Marinestützpunktkommando Kiel

The Marinestützpunktkommando Kiel (Naval Base Command Kiel) is a service office of the German Navy (Deutsche Marine) based at the Kiel-Wik naval base in Kiel, Germany. It is one of the naval base commands belonging to Einsatzflottille 1, alongside Eckernförde and Warnemünde. Its primary mission is to provide logistical and operational support to the commands, units, and vessels stationed at or visiting the Kiel naval base. This includes supplying fuel, spare parts, consumables, ammunition, food, and mail to ships and boats in their home port and, as part of a global support network, to German naval vessels deployed worldwide. The command also coordinates the daily operation of the base, including the use of harbor tugs and other auxiliary vessels. The Kiel base itself has a long naval history dating back to the mid-19th century, when the Schleswig-Holstein Navy used Kiel as its main base from 1848 to 1852. After the German-Danish War, Kiel came under Austrian administration in 1864, but Prussia established a naval harbor there in 1865 and gradually moved its main base from Danzig. Kiel's importance grew with the founding of the North German Federal Navy in 1867 and its transformation into the Imperial Navy in 1871. The Reichskriegshafengesetz (Imperial Naval Harbor Act) of 1883 confirmed Kiel's status as an imperial naval harbor. After World War I, the Treaty of Versailles limited the size of the German navy (now Reichsmarine), but Kiel remained the most important base in the Baltic Sea. With the buildup of the Kriegsmarine from 1935, the naval harbor's significance increased, making it a target of air raids during World War II. In the post-war period, the harbor was used by the Royal Navy and, until 1947, by the German Mine Sweeping Administration. In 1951, the newly established Seegrenzschutz (Sea Border Guard) stationed some of its units at the Kiel-Wik base and handed the facility over to the Bundesmarine (West German Navy) in 1956. The first Marinestützpunktkommando Kiel was established on 2 May 1956 and was subordinate to the Marineabschnittskommando Ostsee. It was disbanded on 30 September 1994 and re-established on 1 October 2001. Since 2001, it was subordinate to the Marinestützpunktkommando Wilhelmshaven. Since 29 June 2006, the naval base commands on the Baltic Sea, including Kiel, have been subordinate to Einsatzflottille 1. The command is led by a Fregattenkapitän (frigate captain) since 2001; before 1994, the commander was regularly a Kapitän zur See (captain at sea). The base itself is managed by a harbor captain. The Kiel naval base is located in the Kiel-Wik district and comprises harbor facilities and shore installations, bounded by the Scheer-Mole to the north and the Tirpitz-Mole to the south. The term "Tirpitzhafen" is commonly used to refer to the entire naval base. The base has historically operated a number of auxiliary and harbor vessels, including tugs, small tankers, and supply and disposal craft. The command has also had subordinate offices and units, such as the Marinesanitätsstaffel Kiel (established 1966) and various outposts that were renamed naval bases in 1985, including Eckernförde, Neustadt in Holstein, Hamburg, and Großenbrode. The base's importance and activity have declined significantly since the dissolution of the destroyer flotilla and the relocation of fast patrol boats to Warnemünde; only two minehunting squadrons remain in Kiel.

