City-class mine countermeasures vessel

Last updated
Mine Countermeasure Vessel concept artist impression Koninklijke Marine.jpg
Artist impression of the MCM
Class overview
NameCity class
Builders
Operators
Preceded by
Subclasses
  • City class
  • Vlissingen class
Built2021-present
In commissionFrom 2025 onwards
Planned12
Building4
Completed0
Active0
General characteristics
Type Mine countermeasures vessel
Displacement2,800  t (2,800 long tons) full load
Length82.30 m (270 ft 0 in)
Beam17 m (55 ft 9 in)
Draught3.80 m (12 ft 6 in)
Speed15.3 knots (28.3 km/h; 17.6 mph)
Complement33–63
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Naval Surveillance Radar Scanter-6000
  • 2 towed sonars (T-18 equipped with Exail UMISAS 240 sonar)
  • 2 Mine Identification & Disposal Systems (MIDS)
  • 1 Exail influence mine sweeping system integrating 5 CTM magnetic modules
  • 1 PATRIA acoustic module
Armament
Aircraft carried1 unmanned aerial vessel (UMS Skeldar’s V200)
Notes2 unmanned surface vehicles (Exail Inspector 125), 3 autonomous underwater vehicles (A-18 equipped with Exail UMISAS 120 sonar)

The Netherlands and Belgium are doing a joint procurement for the replacements of the Tripartite-class/Alkmaar-class minehunters. Each of the two countries is procuring six new mine countermeasure (MCM) vessels, which makes for a total of 12 MCM ships. The new MCM ships, developed by Naval Group, will include a range of unmanned systems including unmanned surface, aerial and underwater vehicles alongside towed sonars and mine identification and neutralization ROVs. [1]

Contents

Design and development

In early 2018, the Belgian and Dutch Navy signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the joint construction and financing of the ships. A list of requirements was drawn up for the new vessels. Contenders in the race were:

The contract was won by Naval Group on 15 March 2019. [3] [4]

The new vessels take a new approach to their task. Instead of clearing mines directly from the ship, the ship uses unmanned systems to do this from a distance. [5]

Construction

Vlissingen under construction at Concarneau in October 2023 M840 Vlissingen Konk-Kerne.jpg
Vlissingen under construction at Concarneau in October 2023

A first steel cutting ceremony for the first-in-class ship for the Belgian Navy was held on 19 July 2021, with the keel being laid on 30 November, 2021. Delivery of the first ship to the Belgian Navy is anticipated in 2024 and to the Royal Netherlands Navy in 2025. [6] The first ship for the Dutch Navy started on the 4 March, 2022, with a steel cutting ceremony. The keel was laid on 14 June, 2022.

On 8 May 2024, the Belgian Ministry of Defence announced that contractor Belgium Naval & Robotics requested a delay to the construction of the first four vessels citing unforeseen circumstances. The delay causes the first vessel, Oostende, to be delivered 8 months later than initially planned, pushing her commissioning back to 2025. The second vessel, Vlissingen, is to be 5 to 6 months delayed, the Tournai and Scheveningen will also see delays of 2 and 1 months respectively. [7]

Ships in class

Belgium

Belgium gave the green-light to start the procurement on 26 January 2018 and approved a budget of 1.1 billion euros for the six Belgian MCM ships. Besides the Tripartite-class minehunters, the ships will also replace the Belgian logistical support ship Godetia. [8]

City class construction data
Pennant no.NameBuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedStatusNote
M 940 Oostende Piriou, Concarneau, France 30 November 2021 [9] 29 March 2023 [10] August 2025 (planned) [11] Sea trials [12] Commissioning initially planned for December 2024 [11]
M 941 Tournai 29 March 2023 [10] 2 July 2024 [13] March 2026 (planned) [11] Fitting outCommissioning initially planned for January 2026 [11]
M 942 Brugge 31 January 2024 [14] December 2026 (planned) [11]
M 943 Liège December 2027 (planned) [11]
M 944 Antwerpen December 2028 (planned) [11]
M 945 Rochefort December 2029 (planned) [11]

Netherlands

Vlissingen class construction data
Pennant no.NameBuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedStatusNote
M 840 Vlissingen Kership, Lorient, France 14 June 2022 [15] 29 September 2023 [16] November - December 2025 (planned) [11] Under construction [17] Commissioning initially planned for June 2025 [11]
M 841 Scheveningen Giurgiu shipyard, Giurgiu, Romania (Hull)
Kership, Lorient, France (Fitting out)		19 July 2023 [18] December 2024 (planned) [13] July 2026 (planned) [11] Under constructionCommissioning initially planned for June 2026 [11]
M 842 IJmuiden 11 June 2024 [19] June 2027 (planned) [11] Under construction
M 843 Harlingen June 2028 (planned) [11]
M 844 Delfzijl June 2029 (planned) [11]
M 845 Schiedam June 2030 (planned) [11]

Potential operators

See also

Related Research Articles

The Royal Netherlands Navy is the maritime service branch of the Netherlands Armed Forces. It was founded on 8 January 1488, making it the third-oldest naval force in the world.

