Maltese, German boats conduct exercise

The Armed Forces of Malta's 2nd Regiment Maritime Squadron conducted an exercise last week with three visiting German Navy vessls.

The units, part of the Schnellbootflottille (fast attack squadron) based in Rostock Warnemünde, were in Malta for a five-day operational pause.

Before leaving Maltese waters, the Elbe-class Type-404 tender FGS Donau (A 516), and two Gepard-class Type 143A fast attack ships, FGS Dachs (S77) and FGS Ozelot (S78), met outside the Grand Harbour with the AFM's protector class units. AFM patrol craft P51 and P52, under the respective command of Lieutenant Russell Caruana and Captain James Grixti, performed various tactical manoeuvres at sea with the German units on April 18.

The exercises aimed to train their respective crews in various nautical and navigational areas on board, the AFM said.

Apart from the tactical manoeuvres, the units carried out other exercises at sea and concluded with a passing salute between the Maltese and German units.