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HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën (F802)
Encyclopedia
HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën (F802) is the first ship of the De Zeven Provinciën class
air defence and command frigate
s in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy
(RNLN). There are three more ships in this class, HNLMS Tromp (F803)
, HNLMS De Ruyter (F804)
and HNLMS Evertsen (F805)
.
HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën is the eighth ship in the Royal Netherlands Navy to carry this name. The name refers to the original seven Dutch provinces which together formed the Union of Utrecht
.
She was built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding
(formerly the Koninklijke Schelde Groep) in Vlissingen. Her design incorporates stealth technology, as well as advanced radars of Dutch design such as SMART-L
and APAR
.
As of December 2009, Commander Hugo L.J. Ammerlaan is HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën's commanding officer.
) and the SM-2
Block IIIA missile systems. The primary sensor used to guide these missile systems is APAR
.
In November 2003, approximately 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) from the Azores
, the HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën conducted its first live firings of these missile systems. The firings involved a single ESSM
and a single SM-2
Block IIIA. These firings were particularly significant in that they were the first ever live firings involving a full-size ship-borne Active Electronically Scanned Array
(i.e., APAR
) guiding missiles using the Interrupted Continuous Wave Illumination (ICWI) technique in an operational environment. As related by Jane's Navy International:
Further live firings were performed by the HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën in March 2005, again in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 180 nautical miles (333.4 km) west of the Azores. The tests involved three live-firing events including firing a single SM-2
Block IIIA at an Iris target drone at long range, a single ESSM
at an Iris target drone, and a two-salvo launch (with one salvo comprising two SM-2
Block IIIAs and the other comprising two ESSM
s) against two incoming Iris target drones. The long-range SM-2
engagement apparently resulted in an intercept at a range of greater than 100 km from the ship, with a missile-target miss distance of 8 feet (the warhead's proximity fuse having been disabled for the purposes of the test).
De Zeven Provinciën class frigate
The De Zeven Provinciën class frigates are highly advanced air-defence and command frigates in service with the Koninklijke Marine . This class of ships is also known as LCF...
air defence and command frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
s in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy
Royal Netherlands Navy
The Koninklijke Marine is the navy of the Netherlands. In the mid-17th century the Dutch Navy was the most powerful navy in the world and it played an active role in the wars of the Dutch Republic and later those of the Batavian Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
(RNLN). There are three more ships in this class, HNLMS Tromp (F803)
HNLMS Tromp (F803)
HNLMS Tromp is the second De Zeven Provinciën class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy. It was laid down in 1999, launched in 2001, and commissioned in 2003...
, HNLMS De Ruyter (F804)
HNLMS De Ruyter (F804)
HNLMS De Ruyter is the third De Zeven Provinciën class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy. It was laid down in 2000, launched in 2002, and commissioned in 2004. The frigate is named after the famous Dutch admiral Michiel de Ruyter .The frigate should not be mistaken with the former Hr. Ms...
and HNLMS Evertsen (F805)
HNLMS Evertsen (F805)
HNLMS Evertsen is the fourth De Zeven Provinciën class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy.Hr Ms Evertsen visited South Africa in late 2007 as part of a NATO task force on a friendship visit....
.
HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën is the eighth ship in the Royal Netherlands Navy to carry this name. The name refers to the original seven Dutch provinces which together formed the Union of Utrecht
Union of Utrecht
The Union of Utrecht was a treaty signed on 23 January 1579 in Utrecht, the Netherlands, unifying the northern provinces of the Netherlands, until then under the control of Habsburg Spain....
.
She was built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding
Damen Group
Damen is a Dutch shipbuilding company which was founded in 1927 by Jan and Marinus Damen in a self-built workshop. In 1954 their 200th ship was delivered.-History:...
(formerly the Koninklijke Schelde Groep) in Vlissingen. Her design incorporates stealth technology, as well as advanced radars of Dutch design such as SMART-L
SMART-L
SMART-L is a naval long-range search radar from Thales Nederland, formerly Hollandse Signaalapparaten ....
and APAR
Active Phased Array Radar
APAR is a shipborne multifunction radar developed and manufactured by Thales Nederland. It is the first Active Electronically Scanned Array MFR employed on an operational warship.-Characteristics:...
.
As of December 2009, Commander Hugo L.J. Ammerlaan is HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën's commanding officer.
Live Missile Firings
HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën carries the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSMESSM
The RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile is a development of the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile used to protect ships from attacking missiles and aircraft. ESSM is designed to counter supersonic maneuvering anti-ship missiles...
