National ABC deployment concept - 4. -

4th special NBC defense reaction train of the Bundeswehr (Sonthofen)

The Bundeswehr would only deploy its entire NBC defense force (NBC AbwTrp) in the event of a major state emergency. Today this is divided into the following units and associations:

- NBC Defense Regiment 750 (nominal strength 875 men) in Bruchsal

- NBC Defense Battalion 7 (1.042 men) in Höxter

- Light NBC defense company 110 (185 men) in Sonthofen

- Light NBC defense company 120 (178 men) in Sonthofen

- Airborne NBC defense platoon (30 men) in Schwarzenborn

- ABC platoon of the 8th squadron of the Air Force object protection regiment (approx. 45 men) in Schortens

The NBC defense force is z. Currently equipped with 114 Fuchs armored vehicles, including 37 upgraded tanks. In May 2009 the Federal Office for Defense Technology and Procurement (BWB) awarded the arms company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) the order to produce 25 all-terrain wheeled Mungo vehicles in the new "AC Spür" variant. The crew will consist of three men: Commander, Driver and tracer. The vehicle can be transported by air. The prototype is to begin testing next year. The Spürmungo is to be used in light NBC defense companies. A variant of the armored all-protection transport vehicle Duro 3 P Yak (6 x 6) is to be launched in 2012 as a biological reconnaissance system (B-AufklSys) for the preliminary identification of B-warfare agents in real time. A prototype from the manufacturer Rheinmetall was tested in 2008. In addition, the Bundeswehr has at least 17 warning systems of the Biological Warfare Agent type as part of the fight against terrorism (Operation ENDURING FREEDOM) Aerosol Warning System (BWAAW) and 2 systems Biological Aerosol Warning System (BAWS) procured The Bundeswehr also owns the mobile decontamination systems HEP 90 (main detoxification, disinfection, disinfection area) and TEP 90 (detoxification, disinfection and disinfection area for troops). The original plan stipulated that up to 90 soldiers or 90 tanks could be decontaminated per hour with a mobile TEP 8, but this performance requirement later had to be halved by the armaments industry. The Federal Office for Defense Technology and Procurement ordered a total of 73 TEP 90 systems, which will be delivered between 2008 and 2010. In addition, the Bundeswehr develops z. Currently a small, field-based decon system DSSM-L for the Special Forces Command (KSK).

While Federal Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble likes to point out the need for military support in the event of an attack by NBC terrorists in order to emphasize his political demand for the Bundeswehr to be deployed inside, this ministerial request is rejected by experts. Should the Bundeswehr receive an appropriate order to operate after being alerted, the troops would first have to be ready to march. Only after six hours would they drive up to the barracks gate in a column. Then the soldiers would have to drive with their heavy equipment to the disposition area near the deployment area, which would take several hours at a marching speed of no more than 80 km / h, especially since the ABC troops are now only present in five federal states (Bavaria, Baden -Wuerttemberg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony). Having arrived at their destination, the overtired troops would finally have to make their operational readiness ready by setting up their troop detoxification area, etc., which in turn would take several hours, so that the ABC troops could not intervene until the day after an ABC attack at the earliest. Since the troops would be completely overtired by then, a physically strenuous assignment in NBC protective clothing would initially not be an option.

The ABC and Self-Protection School (ABC / SeS) in the Jägerkaserne, Sonthofen, is responsible for the NBC training of soldiers. The school staff of 380 are currently led by the "General of the NBC Defense Force", Colonel Wolfgang Klos. In addition, work is being carried out here on the further development of the Bundeswehr's NBC concepts its 55 employees (26 officers, 6 NCOs, 6 crew ranks and 17 civilians). Since April 1, 2005, Lieutenant Colonel Kohl has been in command of the agency. The further development group includes the special NBC defense reaction train (SpezABCAbwReakZg or SR-Zug) and the two NBC investigation centers (NBC-U) of the Bundeswehr.

The special NBC defense reaction train was set up on January 1, 2005 and has been operational since 2007. It consists of 34 soldiers, including 6 officers, 20 NCOs and 8 crew ranks. It is unclear how many of the soldiers completed a science degree at a (Bundeswehr) university. It is divided into a command team, a documentation team, an ABC measurement team, an atomic, biological and chemical group, each consisting of a sampling team and a reconnaissance team, and a repair team.

In order to be able to move freely in the area, quads are available. In addition, the SR train is equipped with extensive technology for the detection of ABC materials (Sampling and Identification of Biological, Chemical and Radiological Agents - SIBCRA).

According to official information, the SR train covers a wide range of tasks:

“The special NBC defense response train is constantly and quickly available, can be used nationally and internationally, civilly and militarily, can be used independently and dismounted, can be quickly deployed in air transport and a group of experts for special tasks in NBC reconnaissance. The deployment of the train is intended to be self-sufficient as first responders on site or to support existing NBC defense forces or to supplement the NBC investigation center. "(23)

While a deployment of the entire NBC troop to fight NBC terrorists inside is illusory in view of the time required for a troop deployment, such an intervention of the small special NBC defense response train would be quite possible due to its high mobility. However, the low staffing level also places narrow limits on its operational capacities.

Address:

ABC and self-protection school

Hunter barracks

Mühlenweg

87527 Sonthofen

Tel: 08321 278-0

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Sources:

(23) Army Office - NBC and Self-Protection School: Presentation of the own office, o. O., March 2, 2009,
Online: http://www.deutschesheer.de/

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