Decommissioning S71 "Gepard" December 12th 2014

On December 12th 2014 S71 "Gepard" was decommissioned at berthing M of the Naval Base Warnemünde after 32 years of service.

The Boats S71 "Gepard" and S78 "Ozelot" at Berthing M at Warnemünde - Picture: Volker Groth

The Guests of the Decommissioning-Ceremony for S71 "Gepard" - Picture: Volker Groth

Remains of the Crew of S71 "Gepard" - Picture: Volker Groth

For the decommissioning-ceremony of boat S 71 "Gepard“ six members of the board of the  Förderverein Museums-Schnellboot e.V. lead by the Chairman, FKpt a.D. Karl (Kalle) Scheuch, had arrived.  This fact was  pointed out by the Commander of the 7. SGschw, FKpt Rühmann, in his address to the crew of S71 "Gepard“ and their guests. 

FKpt Rühmann während der Ansprache - Foto: Volker Groth

FKpt Rühmann was in a position to welcome a number of guests from the navy, thereamong also former commanding officers of the boat. Self-evident that the Squadron-Commander addressed the special role of the boat within the squadron as the type-boat and within her deployments in Operation Freedom and UNIFIL. He stated that the crew will be transferred to other boats within the squadron or to units of the 1. Corvette Squadron. 

Finally he ordered the Commanding Officer: „Korvettenkapitän Münstermann decommission the boat S71 "Gepard“!"

KKpt Münstermann ordered thereupon: „Crew S71 "Gepard“ attention!“ and „Flag attendents to their stations!“ and finally: „Lower flag and pennant!“. With the corresponding signal of the boatswain's pipe flags and pennant were lowered. Then he reported to his Commander „Korvettenkapitän Münstermann, I report S71 "Gepard“ decommissioned!“  

Lowering the Flag - Picture: Volker Groth

S71 "Gepard" decommissioned alongside S78 " Ozelot" - Picture: Volker Groth