MINE COUNTERMEASURES VESSELS

TRIPARTITE CLASS

 

Dutch Navy Tripartite Class Mine Countermeasure Vessel

The Tripartite class minehunter is a type of minesweeper used by the Navies of Belgium, France and the Netherlands, as well as Pakistan and Indonesia.
 

A joint venture of the Navies of France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, the Tripartite class of minehunters were conceived in the 1970s and built in the 1980s.

 

France built the mine-hunting equipment, Belgium provided the electronics, and the Netherlands constructed the propulsion train.

 

France and the Netherlands originally bought 15, with Belgium buying 10. All three countries' Tripartite ships contribute to NATO as part of MCMFORNORTH, or Mine Counter Measures Force North ("North" to distinguish itself from the Mediterranean minehunting fleet).
 

TRIPARTITE CLASS Specifications
Country of Manufacture International
Number in Service France 12 (Eridan Class), Belgium 4 (Flower Class), Netherlands 15 (Alkmar Class)
Crew 5 officers and 42 other rates
Armament 1 x 20mm gun, 4 x smaller machine guns
Length 51.5m
Beam 8.9m
Draught 3.5m
Displacement 605 tonnes
Powerplant 1 x 1370kW Werkspoor RUB 215" V12 diesel
Performance Max speed 15 knots – range 3,000 nm at 12 knots
First of Class 1985