German ship Rhein (A513)

	Rhein on 2 July 2010
History
Germany
Name	Rhein
Namesake	Rhein
Builder	Bremer Vulkan
Launched	March 1993
Commissioned	1 September 1993
Homeport	Kiel
Identification	MMSI number: 211211500; Callsign: DRHL; Pennant number: A513;
Status	Active
General characteristics
Type	Elbe-class replenishment ship
Displacement	3,586 tonnes
Length	100.55 m (329 ft 11 in)
Beam	15.40 m (50 ft 6 in)
Draft	4.05 m (13 ft 3 in)
Propulsion	1 × Deutz-MWM SBV diesel engines; 2,562 kW, Bow thruster;
Speed	15 knots (28 km/h)
Range	2,600 nmi (4,800 km)
Capacity	24 standard 6.2 m containers (maximum); Supplies:; 700 m³ fuel; 60 m³ aviation (helicopter) fuel; 280 m³ fresh water; 160 tonnes ammunition; 40 tonnes supplies; Disposal:; 5 tonnes solid waste; 180 m³ waste water; 32 m³ waste oil;
Complement	40 (standard) + >38 (repair party, passengers, squadron staff)
Armament	2 × Fliegerfaust 2 surface-to-air missile stands (MANPADS); 2 × Rheinmetall Rh202 20 mm autocannon; being replaced by 2 × MLG-27 27 mm remote controlled autocannons;
Aviation facilities	Helipad

Rhein (A513) is the third ship of the Elbe-class replenishment ships of the German Navy.

Development

The Elbe-class replenishment ships are also known tenders of the German Navy. In German, this type of ship is called Versorgungsschiffe which can be translated as "supply ship" though the official translation in English is "replenishment ship".

They are intended to support German naval units away from their home ports. The ships carry fuel, provisions, ammunition and other matériel and also provide medical services. The ships are named after German rivers where German parliaments were placed.

Construction and career

Rhein was launched in March 1993 in Bremen-Vegesack, Germany. She was commissioned on 1 September 1993.^[1]

On 20 June 2018, Rhein left her home port of Kiel. The ship, which is part of the support squadron, will be the flagship of the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) and the Black Sea for the next six months.^[2]