HNLMS Tromp (F803): Difference between revisions

The HNLMS Tromp at sea
History
Netherlands
Laid down	3 September 1999
Launched	7 April 2001
Commissioned	14 March 2003
General characteristics
Class and type	De Zeven Provinciën class frigate
Displacement	6,050 tonnes (full load)
Length	144.24 m
Beam	18.80 m
Draft	5.18 m
Propulsion	Combined diesel or gas 2 × Wärtsilä 16 V26 marine diesel engines, 5.1 MW (6,800 hp) each 2 × Rolls-Royce Marine Spey SM 1C gas turbines, 19.5 MW (26,100 hp) each 2 × propeller shafts, 5-bladed controllable pitch propellers
Speed	30 knots
Complement	174 (202 incl. command staff)
Armament	Guns: 1 × Oto Melara 127 mm/54 dual-purpose gun 2–4 × Browning M2 12.7 mm machine guns 4–6 × FN MAG 7.62 mm machine guns 1–2 × Goalkeeper CIWS Missiles: 40-cell Mk 41 vertical launching system 32 × SM-2 IIIA surface-to-air missiles 32 × Evolved SeaSparrow Missiles (quad-packed) 8 × Harpoon anti-ship missiles 2 × twin Mk 32 Mod 9 torpedo launchers with Mk 46 Mod 5 torpedoes

HNLMS Tromp (F803) (Dutch: "Hr. Ms. Tromp") is a De Zeven Provinciën class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy. It was laid down in 1999, launched in 2001, and commissioned in 2003.

Since January 2008, the frigate is commanded by Captain Hans Lodder.^[1] Previously it was commanded by Captain H. Itzig Heine.^[2]

The frigate is named after naval heroes Maarten Tromp (1598–1653) and Cornelis Tromp (1629–1691).^[3]

It should not be mistaken with the HNLMS Tromp (F801), a Tromp class frigate.

Deployment to the Indian Ocean, 2010

HNLMS Tromp deployed to the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa as part of Operation Atalanta, which is composed of European Union naval units. The operation is tasked with suppression of piracy in the region.^[4]

On 14 March 2010, HNLMS Tromp responded to a distress call from the transport ship MV Lubeck, which was under attack from two pirate skiffs. The Tromp launched her helicopter, which forced the whaler mother ship to stop. The Tromp then sent a boarding party to secure the vessel. The following day, the Tromp tracked down the two skiffs about 100 km from the whaler and stopped them. Crew from the Tromp sank the mother ship,^[5] and confiscated satellite phones, AK-47s, a rocket launcher, and boarding equipment.^[4]

Three days later, on 17 March 2010, HNLMS Tromp was involved in an incident with suspected pirates off the coast of eastern Africa. Two small boats approached the frigate at high speed. After realizing the Tromp was a warship, the pirates fled. However, the Tromp pursued and captured the two boats, along with a mother ship. The frigate destroyed the two boats and released the pirates to the mother ship, after it had been cleared of weapons.^[6]

On 5 April 2010, HNLMS Tromp rescued the container ship MV Taipan by rappelling 6 Marines from its Lynx helicopter (under covering fire from the helicopter and the Tromp) to the deck of the Taipan, resulting in the capture of 10 pirates. The 13 crew (2 German, 3 Russian, 8 Sri Lankan) were unharmed having taken refuge in a secure location after stopping the ship's engines.^[7][8][9]

2011 Libyan uprising

On her return to her homeport in February 2011 through the Mediteranean, the ship was deployed to the Gulf of Sirte to potentially assist in the safe return of Dutch nationals during the 2011 Libyan uprising. After landing three Dutch Royal Marines using her helicopter near the town of Sirte, the helicopter and the three marines were captured by members of the Libyan Army. The two consular officials they were trying to rescue have now left Libya, while negotiations continue for the relase of the three marines.^[10]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to HNLMS Tromp (F803).

• Template:Nl icon Hr. Ms. Tromp, official website