HNLMS Den Helder
Class overview | |
---|---|
Name | Den Helder class |
Builders | Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding Damen Shipyards Galați |
Operators | Royal Netherlands Navy |
Preceded by | HNLMS Amsterdam |
Cost | €374 million (2019) |
Built | 2020–present[1][2] |
Planned | 1 |
Building | 1 |
Active | 0 |
History | |
Netherlands | |
Name | Den Helder[3][4] |
Namesake | City of Den Helder |
Awarded | 19 February 2020[5][6][7] |
Builder | Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding Damen Shipyards Galați |
Cost | €374 million (2019) |
Yard number | 312421000 / 421000[1] |
Laid down | 2 June 2021[8] |
Launched | October 2022 |
Commissioned | Planned for 2025 |
Homeport | Den Helder |
Identification | |
Status | Fitting out[1][2][9] |
Badge | |
General characteristics [10] | |
Type | Replenishment oiler |
Displacement | 20,000 t (19,684 long tons) |
Length | 179.5 m (588 ft 11 in) o/a |
Beam | 22 m (72 ft 2 in) |
Draught | 8 m (26 ft 3 in) |
Propulsion |
|
Speed | 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
Boats & landing craft carried | 2 × LCVPs in davits |
Complement | 75 (plus 75 people)[12] |
Sensors and processing systems |
|
Armament |
|
Aircraft carried | 2 NH90 NFH (medium sized helicopters) |
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.[13] The design is based on the Karel Doorman.[14]
History
[edit]The sale of HNLMS Amsterdam in 2014 left a gap in the navy's ability to replenish its own ships and those of allies. The successor of HNLMS Zuiderkruis, HNLMS Karel Doorman, was not capable enough as it was not built as a full-fledged replenishment oiler. In 2017 a study started to look at the possibility of a new tanker to fulfill this task.[15]
In 2019 the so called D-letter, the final process before the contract can be signed, was sent to the Tweede Kamer for approval.[16][17][18][19] With the contract signing following two months later on the bridge of HNLMS Karel Doorman.[5][6]
The ship carries two 40-ton cranes and can carry up to 24 sea containers.[20] It can dispense 7,600 cubic metres (2,000,000 US gal; 1,700,000 imp gal; 7,600,000 L) of diesel (including for its own use), 1,000 m3 (260,000 US gal; 220,000 imp gal; 1,000,000 L) of helicopter fuel (including for its own use), 226 m3 (60,000 US gal; 50,000 imp gal; 226,000 L) of drinking water and 434 tons of other goods, including ammunition. The vessel can accommodate up to two NH90 NFH helicopters or, alternatively, one NH90 NFH and two UAVs. It carries two LCVPs (Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel) and 2 FRISC (Fast Raiding Intercepting Special Forces Craft). The ship's infirmary operates as a Role 2 hospital (providing limited hospital capability, including surgery).[21] The radio’s aboard the Den Helder are made by Rohde & Schwarz Benelux.[22]
Naming
[edit]The name was revealed in a ceremony in honor of the 10.000th ship model, which was the new CSS, made at MARIN. In attendance were the Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy: Rob Kramer, the State Secretary for Defence: Barbara Visser, the State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy: Mona Keijzer and the CEO of Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding.[3][4]
It is the first time a vessel is named after the city of Den Helder, which is home to the Netherlands main naval base.[23]
Construction
[edit]The first steel was cut in a ceremony on 2 December 2020 at the Damen yard in Galați.[24] On 2 June Damen Shipyards Galați has performed the keel-laying ceremony on the Combat Support Ship (CSS) Den Helder.[25] The keel-laying ceremony was performed by the Director Defence Material Organisation (DMO), vice admiral Arie Jan de Waard and vice admiral Rob Kramer, Commander Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN).[26] The ship was formally laid down on 2 June 2021.[27] The first major section, measuring 90 m (300 ft), of the new vessel was launched in Galați on 11 April 2022.[28] The assembled ship was floated and moved to another part of the building dock in October 2022 with work expected to continue through 2023. Sea trials are anticipated in early 2024.[9][29]
In October 2023 it was reported that Damen had delivered a virtual reality version of HNLMS Den Helder to Command Materiel and IT, which can be used to train the new crew.[30] The same month the diesel generators were started for the first time aboard the ship.[31] In October 2023 DXC delivered GDIT's VirtualShip version of Den Helder for bridge crew training at Nieuwe Haven.[citation needed]
On 16 November 2024 the Den Helder left Damen Shipyards Galați and began its journey to the Netherlands, where the ship will be fitted out.[32][33] During its journey to the Netherlands the ship will perform its sea trials.[34][35] These sea trials were initially planned to be done in the Black Sea, but because of Russo-Ukrainian War it was instead decided to do this during the journey from the Galați shipyard to the Netherlands.[36][37] When the ship arrives in the Netherlands it will be fitted out at Damen facilities in Vlissingen and Den Helder.[38][35]
Similar ships
[edit]See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Eindelijk weer Nederlands marineschip in aanbouw: de Den Helder" (in Dutch). marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Eerste staal voor Zr.Ms. Den Helder gesneden" (in Dutch). maritiemdenhelder.eu. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Combat support ship gaat Zr.Ms. Den Helder heten" (in Dutch). marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Nieuw marineschip krijgt de naam Zr.Ms. Den Helder" (in Dutch). denheldersdagblad.nl. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Contract Combat Support Ship ondertekend" (in Dutch). marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Nieuw bevoorradingsschip marine Zr.Ms. Den Helder kan worden gebouwd" (in Dutch). nhnieuws.nl. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Bouw nieuw bevoorradingsschip wordt Nederlands feestje" (in Dutch). defensie.nl. 19 February 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Damen Shipyards Galati lays keel of Royal Netherlands Navy's Combat Support Ship". 3 June 2021.