The naval history of Kiel begins in the mid-19th century. The first naval force in German history to use Kiel as a base was the Schleswig-Holstein Navy, which used the city as its main base from 1848 to 1852, with all facilities necessary for naval operations. After the German-Danish War, Kiel came under Austrian administration in 1864, but the Prussian Navy was able to establish a naval harbor there as early as 1865. It began relocating its main base from Danzig because Kiel's position was strategically better due to the planned Kiel Canal (Nord-Ostsee-Kanal). Kiel's role as the most important German base in the Baltic Sea grew after the founding of the Navy of the North German Confederation in 1867 and its transformation into the Imperial Navy in 1871. The Reichskriegshafengesetz (Imperial Naval Harbor Act) of 1883 confirmed Kiel's status as an imperial naval harbor, which had existed since 1871. After World War I, the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles limited the size of the German naval forces, now called the Reichsmarine, but Kiel retained its role as the most important base in the Baltic Sea. With the buildup of the Kriegsmarine from 1935, the importance of the naval harbor grew, making it a significant target of air raids on Kiel during World War II. In the post-war period, the harbor was used by the Royal Navy and, until 1947, by the German Mine Sweeping Administration. In 1951, the newly established Seegrenzschutz (Sea Border Guard) stationed part of its units at the Kiel-Wik base and handed the facility over to the Bundesmarine (West German Navy) in 1956. When the Seegrenzschutz was disbanded on 1 July 1956, some of the transferred ships and boats were directly subordinated to the Marinestützpunktkommando. The later commander of the Marinestützpunktkommando, Fregattenkapitän (from 1959 Kapitän zur See) Klaus Scholtz, also came from the Seegrenzschutz. The first Marinestützpunktkommando Kiel was established on 2 May 1956 and was subordinate to the Marineabschnittskommando Ostsee. On 30 September 1994, the command was disbanded and re-established on 1 October 2001. Since 2001, it was subordinate to the Marinestützpunktkommando Wilhelmshaven. Since 29 June 2006, the naval base commands on the Baltic Sea have been subordinate to Einsatzflottille 1. During its existence, the command has had various subordinate units and outposts. The Marinesanitätsstaffel Kiel was established in 1966 and was initially subordinate to the Marinestützpunktkommando Kiel. It was later subordinated to the Admiralarzt der Marine in the Marineamt and in 1998, converted into a Marinestandortsanitätszentrum, assigned to the Marinesanitätsabschnitt Ost. Since 2001, the medical center at the Kiel naval base has belonged to the Zentraler Sanitätsdienst der Bundeswehr. Several outposts were temporarily subordinate to the Marinestützpunktkommando Kiel and were renamed naval bases on 1 July 1985: Eckernförde (1957–1994, 2001–2003), Neustadt in Holstein (1957–1994), Hamburg (1958–1962), and Großenbrode (1963–1967). With the takeover of the Seegrenzschutz, its vessels were essentially assigned to three squadrons subordinate to the Marinestützpunktkommando Kiel. They primarily had training and security tasks. Since 1964, no floating units have been subordinate to the base. The Schulgeschwader Ostsee (Baltic Training Squadron) emerged on 1 July 1956 from the 3rd Wachbootflottille of the Seegrenzschutz. It took over its six large patrol boats, now designated as training boats, and the escort ships Eider and Trave. The squadron existed until 30 September 1958. The 1st Hafenschutzgeschwader (Harbor Protection Squadron) emerged on 1 July 1956 from the 1st and 4th Wachbootflottillen of the Seegrenzschutz. It was based in Neustadt in Holstein and consisted of ten patrol boats of the Kriegsfischkutter type. Shortly after its establishment, the squadron was renamed 1. Küstenwachgeschwader (Coastal Patrol Squadron). In January 1962, the squadron took over the boats of the 3rd Küstenwachgeschwader after its own boats were decommissioned or reassigned. The base has lost considerable importance and activity because the destroyer flotilla was disbanded and the fast patrol boats were relocated to Warnemünde. Only two minehunting squadrons remain in Kiel.

• 2006

  Since 29 June, Baltic naval base commands subordinate to Einsatzflottille 1.

• 2001

  Command re-established on 1 October; subordinate to Marinestützpunktkommando Wilhelmshaven.

• 1994

  Command disbanded on 30 September.

• 1985

  Outposts renamed naval bases on 1 July.

• 1966

  Marinesanitätsstaffel Kiel established.

• 1956

  First Marinestützpunktkommando Kiel established on 2 May; Seegrenzschutz disbanded on 1 July and facility handed to Bundesmarine.

• 1951

  Seegrenzschutz stations units at Kiel-Wik base.

• 1935

  Buildup of the Kriegsmarine increases Kiel's importance.

• 1883

  Reichskriegshafengesetz confirms Kiel's status as imperial naval harbor.

• 1871

  Imperial Navy established; Kiel confirmed as imperial naval harbor.

• 1867

  Navy of the North German Confederation founded; Kiel's role grows.

• 1865

  Prussian Navy establishes a naval harbor in Kiel.

• 1848

  Schleswig-Holstein Navy uses Kiel as its main base (until 1852).

Naval base command providing logistical and operational support to German Navy units in Kiel and worldwide.

1. 1Marinestützpunktkommandos der Einsatzflottille 1bundeswehr.de
2. 2Die Geschichte der Bundeswehrbundeswehr.de
3. 3Marinestützpunktkommando Kielde.wikipedia.org
4. 4Marinestützpunktkommando Kielwikidata.org