NATO WARSHIP A516

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Engine failure in English Channel

The 'Donau' with a crew of 65 on board suffered an engine failure on April 1, 2020, during a NATO exercise in the English Channel north of Le Havre. The tug 'Wangerooge' was deployed from Wilhelmshaven on April 2 at 8.30 p.m. to take the ship in tow to the base in Wilhelmshaven for repairs. The tender was part of the Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG 1) since January.

Commander of tender medevaced

The commander of the "Donau" fell seriously ill in the morning of Sep 14, 2016. The ship was east pf Bornholm at that time. A Seaking helicopter of the Spanish Navy was dispatched from the fregate "Mendez Nunez" which was takein part in the manoever Northern Coast too. The helicopter medevaced him to the university hospital in Greifswald. The tender could continue the participation in the manoever as a deputy was on board who took over the command.

Tender disabled off Kiel

During a mine clearance operation in the Kiel Bight the main engine of the "Donau", the flagship of the NATO force SNMCMG1, failed on Jan 26, 2016. The SFK-tug "Kitzeberg" was called at midday and took the ship in tow at Kiel l/h. Jointly with the tug "Lütje Hörn" of the German Navy the casualty was pulled into the Scheer Port in Kiel where technicians started to investigate the engine control system. It was found out that it had created a false alarm so that the engine could be started again. The ship rejoined the other forces around 6 p.m. German report with photo: http://www.kn-online.de/News/Aktuelle-Nachrichten-Kiel/Nachrichten-aus-Kiel/Kieler-Bucht-Nato-Flaggschiff-abgeschleppt