German PATRIOT detachment update from Kahramanmaras

20 JUL 2015
Three allies provide NATO support to Turkey by enhancing the Integrated Air Defence and defending crucial cities in Turkey with PATRIOT units against a possible Syrian missile threat. The German contribution named “Active Fence Turkey (AF TUR)” operates from the hills above the city of Kahramanmaras spanning its protective umbrella over this vital trade and industry hub and its 600,000 citizens.

Germany’s PATRIOT mission in Kahramanmaras is part of NATO’s Integrated Air Defense in Turkey. 260 soldiers are on rotating deployment here, approx. 150 kilometers north of the Syrian border, protecting the Turkish city and its citizens. Kahramanmaras is one of the industrial and commercial centres of the region. Ever since the outbreak of the civil war in Syria in early 2011 the government has been using its large arsenal of missiles and rockets in its fight against various armed opposing forces. This substantially increased the risk of inadvertent salvos into Turkey. Turkey therefore asked its NATO partners for assistance in protecting NATO’s southern flank. Germany, the Netherlands (Spain took over from the Netherlands in January 2015) and the USA were ready and willing to provide missile defence capabilities and with that NATO support to Turkey was born.

Since 2012 German Patriot detachments have been providing 24/7 coverage to Kahramanmaras. Currently the eighth rotation is in place with several specialists on their second or third deployment here. The self-evident importance of the task at hand and the unrelenting hospitality and gratitude of the local population ensure that the motivation to fulfill this protective mission is as high as it ever was. Well established cross-cultural social events like the regular invitation to the German soldiers to attend the Friday prayer at the third largest mosque in Turkey, the Abdulhamid-Han-Mosque, are living proof for the good standing of the German detachment.

German PATRIOT launcher outside Kahramanmaras at night. Photo courtesy Bundeswehr

Another clear sign for the strong and active bond between the German detachment and the local community was the strong participation by local dignitaries and officials at the recent change of command ceremony. Lieutenant General Fritz, Commander Bundeswehr Joint Forces Operations Command transferred the command of the German detachment from Colonel Wolfgang Rasquin to Colonel Michael Hogrebe.

“Under my command, the German PATRIOT detachment will continue to provide full missile defence coverage to Kahramanmaras,” said Colonel Hogrebe, “we are going to further strengthen the close operational ties among the troop contributing Allies and Host Nation Turkey.”

Since the beginning of NATO’s augmentation of the Turkish air defence system, the strings have come together at Headquarters Allied Air Command at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Here, at the Ballistic Missile Defence Operations Centre, Allied command and control of the assets deployed by Germany, Spain and the United States is executed on a 24/7 basis.

Source: NATO

By

L. J. De Rothschild

Senior Editor

NATO Section

News24.7WorldPress