Germany to the front? OOOps!

[+Gepard 11,323]

I think a lot of guys all around the world are asking themself, why the hell the Germans dont fight side by side with Americans and French against ISIL or other terror groups. In the eyes of the world Germany is  a economical superpower with a good military. The abilities of german soldiers are said to be excellent. Germany is seen as a giant with a very big stick in the hand. But to be honest. The truth is different. Completly different. Today Germany is a dwarf with a exrem litte stick, but with a growing ego of a giant. But it is military impotent.

The readiness status is a catastrophy.

Luftwaffe: Germany has 31 Tiger helicopters. Of them are 10 operational. Of 33 NH-90 helicopters 8 are operational.  109 Eurofighter are in the Luftwaffe, but only 42 can be used. We have 89 Tornados, but only 38 are ready. Of 56 Transall, transport planes 24 are operational. 13 Patriot Batteries, 7 are combat ready.

The Bundesmarine, German Navy, has 21 Sea King. 3 are operational. 22 Sea Lynx  3 are partly operationally 1 is full op. 83 CH-53 are available, but only 16 are ready. 4 submarines of Type 212, 1 is ready. Corvette K130, 5 units, but only 2 operational. Fregattes 11, but only 7 operational.

Heer, the german Army, IFV Marder 406 available, 280 combat ready. Transport vehicle Boxer 180 available, 80 ready.

 

Source:

http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/bundeswehr-schwere-maengel-bei-ausruestung-a-993530.html

 

Its a shame. At my military time in East Germany we had to had an all time, round the clock combat readyness level of 80%. This was much to high, but the figures of Germanys readyness level today are ridiculous.

 

If someone is still asking why Germany is not part of a fighting campaign, the answer is simple. Germany cant take part. There is nothing left. Even our support to the kurdish Peshmerga fighters is rather a scrap metal disposal, then a give away of potent military equipment.

Edited September 24, 2014 by Gepard

[+Dave 2,322]

Wow that is a terrible readiness state. 

[+Gepard 11,323]

The newest joke: a german fregate is sent to Anti Pirate mission Atalanta, without helicopter.

What is a somali pirate saying in bad english?

 

"I dont Sea Lynx"

[+JonathanRL 974]

Hey, at least you are not the guys who intercept Russian escorted bombers with Gripens who do not have missiles on the wingtip...

[Stratos 3,192]

Interesting news Gepard, thanks for sharing.

 

Hey, at least you are not the guys who intercept Russian escorted bombers with Gripens who do not have missiles on the wingtip...

 

What?

[JediMaster 451]

It's a sad state when a country won't fund its military to be capable of basic operations. Better a smaller one that can work than a large one that can't, as it might cost around the same but the smaller one can actually get some things DONE.

[hrc 156]

First of all, be lucky that your country is not fighting other countries wars. Second, if Germany is to be threatened by war, militry hardware would be brought into state of readiness in rapid time. I'm sure that German military has elaborated and efficient mobilisation plans.

[Capitaine Vengeur 263]

Speak in lower voice! Putin could listen...

[+Coupi 4,398]

For its members what are the NATO rules about the minima readiness level?

 

I hope Germany can improve this situation!

Edited September 24, 2014 by Coupi

[Peugeot205 2,745]

Well, today, readiness state in current european countries is really poor in most of them.

 

In France , although right now,  almost all the capabilities in the military work "more or less ok" , if you take a look to the situation in 2004 for example and you compare it with today's situation you can apreciate an relatively important regression in means and budget. 

 

And then you go to the UK...... An you start to cry, no carriers, no Anti Radiation Missiles , no anti shipping missiles , decreasing budget , decreasing units, and just 20 years ago the UK was the third or fourth military power in the world.

 

An what can I say about southern europe coutries , like Italy, but especially Greece and Spain which a few years ago had  relatively good military capabilities now have an almost 0 readiness.

 

And when you read Germany's situation you don't really know what to say. 

 

What's the NATO? If they have rules about budget and readiness... Why every country does whatever they want? I don't understand anything. And the world is as dangerous as it always was. 

Edited September 24, 2014 by FRPignon

[Snailman 517]

Everything in Europe is in a very bad state. But nevertheless, we all have to race to please the masters.   Shaking hand at Russia  , at Iran, at China, at terror groups....  mouth-karate. With what. what for??!

 

Hungarian Defence Forces.

Airforce (1989)

60+ Mig-21 15 Mig-23 24 Su-22M3 (32 Mig-29 in 1994) +trainers, transports

(2014)

12 Gripen +2 trainer  (No smart armament, no Amraam)

 

Army (1989)

about 100 thousand people

200+ self propelled artillery, 500+ tanks, 1600+ IFV, tactical missiles (SCUD)

River flotilla, engineering (bridge) regiments, Border Guard

SA-3, SA-5, SA-6 (and SA-16 MANPADS)

62 Mi-24 (about) 40 Mi-8/17

(2014)

about 25000 people (20000+ of which is not combat personnel)

about 30 towed artillery, 10 tanks, 80 wheeled APC.

Mistral "air defence"

4 Mi-8

[+Typhoid 231]

want another statistic that will make you cry?

 

The largest military force in the world is the one that we decommissioned.

[Murphy'S 15]

two words

 

cutting costs

[Snailman 517]

two words

 

cutting costs

 

Maybe, but more likely a deliberate disarmament of lesser powers and make them vulnerable to racketeering and manipulation.

 

want another statistic that will make you cry?

 

The largest military force in the world is the one that we decommissioned.

 

Sorry but who is the "we" )) ?  Well, i'm interested about other statistics of course, it's not just our misery

[+Typhoid 231]

Maybe, but more likely a deliberate disarmament of lesser powers and make them vulnerable to racketeering and manipulation.

 

 

Sorry but who is the "we" )) ?  Well, i'm interested about other statistics of course, it's not just our misery

 

We would be not just the US, but NATO overall.  When you count it all up, we've all decommissioned more than is presently in service. 

That is admittedly a bit of an exageration, but not by much. 

[Nesher 628]

WOW, what a terrible situation.. it's time for the German government to wake up and smell the roses

the world is changing fast this past few years.. you have to be ready with a strong army, good intelligence and able to fight in low intensity war environment as well as open battlefields

hope things will get better, a country like Germany needs to be at the top of the game!

thanks for the info

[+Gepard 11,323]

The problem is not the money. The problem is a oversized bureaucracy which is closely linked to the industry and is feeding monopolies. EADS can do what it want, delays of years in delivery of planes and helicopters, quality problems, not reaching of performance of weapons systems ... 

 

My old plattoon leader had a fine proverb for such situations: "Man kann gar nicht soviel fressen, wie man kotzen möchte!", "You can't eat as much as you want to puke."

Edited September 26, 2014 by Gepard

[Snailman 517]

I would say it is not bureaucracy ... it is the corruption of lobby-democracy autocracy... 

 

The military leadership (collaborating with the political caste) gives orders for the most expensive (and usually low quality/useless) equipment, then they distribute the "overprice" among themselves  - then profit goes to the "club" who own the politics. Later (usually after elections...) the whole stuff is labelled obsolete - referring to it's low quality/uselessness - and the process restarts again.

Edited September 27, 2014 by Snailman

[+Dave 2,322]

http://www.stripes.com/news/europe/germany-unable-to-meet-nato-readiness-target-1.305586