Marineflieger
Encyclopedia
The Marineflieger is the naval air arm
of the German Navy
.
. Between the wars, naval aviation, the Seeflieger was absorbed by Goering's Luftwaffe
in 1935.
After the Second World War, it was not until West Germany
's entry into NATO in the 1950s and the establishment of the Bundesmarine, that a naval aviation force (Marineflieger) was set up.
The British were largely instrumental in creation of the Marineflieger, supplying training and aircraft. A number of Royal Navy
Fleet Air Arm
(FAA) officers operated as part of the German Navy in the process.
The first aircraft included Hawker Sea Hawk
s which were used by Marinefliegergeschwader 1 and 2 and Fairey Gannet
s. Until the new bases were ready, pilots were trained with the FAA in the UK.
Naval aviation
Naval aviation is the application of manned military air power by navies, including ships that embark fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. In contrast, maritime aviation is the operation of aircraft in a maritime role under the command of non-naval forces such as the former RAF Coastal Command or a...
of the German Navy
German Navy
The German Navy is the navy of Germany and is part of the unified Bundeswehr .The German Navy traces its roots back to the Imperial Fleet of the revolutionary era of 1848 – 52 and more directly to the Prussian Navy, which later evolved into the Northern German Federal Navy...
.
History
During the First World War, naval aviators were part of the Kaiserliche MarineKaiserliche Marine
The Imperial German Navy was the German Navy created at the time of the formation of the German Empire. It existed between 1871 and 1919, growing out of the small Prussian Navy and Norddeutsche Bundesmarine, which primarily had the mission of coastal defense. Kaiser Wilhelm II greatly expanded...
. Between the wars, naval aviation, the Seeflieger was absorbed by Goering's Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
in 1935.
After the Second World War, it was not until West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
's entry into NATO in the 1950s and the establishment of the Bundesmarine, that a naval aviation force (Marineflieger) was set up.
The British were largely instrumental in creation of the Marineflieger, supplying training and aircraft. A number of Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
(FAA) officers operated as part of the German Navy in the process.
The first aircraft included Hawker Sea Hawk
Hawker Sea Hawk
The Hawker Sea Hawk was a British single-seat jet fighter of the Fleet Air Arm , the air branch of the Royal Navy , built by Hawker Aircraft and its sister company, Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft. Although its origins stemmed from earlier Hawker piston-engined fighters, the Sea Hawk became the...
s which were used by Marinefliegergeschwader 1 and 2 and Fairey Gannet
Fairey Gannet
The Fairey Gannet was a British carrier-borne anti-submarine warfare and airborne early warning aircraft of the post-Second World War era developed for the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm by the Fairey Aviation Company...
s. Until the new bases were ready, pilots were trained with the FAA in the UK.
Aircraft inventory
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breguet Atlantic | signals intelligence | BR 1150 | 3 | to be replaced by 5 Luftwaffe Luftwaffe Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956.... Eurohawk |
|
| Dornier Do 228 Dornier Do 228 The Dornier 228 is a twin-turboprop STOL utility aircraft, manufactured by Dornier GmbH from 1981 until 1998. In 1983, Hindustan Aeronautics bought a production licence and manufactures the 228 for the Asian market sphere. Approximately 270 Do 228 were built at Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany and... |
environmental patrol | 2 | |||
| Lockheed P-3 Orion | maritime patrol | P-3C II½ CUP | 8 | former Netherlands Navy maritime patrol | |
| Westland Lynx Westland Lynx The Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants... |
anti-submarine helicopter | Sea Lynx Mk 88 | 22 | ||
| Westland Sea King Westland Sea King The Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British licence-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. The aircraft differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines , British made anti-submarine warfare systems and a... |
naval helicopter | Sea King Mk 41 | 21 |