Oste-class fleet service ship

The Alster in the Arsenal Kiel

Oste class (internal class 423 also ) is the name for the fleet service boats Alster, Oker and Oste the German Navy. The fleet service ships is Enlightenment ships were equipped for this purpose with a variety of sensors.

The ships of the Oste class were designed during the Cold War as reconnaissance units. Meanwhile, the area of ​​responsibility for early warning and communication tasks has been expanded in collaboration with other units of German and international armed forces.

The three ships are subject to the Flotilla 1 in Kiel and are stationed in Eckernförde. They are the successors of the set with the same name and ID predecessor ships of the class 422 that they have replaced the late 1980s.

Equipment

Exact data on the on-board devices are not known. According to website of the Federal Ministry of Defence, it should be either electromagnetic, hydroacoustic and electro-optical devices in strategic crisis areas to obtain information. For the operation of the early warning, communication and education facilities up to 40 specialists may be shipped in from all branches of the armed forces depends on job. The ships of the Oste class can both operate on their own as well as in action and communication network with other units and departments of German and international armed forces.

Units

The Alster (A 50) was acquired in 1989 by the Navy as a successor of the same name and the same marked predecessor ship. Since then, the Alster river named after the ship led inter alia missions in the Mediterranean by (the Balkans and Lebanon).

The type of ship Oste (A 52 ) replaced in 1988 from their eponymous predecessor ship. It is named after the river Oste in Lower Saxony.

The Oker ( A 53 ) is set also in 1988 as a successor to the predecessor of the same ship, a converted former site catcher in service. It is named after the river Oker in Lower Saxony. As of January 1999, the Oker was used to support the Kosovo Verification Mission, and then the Operation Allied Force in the Adriatic.