German warships to transit Taiwan Strait despite China's warnings.

According to information published by Der Spiegel on September 7, 2024, two German warships are set to pass through the Taiwan Strait.
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Baden-Württemberg-class frigate Baden-Württemberg. (Picture source: Dvids)

The frigate Baden-Württemberg and the supply ship Frankfurt am Main, currently deployed in the Indo-Pacific region, are scheduled to transit the sensitive waterway in mid-September, on a route between South Korea and Jakarta.

Despite warnings from China, which claims Taiwan and seeks to regulate military transits through the strait, Germany has decided not to notify Beijing of its passage—similar to the approach taken by the United States and other Western nations. This decision signals that Berlin views the transit as routine and within its rights under international law.

The German warships are participating in a series of international exercises in the Indo-Pacific, including monitoring compliance with sanctions against North Korea.

While the operation carries symbolic weight, marking a rare German naval presence in these waters, it also reflects a shift in policy. In 2021, a similar deployment notably avoided the Taiwan Strait, drawing criticism for appearing to yield to Beijing’s pressure.

Frigate Baden-Württemberg

The vessel displaces 7,200 tons and measures 149.52 meters in length, with a beam of 18.80 meters and a draft of 5.40 meters. Its installed power totals 43,000 shp, provided by a CODLAG propulsion system, which includes a 20 MW gas turbine, two 4.7 MW electric motors, four 2.9 MW diesel generators, and three gearboxes for propulsion through two shafts driving controllable pitch propellers.

Additionally, it is equipped with a 1 MW bow thruster. The ship can reach speeds of 20 knots using diesel engines and up to 26 knots at maximum capacity. It has a range of 4,000 nautical miles.

In terms of small craft, the vessel carries submarine ROVs and four 11-meter RHIBs capable of speeds exceeding 40 knots. The ship also has space for two containers measuring 6.1 meters. It typically operates with a crew of 190, with a standard crew size of 110.

The ship's sensors include a Hensoldt TRS-4D AESA radar, navigation radars, IFF systems, and a diver/swimmer detection sonar. It also features laser warning systems, a KORA-18 combined radar and communications ESM from GEDIS, two MSP 600 video and infrared trackers, and a SIMONE 360-degree infrared monitoring system.

Electronic warfare systems include a TKWA/MASS decoy system and ECM. The armament comprises a 127 mm Otobreda naval gun with Vulcano guided ammunition for land attack, two 27 mm MLG 27 autocannons, five Hitrole-NT remote-controlled machine guns, and two manually controlled 12.7 mm heavy machine guns. For close-in defense, the ship has two RAM Block II launchers, each with 21 missiles. It also carries eight RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, with plans to replace them with the Naval Strike Missile in the future.