The Type 123 Brandenburg Class frigates were ordered in June 1989 to replace the Hamburg Class.

The frigates are primarily tasked with anti-submarine operations, but they also contribute to anti-air defence, the tactical command of group forces and surface operations. The ships form part of the Wilhelmshaven-based 6th frigate squadron.

The Frankenthal Class (Type 332) minesweepers have been built for the German Navy by Abeking & Rasmussen and Lurssenwerft shipyards. They were built between 1992 and 1998 and are part of the German Navy's minesweeper Squadron 1, with headquarters in Olpenitz.

The ships share a common hull design with the Hameln Class Type 343 minesweepers, built by the same prime contractor, an industrial consortium led by STN Systemtechnik Nord. The ships are constructed of non-magnetic steel.

The U212 submarine is capable of long-distance submerged passage to the area of operation. The German Navy has ordered four of the submarines.

The Type 212 is being constructed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH (HDW) of Kiel and Thyssen Nordseewerke GmbH (TNSW) of Enden. HDW is responsible for the bow sections and TNSW for the stern section. HDW is assembling the first and third vessels, TNSW the second and fourth. U31, the first of class, was launched in March 2002 and commissioned in October 2005.

The second, U32, was launched in December 2003 and was also commissioned in October 2005. The third, U33, was launched in September 2004 and commissioned in June 2006. U34 was launched in July 2005 and commissioned in May 2007.