Tripartite-class minehunter Ship class of minehunters

The Tripartite class is a class of minehunters developed from an agreement between the navies of Belgium, France and the Netherlands. A total of 35 ships were constructed for the three navies. The class was constructed in the 1980s–1990s in all three countries, using a mix of minehunting, electrical and propulsion systems from the three member nations. In France, where they are known as the Éridan class they are primarily used as minehunters, but have been used for minesweeping and ammunition transport in Belgium and the Netherlands, where the Tripartites are known as the Alkmaar class.

<i>Alkmaar</i>-class minehunter Ship class of the Dutch navy

The Alkmaar class is a ship class of fifteen minehunters that were built in the Netherlands for the Royal Netherlands Navy. They are based on the design of the Tripartite class, which was developed by a collaborative effort between the Netherlands, Belgium and France, and replaced the minesweepers and minehunters of the Dokkum class.

In April 2018, the Dutch Government approved a multi-year investment program for the Dutch Navy and allocated funds for the 2018–2030 period. The Dutch Defence Materiel Administration (DMO) is in charge of the procurement of these new ships.

HNLMS <i>Den Helder</i> Fast combat support ship of Royal Netherlands Navy

HNLMS Den Helder is a new replenishment oiler under construction for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Also known as the Combat Support Ship (CSS), Den Helder is planned to fill the gap of replenishment at sea that was left after HNLMS Amsterdam was sold to Peru in 2014.

<i>Snellius</i>-class hydrographic survey vessel

The Snellius class are two hydrographic survey vessel (HOV) ships in service with the hydrographic branch of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The ships were built by the Damen Group, with the hull being built in Romania by Damen Shipyards Galați and the fitting out in the Netherlands by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding.

HNLMS <i>Vlissingen</i> (M840) Ship design project of the Royal Netherlands Navy and Belgian Navy

HNLMS Vlissingen (M840) is the second ship in the City / Vlissingen-class of mine countermeasures vessels, and first to be built for the Royal Netherlands Navy.

Belgian minehunter <i>Oostende</i> (M940) Ship design project of the Royal Netherlands Navy and Belgian Navy

Oostende (M940) is the first ship in the City-class mine countermeasures vessels. She is being constructed in France for the Belgian Navy.

HNLMS <i>Scheveningen</i> (M841) Ship design project of the Royal Netherlands Navy and Belgian Navy

HNLMS Scheveningen (M841) is the fourth ship in the City / Vlissingen-class mine countermeasures vessels, and second to be built for the Royal Netherlands Navy.

HNLMS <i>IJmuiden</i> (M842) Ship design project of the Royal Netherlands Navy and Belgian Navy

HNLMS IJmuiden (M842) is the sixth ship in the City / Vlissingen-class mine countermeasures vessels, and third to be built for the Royal Netherlands Navy.

HNLMS <i>Harlingen</i> (M843) Ship design project of the Royal Netherlands Navy and Belgian Navy

HNLMS Harlingen (M843) is the eighth ship in the City/Vlissingen-class mine countermeasures vessels, and fourth to be built for the Royal Netherlands Navy.

HNLMS <i>Delfzijl</i> (M844) Ship design project of the Royal Netherlands Navy and Belgian Navy

HNLMS Delfzijl (M844) is the tenth ship in the City / Vlissingen-class mine countermeasures vessels, and fifth to be built for the Royal Netherlands Navy.

HNLMS <i>Schiedam</i> (M845) Ship design project of the Royal Netherlands Navy and Belgian Navy

HNLMS Schiedam (M845) is the twelfth ship in the City / Vlissingen-class mine countermeasures vessels, and sixth to be built for the Royal Netherlands Navy.

Belgian minehunter <i>Tournai</i> (M941) Ship design project of the Royal Netherlands Navy and Belgian Navy

Tournai (M941) is the third ship in the City-class mine countermeasures vessels, and second to be built for the Belgian Navy.

Belgian minehunter <i>Brugge</i> (M942) Ship design project of the Royal Netherlands Navy and Belgian Navy

Brugge (M942) is the fifth ship in the City-class mine countermeasures vessels, and third to be built for the Belgian Navy.

