A spokesman said the mission had been suspended Monday and the ships would return to their home port of Warnemuende, on Germany's Baltic Sea coast.

The small fleet, comprised of three patrol vessels, a logistics ship and 120 crew, only took up station in early October and had been due to remain in position for six months.

The surveillance task was as part of NATO's "Active Endeavour" mission to patrol and monitor activities in the Mediterranean Sea.

However, according to the news magazine Der Spiegel, they had little to do -- escorting an average of only two or three vessels a week out of the 1,750 that use the Strait of Gibraltar.

The ships have been used to search for potential terrorist supply routes, carry out coast watch duties and ensure the safety of transport vessels.

The defence ministry spokesman said the vessels would remain on a 72-hour standby to return if needed by NATO.

According to Der Spiegel, the operation was costing Germany 600,000 euros (730,000 dollars) per week.

WAR.WIRE