German minesweeper squadron visit ends, photos from open ship event

Rob Powell Navy

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THE GERMAN minesweeper squadron that visited London over the weekend has now departed the capital.

The visiting contingent included four Ensdorf-class Minesweeper vessels, four Seehund remotely controlled drone ships, the Elbe-class tender Mosel (pictured above) and Ammersee, a coastal tanker.

The departure of the fleet started last night and finished early this morning.

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On Saturday, the German navy welcomed members of the public on board with the chance to look around the tender MOSEL and the minesweeper SIEGBURG.

Crew members were happy to discuss their work on board the ships and answer questions. Many of them had been to Westminster on Friday to see landmarks like the Houses of Parliament, and walked down to maritime Greenwich in the evening, although one crew member said the highlight of his trip had been seeing the London Underground.

Photos from on board MOSEL and SIEGBURG

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The fleet created a busy scene in West India Dock

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Four Seehund drones and a minesweeper as seen from the aft helicopter deck of Elbe-class MOSEL.

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MOSEL's aft helicopter deck.

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Crew member on MOSEL.

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View of SIEGBURG from the ship's prow.

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SIEGBURG - all of the Ensforf class minesweepers present had cartoon style emblems.

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Bridge of the minesweeper SIEGBURG

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A rib is craned out of the water and on to SIEGBURG

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Many thanks to crew members for an excellent chance to look around these vessels.

 

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