Shoulder badges and cap ins of the Marine

[Gordon Craig]

Gentlemen,

Today, while doing some more cataloging, I came across a picture of the crew of a schnellboot lined up on the deck of their boot while departing on a ten week exercise. The caption for the picture was:

"Marinesoldaten des Flugkoerper-Schnellboots "Dachs" der Bundesmarine stehen am Dienstag, 7. Maerz 2006, im Marinestuetzpunkt Warnemuende bereit zum Ablegen zur Auslandsausbildung. Das 2. Schnellbootgeschwader der Marine verliess seinen Heimathafen am Dienstag zu einer zehnwoechigen Reise ins Mittelmeer. Es ist die letzte Reise des Geschwaders, das im Rahmen der Umstrukturierung der Bundeswehr im Juni aufgeloest wird. (AP Photo/Thomas Haentzschel) ---Marine soldiers of missile speedboat "Dachs" by the German marine stand in line prior to casting off from the naval base in Warnemuende, northeastern Germany, Tuesday March 7, 2006. The speedboat squadron left for a ten-week trip to the Mediterranean." (AP Photo/Thomas Haentzschel)

I started working on the picture because two of the crewmen seem to be wearing the ships crest on their schiffchen. Unfortunately, I can nor make out the design of the pin. It might be for the "Dachs" and it might not for a couple of reasons: Dachs was part of 7. Snellbootgeschwader. and not part of 2. Schnellbootgeschwader. 2. Snellbotgeschwader was decommissioned on 28 June 2006 and it seems odd that it would leave on a 10 week cruise just before it was decommissioned. Although, this may have been a farewell trip.

Anyway, on to the picture of the crew and some pictures of the ships emblems from 7. Schnellbootgeschwader. The Dachs first. The badges on the caps seem to be a different shape than the emblem for the Dachs.
And to my question. How wide a practice was it to wear ships emblems on caps in the Marine? I say "caps" because we will get to a picture of an officer wearing ships emblems on his cap later.

Regards,

Gordon

[Gordon Craig]

Moving on to an officer wearing ships emblems on the cap band of his cap. From your left to right as you view the picture:
1 - Schnellbootflottille HQ of all schnellbootgeschwader;
2 - appears to be a miniature of the e-boat badge of WWII;
3 - 7. Schnellboogeschwader;
4 - unknown but probably for one of the schnellboot.

On his arm he wears the patch of a deployment to Operation Active Endeavour for 2003;

OPERATION ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR:

The operation began on 4 October 2001 as one of the eight NATO responses to the 11 September attacks, although it did not formally begin until October 16. The naval assets of Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED), which were participating in Exercise Destined Glory 2001 off the southern coast of Spain, were re-assigned in order to provide an immediate NATO military presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. The current operation is conducted by a number of NATO military assets, to include the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) and Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2).
On 4 February 2003, the North Atlantic Council (NAC) decided to extend Operation Active Endeavour to include escorting non-military ships traveling through the Strait of Gibraltar to maintain security in the area and to secure the safe transit of designated Allied ships.
On 29 April 2003, Task Force Endeavour began boarding operations following a NAC decision to enhance the effectiveness of the current naval operation against suspected terrorist activities in the Mediterranean. The boarding operations are conducted in accordance with the rules of international law and are of a compliant nature. Over one hundred and sixty vessels have been boarded (as of 1 June 2010).

The BW Marine usually has one ship on deployment to SNMG1 or SNMG2. Usually a Frigate but at times they have sent an oiler instead of a frigate. SNMG1 and SNMG2 always have an oiler as part of the fleet.

The picture of the officer mentioned above and the emblem of the Schnellbootflottille.

[Gordon Craig]

The emblem of the 7. Schnellbootgeswader and a plague showing all of the ships emblems for the squadron.

[Gordon Craig]

The emblem for the 2. Schnellbootgeshwader and a plaque showing the emblems of all of the ships in the squadron.