'Big gaps' persist in German military personnel equipment
Hans-Peter Bartels
The annual report by Hans-Peter Bartels  parliamentary ombudsman for the armed forces  follows a spate of media reports about shortfalls in everything from tanks to body armor that have raised concerns about whether Germany will be ready to take command of a NATO rapid response force next year.
 German parliamentary armed forces ombudsman Hans-Peter Bartels  whose job is to hear soldiers’ complaints  presents his annual report on the state of the German military in Berlin  Germany  February 20  2018 . REUTERS/ Axel Schmidt
None of Germany’s six submarines are currently combat-ready and there have been days when no single A400M military transport was available for military use   Bartels  added.
 Bartels  said the German navy had only nine frigates available  compared to 15 that had been planned  and they were more frequently in maintenance because of their increasing age.
The annual report by [TGT]follows a spate of media reports about shortfalls in everything from tanks to body armor that have raised concerns about whether Germany will be ready to take command of a NATO rapid response force next year.
 [TGT]presents [TGT] annual report on the state of the German military in Berlin  Germany  February 20  2018 . REUTERS/ Axel Schmidt
None of Germany’s six submarines are currently combat-ready and there have been days when no single A400M military transport was available for military use   Bartels  added.
 Bartels  said the German navy had only nine frigates available  compared to 15 that had been planned  and they were more frequently in maintenance because of their increasing age.