The
German navy has decided to retire early the Type
143A fast patrol boats (FPBs) Nerz and Dachs and
the Type 333 minehunters Kulmbach and Laboe on
31 March 2012.The boats were already taken out
of use last spring and their crews made available
for other vessels. The boats are over 20 years
old, with the Nerz having entered service on 14
July 1983, the Dachs on 22 March 1984, the Laboe
on 7 December 1989 and the Kulmbach on 23 May
1990.