maritime part of UNIFIL, our deployment was very diverse and challenging due to the situation in Lebanon.” After several crew changes and a circumnavigation of the globe, the frigate “Baden-Württemberg” is returning to its home port after a year and a half. “This is a unique and historic event for the navy and we are proud to be part of it.”
The frigate has covered a total of 82,131 nautical miles, which corresponds to 152,106 km and thus more than three circumnavigations of the globe. The “Baden-Württemberg” is currently returning with 154 men and women, including embarked personnel from the shipboard company from Eckernförde and an on-board dental team.
