Having concluded her final deployment with UNIFIL, German Navy’s fast attack craft Hyäne (Hyena) is expected to return to her homeport in Warnemünde, Germany, April 18.
The vessel has spent nine months away from home.
Hyäne’s crew will be welcomed with a ceremony during which they will be awarded with a ‘Medal Parade’, a credit to the efforts they put into their deployment.
During their UNIFIL deployment, sailors aboard the fast attack craft were responsible for educating Lebanon’s naval authorities and keeping the sea lanes around the country safe.
Hyäne is one of four Gepard-class fast attack vessels still in service with the German Navy. The German Navy has been gradually decommissioning the initial ten vessels from the class, first of which entered service in 1982.
This year, the remaining four vessels Hermelin’, ‘Zobel’, ‘Frettchen’ and ‘Hyäne’ are also scheduled to be decommissioned.
The other three vessels recently conducted their final Squadex and are now preparing for the Kiel Week which is known as one of the largest sailing events in the world.
After the Kiel Week ends, the boats are scheduled to be decommissioned during a ceremony set for November 16, 2016.