New Delhi: For the first time, Indian and German warships will hold joint manouvres off Kochi in the Arabian Sea from April 5.

Three German warships, F220 Hamburg and F211 Koln, both missile frigates and A1411 Berlin, a Naval support vessel, will cross swords with four Indian warships to carry out sea domination and anti-submarine warfare manouvres.

The German Naval flotilla, the first ever to visit Indian waters is being led by Rear Admiral F Bollow, who is the Flag Officer Commanding 2nd German flottia.

Though Indian warships have conducted war games with Nuclear carriers and submarines from France and US as well with warships from UK, Russia and Singapore, this would be their first interaction with German ships.

The Germans in recent years have made rapid strides in building up a modern Naval flotilla, comprising missile destroyers and frigates as well as advanced submarines.

The German warships which are on their way for deployment in the gulf would first hold passage exercises with a Navy ship of the Ist training squadron from April 9 to 10 and then ships of the Western Naval fleet.
Source : PTI