Inka von Puttkamer: First woman at the top of the minuchy boat boats!

frigate captain Inka von Puttkamer recently took over the leadership of the 3rd mining search squadron in Kiel. She now commands a total of twelve boats and around 600 people. Her naval carar began over 20 years ago, in 2001, when military careers were opened to women. In 2013 she became one of the first commands of the Navy after she previously worked as deputy commander of the 3rd min search squadron.

Inka von Puttkamer comes from Wilhelmshaven, Lower Saxony. Her father was also with the navy and her husband is currently performing his tasks as a frigate captain at sea. She is a mother of three children and receives support in childcare from both the grandparents and the Bundeswehr. Your working hours are flexible by doing tasks both in the office and from home. So she is the first woman to lead a combat association of the German Navy.

takeover of the command

The official handover of the 3rd min search squadron took place on March 27, 2024 at the naval base Kiel-Wik. Flottille admiral Helge Sascha Rackwitz handed over the command of frigate captain Carsten Schlüter to frigate captain Inka von Puttkamer. Schlüter ended his 18-month commander, which was shaped by a change of strategy in the Baltic Sea, the NATO expansion with Finland and Sweden as well as internal changes such as the concept of "living on board" and the introduction of the "four-day week".

In her new position, von Puttkamer emphasizes the importance of the Baltic Sea operations as well as the state and alliance defense. The 3rd min search squadron comprises ten mini hunting boats of the Frankenthal class and two mining boat boats in the Ensdorf class. The mine hunting boat capabilities include cable-drained underwater drones, mining divers of the seabattal and over water drones of the seal class. The main objective of your work is the guarantee of secure passage for ships and boats.

On January 11, 2025, one of the boats of the 3rd minuche squadron will take over for a NATO use, which underlines the challenges of seafaring and the current political situation with which the navy is confronted.