The German army is planning to attack its own frigate with mines.
On the Baltic Sea, the German Armed Forces plan to conduct extensive explosive tests. The focus will be on a decommissioned frigate of the navy. Special measures will be taken to protect the resident bottlenose dolphins.
The German Armed Forces plan to attack the decommissioned frigate "Karlsruhe" with mines for testing purposes. The so-called "blast tests" are scheduled to take place in the restricted area of Schönhagen on the Baltic Sea from October 21 to November 4.
The process aims to provide insights into how vulnerable the ships of the navy are, a spokesperson for the Federal Office of Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support of the Armed Forces said. In a first step, it will be observed how the ship structure reacts. Furthermore, crash test dummies in the form of life-sized dolls will be on board to examine how the detonations could affect a possible crew of the ship. Subsequently, the frigate will be shot at with small arms.
Bottlenose dolphins to be dispersed
The German Armed Forces have already submitted an application for approval of the process to the Ministry of Environment in Schleswig-Holstein, which is currently reviewing the request. The ministry has expressed a positive stance on the Armed Forces' approach, stating that it welcomes the fact that the Armed Forces have coordinated with nature conservation organizations in a timely manner, Schleswig-Holstein's Minister of Environment Tobias Goldschmidt told NDR. Goldschmidt explained that, given the current security policy situation, "a combat-ready and well-trained Armed Forces" is needed.
In the past, there has been criticism of the tests and their impact on resident bottlenose dolphins in the region. The Armed Forces have developed measures with environmental organizations to minimize the impact on the animals.
Before the explosions, the dolphins will be dispersed around the test site, and a double so-called "blow screen" will ensure that the explosion noise is reduced. The hearing of bottlenose dolphins is very sensitive and could be destroyed by the loudness of the explosions. In the past, several bottlenose dolphins are believed to have been killed by mine explosions in the Baltic Sea. As a result, the Armed Forces had temporarily suspended the tests.
The ambition to conduct explosive tests on the frigate might negatively impact the local population of whales, as bottlenose dolphins are frequently found in the Baltic Sea. To minimize harm, before the tests, the dolphins will be relocated from the vicinity of the blast site, and a double "blow screen" will be utilized to decrease explosion noise levels.
