(NL)LCU

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The (NL)LCU, which stands for (Netherlands) Landing Craft Utility, is a Dutch LCU. The Royal Netherlands Navy currently operates five LCU type Mk.II as well as twelve LCVPs for the Marine Corps.

Contents

(NL)LCU type Mk.I

NLLCUMK1.JPG
Class overview
Name(NL)LCU Mk.I
OperatorsNaval Jack of the Netherlands.svg  Royal Netherlands Navy, Netherlands Marine Corps
Succeeded by (NL)LCU Mk.II
Built1997-1999
In service1997-2006
Planned5
Completed5
General characteristics [1]
Type Landing Craft Utility
Displacement225 tonnes (221 long tons)
Length27.30 m (89 ft 7 in)
Beam6.85 m (22 ft 6 in)
Speed11.6 knots (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph)
Capacity130 troops, 3 trucks, 2 armoured vehicles, 1 BRV
Complement6 crew
ArmamentBrowning M2 (12.7mm) machine guns

Ships

Pennant no.StatusNote
L9525In serviceUpgraded to Mk.II
L9526In serviceUpgraded to Mk.II
L9527In serviceUpgraded to Mk.II
L9528In serviceUpgraded to Mk.II
L9529In serviceUpgraded to Mk.II

(NL)LCU type Mk.II

Landingsvaartuig Mariniers - L9526 (3705453636).jpg
Class overview
Name(NL)LCU Mk.II
OperatorsNaval Jack of the Netherlands.svg  Royal Netherlands Navy, Netherlands Marine Corps
Preceded by (NL)LCU Mk.I
Succeeded by (NL)LCU Mk.III
Built2005-2006
In service2005-present
Planned5
Completed5
General characteristics [2]
Type Landing Craft Utility
Displacement225 tonnes (221 long tons)
Length36.30 m (119 ft 1 in)
Beam6.85 m (22 ft 6 in)
Speed11.6 knots (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph)
Capacity130 troops, 3 trucks, 2 armoured vehicles, 1 BRV
Complement7 crew
ArmamentBrowning M2 (12.7mm) machine guns

The Mk.I ships were extended by 9 m (29 ft 6 in). As a result, they could carry an extra 20 tons and land further up the beach. All Mk.I were upgraded to Mk.II standards.

Ships

Pennant no.StatusNote
L9525In service
L9526In service
L9527In service
L9528In serviceUpgraded to Mk.III
L9529In service

(NL)LCU type Mk.III

Class overview
Name(NL)LCU Mk.III
OperatorsNaval Jack of the Netherlands.svg  Royal Netherlands Navy, Netherlands Marine Corps
Preceded by (NL)LCU Mk.II
Built2023-present
In service2024-present
Planned5
Completed1
General characteristics [3]
Type Landing Craft Utility
Displacement225 tonnes (221 long tons)
Length36.30 m (119 ft 1 in)
Beam6.85 m (22 ft 6 in)
Speed11.6 knots (21.5 km/h; 13.3 mph)
Capacity130 troops, 3 trucks, 2 armoured vehicles, 1 BRV
Complement7 crew
ArmamentBrowning M2 (12.7mm) machine guns

As part of their MLU, all Mk.II ships will eventually be upgraded to Mk.III standards. [4] L9528 was the first to undergo this MLU. It is estimated that they will remain in service until at least 2032. [3] On 23 January 2025 the first two refurbished LCUs were delivered by De Haas Shipyards to the Royal Netherlands Navy. [5] [6]

Ships

Pennant no.StatusNote
L9528In service

See also

Citations

  1. "L 9510 TYPE MK I - POLYESTER" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  2. "LCU-landingsvaartuig (materieel)" (in Dutch). Ministerie van Defensie. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  3. 1 2 "Eerste vernieuwde LCU-landingsschip te water gelaten" (in Dutch). Ministerie van Defensie. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  4. Evert Brouwer (15 March 2023). "Landingsvaartuigen in de revisie". Alle Hens (in Dutch). Defensie.nl.
  5. Mariska Buitendijk (24 January 2025). "De Haas completes upgrade of Dutch navy landing craft". SWZ|Maritime.
  6. Fatima Bahtić (27 January 2025). "Dutch Navy takes delivery of two upgraded landing craft". Naval Today.