The modernization of the vehicle fleet of the Navy's Technical Service Center, the WTD 71, is progressing. On Friday, June 30th, the mayor of the city of Eckernförde, Iris Ploog, christened the first of two new "measuring boats sea trials coast" in Berne on the Weser with the name "Kalkgrund".
„Kalkgrund“ und ihr Schwesterschiff werden Mehrzweckboote der Klasse 745 „Breitgrund“ (Y866) und „Mittelgrund“ (Y864) und des Sperrwaffenversuchsbootes „Wilhelm Pullwer“ (A1406), Klasse 741, ersetzen. Bei den neuen Messbooten handelt es sich um zwei baugleiche Einheiten, in denen die Fähigkeiten der Vorgänger eins zu eins implementiert werden. Wenn auch nach zivilem Standard konstruiert, entsprechen sie den besonderen Anforderungen wehrtechnischer Erprobungen.
Her profile includes securing and recovering torpedoes as part of tests, accompanying submarines during shallow water tests, using autonomous underwater vehicles and diving assignments as part of defense technical examinations of diving devices and equipment. They are designed in such a way that the equipment can be adapted to the task at hand. This should enable a targeted configuration of the units.
The basic data of the new "multi-purpose workhorses" of the military technical service center 71
| Length | 51.70 m | |
| Width | 10.2m | |
| draft | 3.65m | |
| drive | 2 x 1580KW | Diesel-electric Exhaust aftertreatment according to IMO Tier 3 |
| 2 x Schottel | ||
| speed | 13 knots | |
| occupancy | Max. 23 people | |
| particularities | 2 container spaces | |
| Winch area on the foredeck | ||
| 1 crane 1 |
Information about the engines:
- Diesel-electric drive
- The main diesel generators have a maximum output of 1665KW at a constant speed of 900rpm
- The ship has two identical main diesel generators
- In the port, without a power connection, as an anchor or in an emergency, an emergency and port diesel, also a diesel generator set, with an output of 360KW is available.
According to a BAAINBw spokesman, the costs amount to around €95 million for both boats.
The new units show that the procurement of naval ships does not necessarily have to develop into a 'never-ending story'. On July 22, 2021, the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) commissioned the Fassmer shipyard to manufacture and deliver two sea trial coast units. Not quite a year later, on June 22, 2022, the keel was laid in Klaipeda, Lithuania. The "Western Baltija Shipbuilding" produced the hulls (buoyant hulls) of the two boats. After they were relocated to Berne on the Weser, equipping the units began in October 2022 (“lime ground”) and in December 2022 (hull number 2). The second boat is to be handed over next November.
In April 2020, the Federal Ministry of Defense put the cost of the replacement procurement at 46 million euros (source: Bundestagsdrucksache 19/18481 from April 3, 2020). On the Bundeswehr website, on the other hand, it says: "The identical boats cost a total of 95 million euros" (source:Keel laying for two new SVK boats of the WTD 71 (bundeswehr.de)).
The replacement of the predecessors is overdue. "Breitgrund" and "Mittelgrund" are 35, the "Wilhelm Pullwer" 58 years of service under their belt.
Hans Uwe Mergener