German frigate Hessen sailors were on watch 12 hours a day in the Red Sea with only seconds to react to threats in the 'worst case scenario'

• A German warship that was part of a European Union security mission has left the Red Sea.
• The frigate Hessen spent weeks in the Middle East protecting commercial ships from Houthi attacks.
• Its sailors were on watch for 12 hours a day, Germany's military said on Monday.

Sailors aboard a German warship that was recently deployed to the Red Sea were on watch for 12 hours a day, and in the "worst" situations, they might've only had seconds to respond to the deadly Houthi threats endangering ships in these waters.

The Hessen, a Sachsen-class frigate, left the Red Sea and entered the Suez Canal on Saturday after spending nearly 60 days operating in Middle Eastern waters, Germany's military said Monday.