Einsatzflottille 2

Einsatzflottille 2 (EinsFltl 2 or EF 2) is one of the three brigade-level units of the German Navy, in addition to Einsatzflottille 1 and the Naval Air Command. It is based in Wilhelmshaven, Lower Saxony, and is subordinated to Navy Command, based in Rostock.

History
Einsatzflottille 2 was set up on June 27, 2006, as part of a major reorganization of the fleet when the previous Zerstörerflotille (Destroyer Flotilla), which was founded on April 1, 1958, as Kommando der Zerstörer (Destroyer Command), was renamed. It mostly consists of the largest units of the fleet, namely frigates and supply ships, together with some smaller support vessels.

Subordinate units
The staff of Einsatzflottille 2 are based at Marinestützpunkt Heppenser Groden, Wilhelmshaven. All of the frigates and some of the supply ships are stationed in Wilhelmshaven, others have their home ports on the Baltic Sea.

2nd Frigate Squadron
The first ''2. Fregattengeschwader was created on October 1, 1988, succeeding the 2nd Escort Squadron (2. Geleitgeschwader'') at the same base. At first, the Bremen-class frigates F211 Köln and F212 Karlsruhe were transferred to the squadron with the 2nd batch, consisting of frigates F213 Augsburg and F214 Lübeck, following in 1989 and 1990 respectively.

The current unit was created on January 9, 2006, when the 1st (Sachsen-class frigates) and the 6th squadrons (Brandenburg-class frigates) were combined to form the new 2nd Frigate Squadron.
 * Sachsen-class (124) frigates
 * F219 Sachsen
 * F220 Hamburg
 * F221 Hessen
 * Brandenburg-class (123) frigates
 * F215 Brandenburg
 * F216 Schleswig-Holstein
 * F217 Bayern
 * F218 Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

4th Frigate Squadron
Created on 16th November 1981, the ''4. Fregattengeschwader initially consisted of four Bremen-class'' frigates. On January 9, 2006, it was merged with the "old" 2nd Frigate Squadron to unite all eight Bremen-class frigates. They are being replaced by four Baden-Württemberg-class frigates intended for overseas peacekeeping missions and special forces support.


 * Baden-Württemberg-class (125) frigates
 * F222 Baden-Württemberg
 * F223 Nordrhein-Westfalen
 * F224 Sachsen-Anhalt
 * Bremen-class (122) frigates
 * F214 Lübeck (to be decommissioned in 2022)

Auxiliaries Squadron
The Troßgeschwader followed the 1st and 2nd Supply Squadrons (1./2. Versorgungsgeschwader) which were transferred to the 2nd Flotilla (then: Destroyer Flotilla) in 1997 after the Supply Flotilla (Versorgungsflotille) was dissolved. The first squadron used to be stationed at Kiel Naval Base, the second in Cuxhaven, supporting navy units in the Baltic and North Seas with liquid and solid consumables. Today, eight ships remain stationed in both Kiel and Wilhelmshaven. Some are manned by navy members and others by civilian crews.


 * Berlin-class (702) replenishment-ship
 * A1411 Berlin in Wilhelmshaven
 * A1412 Frankfurt am Main in Wilhelmshaven
 * A1413 Bonn in Wilhelmshaven
 * Rhön-class (704) tanker
 * A1443 Rhön in Wilhelmshaven
 * A1442 Spessart in Kiel
 * Fehmarn-class (720) tug
 * A1458 Fehmarn in Kiel
 * Wangerooge-class (722) tug
 * A1451 Wangerooge in Wilhelmshaven
 * A1452 Spiekeroog in Kiel

Naval Base Command Wilhelmshaven
The command is responsible for operations and logistics at the Heppenser Groden naval base and directly subordinate to 2nd Flotilla.

Service
The ships of Einsatzflottille 2 are often deployed on overseas assignments, usually as part of the German contribution to the standing NATO squadrons Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG 1) and Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2), and participate in NATO operations in this context. The commander of Einsatzflottille 2 often serves as the leader of national or multinational naval squadrons and is supported in this task by his staff.