Belgian minehunter <i>Liège</i> (M943) Ship design project of the Royal Netherlands Navy and Belgian Navy

Liège (M943) is the seventh ship in the City-class mine countermeasures vessels, and fourth to be built for the Belgian Navy.

Belgian minehunter <i>Antwerpen</i> (M944) Ship design project of the Royal Netherlands Navy and Belgian Navy

Antwerpen (M944) is the ninth ship in the City-class mine countermeasures vessels, and fifth to be built for the Belgian Navy.

Belgian minehunter <i>Rochefort</i> (M945) Ship design project of the Royal Netherlands Navy and Belgian Navy

Rochefort (M945) is the eleventh ship in the City-class mine countermeasures vessels, and sixth to be built for the Belgian Navy.

<i>Castor</i>-class patrol vessel Ship design project of the Belgian Naval Component

The Castor class is a pair of coastal patrol vessels in service with the Belgian Navy, used primarily for patrol of the Belgian exclusive economic zone of the North Sea.

Belgian patrol vessel <i>Castor</i> Belgian naval vessel

Castor is a Castor-class patrol vessel of the Belgian Navy. The vessel was constructed in France and entered service in 2014.

References

  1. ↑ "Belgium OKs acquisition of six new mine countermeasure vessels". navaltoday.com. 29 January 2018. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  2. ↑ "STX France, EDR, Socarenam team for Belgian mine countermeasure project". navaltoday.com. 31 January 2018. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 "France's Naval Group clinches Belgian-Dutch minehunter replacement contract". Naval Today. 15 March 2019. Archived from the original on 15 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 Scott, Richard (15 March 2019). "Naval Group team selected for BE/NL MCM programme". Jane's 360. London. Archived from the original on 15 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  5. ↑ Defensie, Ministerie van (2021-11-30). "Mijnenbestrijdingsvaartuigen krijgen naam havenplaatsen - Nieuwsbericht - Defensie.nl". www.defensie.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-08-13.
  6. ↑ "First Steel Cutting Ceremony For Dutch-Belgian MCM Program". Naval News. 2021-07-20. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  7. ↑ Kasper, Goossens (8 May 2024). "Levering nieuwe mijnenbestrijdingsvaartuigen vertraagd". Marineschepen.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  8. ↑ Karremann, Jaime (27 January 2018). "Groen licht voor aanschaf zes nieuwe mijnenjagers voor België" [Green light for the purchase of six new mine hunters for Belgium]. marineschepen.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  9. ↑ "Eerste kiel nieuwe mijnenbestrijdingsvaartuigen voor Nederland en België gelegd". Marineschepen. 2021-11-30. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
  10. 1 2 "Tewaterlating nieuw Belgisch mijnenbestrijdingsvaartuig in Frankrijk, bouw volgend Nederlands schip in Roemenië". Marineschepen. 2023-03-29. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Gain, Nathan (2024-05-13). "Belgian-Dutch rMCM mine warfare program facing delays". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  12. ↑ Bahtić, Fatima (19 July 2024). "First vessel of Belgian-Dutch rMCM program conducts sea trials". Naval Today. Archived from the original on 19 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  13. 1 2 "Launching Of The Tournai, Third Mine Countermeasure Vessel Of The Belgian-Dutch RMCM Programme". Naval News. 2024-07-02. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
  14. ↑ "Belgian Navy celebrates keel laying of 3rd mine countermeasure vessel BNS Brugge". Army Recognition. 1 February 2024. Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  15. ↑ "Kiel van nieuw mijnenbestrijdingsvaartuig Vlissingen gelegd - eerste van nieuwe klasse". Marineschepen. 2022-06-14. Retrieved 2022-06-16.
  16. ↑ "City- en Vlissingenklasse mijnenbestrijdingsvaartuigen (België en Nederland)". Marineschepen.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  17. ↑ "Bouw mijnenbestrijdingsvaartuig Vlissingen begonnen". Marineschepen. 2022-03-04. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
  18. ↑ Koninklijke Marine [@kon_marine] (19 July 2023). "De bouw van het toekomstige mijnenbestrijdingsvaartuig Zr.Ms. Scheveningen is gestart" (Tweet) (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 July 2023– via Twitter.
  19. ↑ "Dinsdag kiellegging derde Nederlandse mijnenbestrijdingsvaartuig". Marineschepen. 2024-06-07. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  20. ↑ "Frankrijk wil (bijna) zelfde mijnenbestrijdingsvaartuigen als Nederland en België" (in Dutch). Marineschepen. 2022-10-19. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  21. ↑ "Mine Warfare: France, Belgium And Netherlands Seal Partnership". Naval News. 2022-10-20. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
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