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Tender Klasse 404 ("Elbe")
The six tenders of the navy have been built for support of the boat-squadrons. Tenders "Elbe", "Rhein", "Main", and "Donau" were subordinated the S-Boat-squadrons. They serve to supply the boats with fuel, water, ammunition, spare parts, ans food. They are equipped with a waste-management system and a sewage reproscessing system which can also be used for the boats. The sick-bay is suited to take care of lighter woundings. With additionally embarked medical doctors also heavier woundings can be treated. The flying deck is suited for the start and landing of helicopters. To support the crews of the boats in repairs a Systemunterstützungsgruppe (SUG) [system support group] can be embarked. Embarkation of a squadron staff is also possible.
Technical Data
| Shipyards | Multiple |
| Units built | 6 |
| From/to | 1992 - 1994 |
| In Commission | 199 - heute |
| Displacement | 3170 t |
| Length | 100,70 m |
| Beam | 15,40 m |
| Draught | 3,72 m |
| Propulsion | 1 x Deutz WMW SBV 12M 628 DM each 3335 HP |
| Shafts/Propellers | 1 - 1 |
| Speed | 15 kts |
| Complement | 68 + 30 SUG eller 12 Staff |
| ARmament | 2 x mob. Stations for Fliegerfaust Stinger (retrofitted) |
| 2 x 27 mm Marine-Leichtgeschütz | |
| 2 x SMG 12,7 mm | |
| Containers | 25 Each at 20" |
Tender "Rhein" in a norwegian Fjord - Oicture: Arkives Förderverein
Tender "Elbe" and "S75-Zobel" in Sonderburg - Picture: Rudi Hansen
Tender "Mosel" in Sonderburg Harbour - Picture: Rudi Hansen
Besonderheiten
"Elbe" (A 511) - built at Vulkan-Werft, Bremen, ID: 28.01.93, 7. SGschw, thereafter 1. K-Geschw and now Unterstützungsgeschwader (Support-Squadron), Kiel.
"Rhein" (A 513) - built at Flensburger Schiffbaugesellschaft, ID 22.09.93, 3. SGschw, ab 1996 at 3. MSGschw, thereafter Unterstützungsgeschwader (Support-Squadron), Kiel.
"Main" (A 515) - built at Kröger-Werft, Rendsburg, ID: 23.06.94, 5. SGschw, from 16.12.2002 at 2. SGschw, after reconstruction from 01.05.2005 at U-Flotilla
"Donau" (A 516) - built at, Bauwerft Lürssen-Werft, Vegesack, ID: 12.11.94, 2. SGschw, from 01.05.2005 at 7. Sgschw, handed over to 1. KGschw, thereafter Unterstützungsgeschwader (Support-Squadron), Kiel.
Tenders "Mosel" (A 512) and "Werra" (A 514) were built for the MS-Flotilla (5. MSGschw). They also belong to Unterstützungsgeschwader (Support-Squadron), Kiel.
The tenders can transport up to 700 cbm fuel, 240 cbm freshwater, 160 t amunition and 27 t provivisons to support the boats. They have awailable a readiness-boat which at a length of 7,5 m can transport up to 1,3 ts supplies or 12 personnel at a speed of 36 kts. On thge aft deck helicopters upo to the size of NH 90 Sea Lion can land.
International Deployments of the S-Boats-Tenders
Tender "Donau" participated as a supporting unit for the s-boats S64 " Bussard", S62 "Falke" from 2. SGeschw and S71 "Gepard", S 80 "Hyäne" as well as S72 "Puma" in Operation Enduring Freedom at the Horn of Afrika in 1992.
Also tender "Main" participated as Maritime Logistics Base in the operation area of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2002.
Tender "Elbe" was envolved with the 1. German Deployment contingent of Task Force UNIFIL off Libanon in 2006.
Tender "Rhein" sailed six month as flagship of SNMCMG 2 in the Mediterranean in 2008. In the years 2009 and 2012 she was part of the Maritime Task Force UNIFIL, and in 2014 she acted again as flagship of SNMCMG 2.