Elbe-class (Type 404)

The Type 404 Elbe-class replenishment ships, designated as tenders, were built by Bremer Vulkan for the German Navy. The class consists of six vessels named after German rivers, preceding the Berlin-class replenishment ships. The vessels entered service between 1993 and 1994 to support squadrons of fast attack craft, submarines, and minesweeper/hunters.

The tenders transport and deliver fuel, fresh water, food, ammunition, and other matériel. They feature waste disposal facilities for supported vessels and are capable of performing minor repairs. Tenders assigned to fast attack craft squadrons carry specialized repair and support shops on deck, housed in standard containers. The vessels are equipped with communication systems and accommodations to serve as squadron flagships. They feature a helicopter deck capable of hosting helicopters of Sea King size or larger, though they lack an onboard hangar. Each vessel is reconfigurable, but one ship, currently Main, is modified specifically to support submarines by carrying equipment such as replacement batteries; this configuration is sometimes referred to as a separate sub-class. The ships also contain an onboard medical station, though doctors are not part of the standard complement and must be flown in.

All six ships of the class remain active within the German Navy. Elbe commissioned on 28 January 1993 and is based in Warnemünde with the 7th Fast Attack Craft Squadron. Mosel commissioned on 1 July 1993 and operates from Kiel with the 5th Minesweeper Squadron. Rhein and Werra commissioned on 1 September 1993 and 9 December 1993 respectively; both are based in Kiel and assigned to the 3rd Minesweeper Squadron. Main commissioned on 10 June 1994 and is based in Eckernförde with the 1st Submarine Squadron. Donau commissioned on 15 November 1994, operating from Warnemünde with the 1st Corvette Squadron.