German Navy spy ship deploys with officer cadets

The German Navy SIGINT/ELINT and reconnaissance fleet service ship FGS Oker is scheduled to embark on a several-month deployment on January 17.

This is the first time that the purpose built intelligence-gathering ship will have officer candidates from the Naval Academy Mürwik on board.

The aim will be to complete an onboard internship as part of the officers’ nautical and maritime education.

Some 80 officer cadets will be divided in several groups to embark the Oker for three weeks at a time.

This deployment will see the ship visit ports of Great Britain, Ireland and Norway. Oker is expected to return to her homeport of Eckernförde in March.

The FGS Oker (A 53) is third and final vessel in the Oste-class of purpose-built signals and electronic intelligence ships.

With a range of 5,000 nautical miles, the 83-meter-long ships are suited for longer reconnaissance missions. They were commissioned between 1988 and 1989 and have a complement of 36.

The other two units in the class are the A 50 Alster and A 52 Oste.