Current Title:	Volksmarine der NVA
Title in English:	East German Navy
Abbreviation:	VM

Narrative Summary:
An experimental Naval Flight was first formed in September 1959 with Air Force assistance. In September 1962 the Naval Flight was formally transferred to Naval control. In the following year additional helicopters allowed the unit to expand to a full Squadron. In 1976 re-equipment and re-organisation allowed the Squadron to further expand to a Helicopter Wing with two squadrons. In 1985 some jet aircraft from the Air Force's JBG-77 were transferred to Navy control to circumvent arms limitation treaty restrictions, allowing the formation of a new Air Wing. In October 1990 the aviation element of the East German Navy was absorbed into the Marineflieger, but only the Mil-8s remained in service for any time, being formally retired in 1994.

Key Dates:
1 March 1956		Naval branch of the NVA established
September 1959		First helicopter Kette (Flight) formed with NVA help
November 1960		Naval branch of NVA renamed Volksmarine
15 September 1962		Naval Kette formally transfered to Volksmarine control
1 March 1963		Naval Kette becomes the Naval Squadron
1 December 1976		Naval Squadron becomes a Wing with two Squadrons
12 August 1985		New Naval fast-jet unit formed with Air Force aircraft
3 October 1990		Re-unification with East East Germany

Current Status:
Upon the re-unification of Germany in October 1990, the East Germany Navy was disbanded. Aviation units were transferred to the Marineflieger.

Future Plans:
Not applicable.

National Insignia:
Current --- Historical

Aircraft Serial Numbering System(s):

The Navy followed the standard East German military aircraft serialling system of a three-digit individual number which was NOT based on the airframe construction number, eg: Mi-14PL 640.

Aircraft Designation System(s):
None - Manufacturers designations used.

Current Aircraft Inventory:
Not applicable.

All-Time Aircraft Used List:
Alphabetical Order --- Chronological Order

Aircraft NOT Used:
False reports of aircraft on order or in service

Main Headquarters:
Not known.

Current Organisational Structure:
Naval aviation was divided into two Wings - one fast-jet wing and one helicopter wing.

Current Order of Battle:
Not applicable.

Historical Orders of Battle:
List of Historical Orders of Battle:
Order of Battle October 1990

All-Time Flying Units List:
To be added.

Current Air Bases:
Not applicable.

All-Time Air Bases Used List:
The main air bases used were Laage (near Rostock) and Parow.
Military Air Bases Listing - to be added.

Books:

East German Military Aviation Bibliography - to be added.

Magazines:

World Air Power Journal No.3 p.148

Websites:

Volksmarine

DDR-Luftwaffe.de

DDR-Luftwaffe.de

Military Airfields Directory

Airliners.net