FGS Erfurt concludes Atalanta, begins UNIFIL deployment

German Navy corvette FGS Erfurt has concluded her participation in the EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta and thereafter headed for Lebanon and the UNIFIL mandate.

The soldiers aboard FGS Erfurt have been contributing to the safety of sea routes at the Horn of Africa since February 2016.

Frigate Captain Thomas Klitzsch, Commander FGS Erfurt, transferred the command over German units in Op Atalanta to Rear Admiral Jan C. Kaack.

Aboard the frigate FGS Bayern, Kaack will also be commanding all other ships deployed to Operation Atalanta as he took over the role of the Force Commander from the Italian Navy Rear Admiral Stefano Barbieri on March 23.

Frigate Captain Klitzsch said: “We are glad to have successfully completed our Operation Atalanta deployment and are looking forward to challenges that await us in UNIFIL.”

The Erfurt is expected to return to her homebase in Warnemünde, Germany in June after she completes her deployment to UNIFIL.