Germany is investigating the sabotage of a corvette that could have delayed its commissioning into the German navy for a long time.

The Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported on this, citing its own investigation, which was conducted jointly with German television companies WDR and NDR.

The federal government is investigating a sabotage on board the new F 266 Emden corvette, during which unknown persons poured several dozen kilograms of metal shavings into one of the diesel engines.

The incident took place when the corvette was at the Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg. The sabotage was noticed in mid-January, shortly before the corvette was due to go to sea for sea trials for the first time.

According to experts, if the shavings had not been detected in advance, they could have caused serious damage to the ship’s propulsion system, putting it out of commission for a long time and delaying the corvette’s transfer to the German Navy.

Subversive activity in the Navy

According to Vice Admiral Kaack, Chief of the Navy, in more than one case, saboteurs caused targeted damage to German warships.

In addition to sabotage attempts, there have been cases of infiltration of naval bases from land and sea and “attempts to get closer” to uniformed soldiers returning home.

“The growing threat from Russia is more urgent in early 2025 than it was two years ago,” the Vice Admiral reported. “They are testing us, trying to disrupt our society, both at the national level and in the alliance. And perhaps they are creating the basis for further active hostilities.”

In view of the escalation, since 2022, the German Navy has been taking measures to secure the fleet. This includes increasing the readiness of mine countermeasures units and increasing the depth of divers’ working dives from 54 to 84 meters.

“Experts and intelligence agencies agree that Russia will be in a position to start a conflict with NATO from 2029,” Kaack said.

Last April, Militarnyi reported on the detention of Russian agents who were planning a series of sabotage attacks on military facilities in the interests of Russian special services.