- ^ a b "Damen "Launches" Royal Netherlands Navy's Combat Support Ship". Naval News. 25 October 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ Jaime Karremann (18 September 2024). "Dit heeft het nieuwste Nederlandse marineschip aan boord voor bevoorraden op zee". Marineschepen.nl (in Dutch).
- ^ Conrad Waters (4 November 2024). "Sustaining the fleet: current logistic support ship acquisitions". European Security & Defence.
- ^ Mariska Buitendijk (25 November 2024). "VIDEO: Dutch Combat Support Ship makes first port call". SWZ|Maritime.
- ^ "Dutch Navy's Future Combat Support Ship Zr.Ms. Den Helder Begins First Sea Trials". Army Recognition. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- ^ Arthur van Beveren (21 April 2022). "Combat Support Ship voor het eerst in water". Materieelgezien (in Dutch). Defensie.nl.
- ^ "Marine werkt aan nieuw bevoorradingsschip" (in Dutch). marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Defensie en Damen bereiken overeenstemming over nieuw bevoorradingsschip" (in Dutch). marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Dutch Cabinet to Construct Combat Support Ship Zr.Ms. Den Helder". oceannews.com. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Dutch Cabinet Decides to Build Combat Support Ship Zr.Ms. Den Helder". oceannews.com. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Kabinet besluit tot bouw van Combat Support Ship Zr.Ms. Den Helder" (in Dutch). denhelderactueel.nl. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Dutch Navy's Future Combat Support Ship Zr.Ms. Den Helder Begins First Sea Trials". Army Recognition. 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Combat support ship/ Bevoorradingsschip den Helder".
- ^ Arthur van Beveren (15 March 2022). "In Bedrijf: Rohde & Schwarz Benelux". Materieelgezien (in Dutch). Defensie.nl.
- ^ "Den Helder krijgt 'eigen' marineschip". NH Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- ^ "Romania's Damen Shipyard finalizes HNLMS Den Helder Combat Support Ship for the Netherlands". Army Recognition. 26 July 2024.
- ^ van Elk, Bert (June 2021). "CSS Den Helder: eenvoudig en robuust". Alle Hens (in Dutch). Koninklijke Marine.
- ^ White, Ryan. "Damen Shipyards Galati lays keel of Combat Support Ship Den Helder - Naval Post". Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ^ "Damen Shipyards Galati lays keel of Royal Netherlands Navy's Combat Support Ship". 3 June 2021.
- ^ "Belangrijke mijlpaal bouw nieuw bevoorradingsschip Nederlandse marine" (in Dutch). marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ Saballa, Joe (27 October 2022). "Damen Shipyard Launches Netherlands' Future Combat Support Ship". Defense Post. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
- ^ Habibic, Ajsa (5 October 2023). "Damen Naval presents full virtual reality version of Dutch combat support ship". Naval Today.
- ^ Karremann, Jaime (14 October 2023). "Systemen bevoorradingsschip Den Helder voor het eerst opgestart". Marineschepen.nl (in Dutch).
- ^ Jaime Karremann (16 November 2024). "CSS begonnen aan reis naar Nederland". Marineschepen.nl (in Dutch).
- ^ Mariska Buitendijk (18 November 2024). "New Dutch Combat Support Ship on sea trials". SWZ|Maritime.
- ^ John Hill (19 November 2024). "Netherlands CSS to undergo sea trials from Romania". Naval Technology.
- ^ a b Tayfun Ozberk (17 November 2024). "Royal Netherlands Navy's New Combat Support Ship Starts Sea Trials". Naval News.
- ^ Jaime Karremann (15 May 2024). "Nieuw bevoorradingsschip Den Helder vertraagd, later naar Nederland". Marineschepen.nl (in Dutch).
- ^ Jaime Karremann (22 November 2024). "Tests nieuw marineschip: 'fantastisch om alles te zien werken'". Marineschepen.nl (in Dutch).
- ^ "Nieuw bevoorradingsschip voor marine maakt proefvaart (update) - video". Defensie.nl (in Dutch). 22 November 2024.
Further reading
[edit]- Margés, Joost (September 2022). "Bemanning deels van buiten". Alle Hens (in Dutch). Koninklijke Marine.