US destroyers and international ships: highlights of the Kiel Week 2025!

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US destroyers and international naval units introduce themselves for the Kiel week 2025. Open Ship at the marine base from June 19 to 20.
US destroyers and international naval units introduce themselves for the Kiel week 2025. Open Ship at the marine base from June 19 to 20. (Symbolbild/NAG)

Kiel, Deutschland - Preparations for Kiel Week, one of the greatest maritime events in Europe, are in full swing. On June 19, 2025, the week is heralded with an impressive fleet meeting. The naval base in the WIK, where more than 30 ships are expected, opens its goals for the public as part of an "open ship" over three days. The highlights include the return of the traditional Gorch Fock, which will be available for visits on Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Navy of the United States sent three destroyers, the "Bulkeley", the "Thomas Hudner" and the "Paul Ignatius", to Kiel. The latter is one of the most modern ships of the US Navy, which is accompanied together with the leadership “Mount Whitney" by Vice Admiral Jeffrey T. Anderson. Danish frigates, a Polish frigate and British patrol boats are also expected. A total of 32 foreign units from ten nations are planned, most of them should arrive on June 20. Last year the "Open Ship" attracted 24,000 visitors.

NATO maneuvers Baltops and maritime security

An important aspect that accompanies the Kiel Week is the recently ended NATO maneuver "Baltops", which ended on June 16, 2023. 50 ships and boats and 45 aircraft took part in this exercise, which was carried out under the leadership of the US Navy for the 52nd time, with a total of around 6,000 soldiers from 19 NATO countries and Sweden. Marine inspector Jan Christian Kaack described the maneuver as great success and emphasized the need for the nautical control for military actions, which was supported by Lieutenant General Luis Lanchares, deputy commander of the Allied Joint Force Command of NATO. At the beginning of the Kiel Week, 40 ships will be in the Kiel-Wik naval base, including the "USS Mount Whitney" and the "Frigatte Bavaria", which was the flagship this year.

In addition to the impressive fleet, visitors to the Kiel Week also expect the “Camp Marine”, where insights into the equipment of the Bundeswehr are offered. Frigate captain Frank Hallmann, the new base commander, is looking forward to his first Kiel Week. On Saturday, the Gorch Fock will lead the windjammer parade, which will again be a highlight of the event.

accompanying events

The Kiel Week is framed by further events, including the Kiel International Seapower Symposium on June 19 and the Kiel Security Conference on June 20. The 136th naval naval regattas also begin on June 19, in which teams will sail in cutters over nine days. This combination of maritime competitions and international marine presence underlines the importance of the Kiel Week as a platform for maritime cooperation and security.

For further details about the Kiel Week and the planned activities, interested parties can visit the official pages: KN-Online href = "https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/schleswig-holstein/nato-Manoebaltops-garine-schiffe-zur-kieler-wocher-wochen-baltops110.html"> ndr and bundeswehr.de .

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