The Naval Protection Force (German: Marineschutzkräfte — MSK) was a marine unit of the German Navy. It had the size of a battalion and was part of the 1st Flotilla (Einsatzflottille 1). The MSK's headquarters was in Eckernförde on the Baltic Sea. Next to the Naval Special Deployment Force (Spezialisierte Einsatzkräfte Marine, SEKM), the Naval Protection Force were considered to be a marine element within the German Navy.Naval Protection Force on www.marine.de (German)

The Naval Protection Force battalion was organized into five units: one staff and support company, three naval protection companies and one military intelligence platoon.

History It was established on April 1, 2005, but traces its roots back to 1958, when the so-called Sea battalion (Seebataillon) was activated.https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/de-navy-msk-history.htm

On 1 April 2014, the Naval Protection Force became an integral part of the re-formed Seebataillon (Naval Force Protection Battalion).Das „Multitool“ der Marine - Seebataillon in Eckernförde aufgestellt

Structure The Naval Protection Force (Marineschutzkräfte) consisted out of around 500 soldiers and structured into a staff company, three combat companies plus a HUMINT platoon. Every company, led by a lieutenant (Kapitänleutnant, OF-2).

Marineschutzkräfte (HQ)Marineschutzkräfte on www.marine.de (german) Staff and Support Company (S1, S2, S3, S4, S6) 1st Company 1st platoon 2nd platoon 3rd platoon 4th platoon 2nd Company 1st platoon 2nd platoon 3rd platoon 4th platoon 3rd Company 1st platoon 2nd platoon 3rd platoon 4th platoon HUMINT platoon

Deployments Despite their short time of existence (8 years), the German Naval Protection Forces participated in a range of national and international Deployments.

International Deployments

Afghanistan: 8th contingent of ISAF (one Infantry unit) Bosnia and Herzegovina: Deployment within EUFOR Djibouti: Deployment within Operation Enduring Freedom Horn of Africa: Deployment within Operation Atalanta Kosovo: Deployment within KFOR Lebanon: Mobile Protection Elements (MPE) for the protection of UNIFIL vessels Cyprus: Harbour Protection Element (HPE) in Limassol to secure the German operated UNIFIL base

National Deployments

Protection of US-American facilities as part of the Host Nation Support in 2003 Protection of US-American ships during the Kiel Week Protection of the Ammunition Supply Ship Westerwald during the mission- and training passage to South Africa and back

Equipment

Personal Weapons

Heckler & Koch G36, an Assault rifle Heckler & Koch MG4, a Light machine gun Rheinmetall MG3, a General-purpose machine gun M3M, a Heavy machine gun Heckler & Koch MP7, a Submachine gun MP2, a Submachine gun Heckler & Koch MP5, a Submachine gun P8, a Pistol G22, a Sniper rifle G82, a Sniper rifle Heckler & Koch G3, a Battle rifle G28, a Designated marksman rifle

Anti-Tank- / Anti-Structure Weapons

Panzerfaust 3, an Anti-tank Rocket launcher Raytheon Fliegerfaust 2, a Man-portable air-defense systems MILAN, an Anti-tank missile

Vehicles NameTypePicture Dingo 1/2 Infantry mobility vehicle MAN trucks Truck Mercedes-Benz Axor 1829 A 4x4 Truck Unimog trucks Truck Mercedes-Benz 250 GD "Wolf" Utility car

See also German commando frogmen

References

External links

Official information on marine de: Naval Protection Force (German)

Other information: www.marine-portraits.de: Portrait of Naval Protection Force (MSK) (German)