) and the SM-2
Standard missile
Standard Missile can refer to a family of several different American missiles:* RIM-66 Standard , a medium range surface-to-air missile, the successor of the RIM-24 Tartar missile...
Block IIIA missile systems. The primary sensor used to guide these missile systems is APAR
Active Phased Array Radar
APAR is a shipborne multifunction radar developed and manufactured by Thales Nederland. It is the first Active Electronically Scanned Array MFR employed on an operational warship.-Characteristics:...
.
In November 2003, approximately 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) from the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
, the HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën conducted its first live firings of these missile systems. The firings involved a single ESSM
ESSM
The RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile is a development of the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile used to protect ships from attacking missiles and aircraft. ESSM is designed to counter supersonic maneuvering anti-ship missiles...
and a single SM-2
Standard missile
Standard Missile can refer to a family of several different American missiles:* RIM-66 Standard , a medium range surface-to-air missile, the successor of the RIM-24 Tartar missile...
Block IIIA. These firings were particularly significant in that they were the first ever live firings involving a full-size ship-borne Active Electronically Scanned Array
Active Electronically Scanned Array
An Active Electronically Scanned Array , also known as active phased array radar is a type of phased array radar whose transmitter and receiver functions are composed of numerous small solid-state transmit/receive modules . AESAs aim their "beam" by broadcasting radio energy that interfere...
(i.e., APAR
Active Phased Array Radar
APAR is a shipborne multifunction radar developed and manufactured by Thales Nederland. It is the first Active Electronically Scanned Array MFR employed on an operational warship.-Characteristics:...
) guiding missiles using the Interrupted Continuous Wave Illumination (ICWI) technique in an operational environment. As related by Jane's Navy International:
During the tracking and missile-firing tests, target profiles were provided by Greek-built EADS/3Sigma Iris PVK medium-range subsonic target drones. [...] According to the RNLN, ... "APARActive Phased Array RadarAPAR is a shipborne multifunction radar developed and manufactured by Thales Nederland. It is the first Active Electronically Scanned Array MFR employed on an operational warship.-Characteristics:...
immediately acquired the missile and maintained track until destruction". [...] These ground-breaking tests represented the world's first live verification of the ICWI technique.
Further live firings were performed by the HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën in March 2005, again in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 180 nautical miles (333.4 km) west of the Azores. The tests involved three live-firing events including firing a single SM-2
Standard missile
Standard Missile can refer to a family of several different American missiles:* RIM-66 Standard , a medium range surface-to-air missile, the successor of the RIM-24 Tartar missile...
Block IIIA at an Iris target drone at long range, a single ESSM
ESSM
The RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile is a development of the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile used to protect ships from attacking missiles and aircraft. ESSM is designed to counter supersonic maneuvering anti-ship missiles...
at an Iris target drone, and a two-salvo launch (with one salvo comprising two SM-2
Standard missile
Standard Missile can refer to a family of several different American missiles:* RIM-66 Standard , a medium range surface-to-air missile, the successor of the RIM-24 Tartar missile...
Block IIIAs and the other comprising two ESSM
ESSM
The RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile is a development of the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile used to protect ships from attacking missiles and aircraft. ESSM is designed to counter supersonic maneuvering anti-ship missiles...
s) against two incoming Iris target drones. The long-range SM-2
Standard missile
Standard Missile can refer to a family of several different American missiles:* RIM-66 Standard , a medium range surface-to-air missile, the successor of the RIM-24 Tartar missile...
engagement apparently resulted in an intercept at a range of greater than 100 km from the ship, with a missile-target miss distance of 8 feet (the warhead's proximity fuse having been disabled for the purposes of the test).
See also
- De Zeven Provinciën class frigateDe Zeven Provinciën class frigateThe De Zeven Provinciën class frigates are highly advanced air-defence and command frigates in service with the Koninklijke Marine . This class of ships is also known as LCF...
- APARActive Phased Array RadarAPAR is a shipborne multifunction radar developed and manufactured by Thales Nederland. It is the first Active Electronically Scanned Array MFR employed on an operational warship.-Characteristics:...
- SMART-LSMART-LSMART-L is a naval long-range search radar from Thales Nederland, formerly Hollandse Signaalapparaten ....
External links
- NavalTechnology page about De Zeven Provinciën class frigates
- Thales Nederland page about March 2005 missile firings
- Dutch Ministry of Defence dispaches on the ship's activities in the Indian Ocean in 2006 (Helping a container ship in distress, helping a ship taken over by pirates, boarding a suspicious ship proven to be innocent).