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As the world continues to wait for officials to finish their investigation of the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 tragedy in which 193 Dutch citizens perished, the Dutch company Dockwise Shipping BV is quietly preparing to assist the Russian Navy ferry three nuclear-powered attack submarines to Russian shipyards. With the possibility of Russian complicity in the MH17 tragedy, why would Amsterdam allow these operations to continue?

The semi-submersible heavy-lift ship "Transshelf" departed Singapore on July 24, briefly stopped in China in early August, then continued towards Rybachiy Submarine Base on the Kamchatka Peninsula, where it arrived on August 12 (local time). Locals mistook it for "Blue Marlin", another Dockwise ship. As of August 15, "Transshelf" was anchored in Avachinskaya Bukhta near 5258N 15833E. The ship is scheduled to ferry two Akula I-class SSN ("Bratsk" and "Samara") – via the Arctic Northern Sea Route (NSR) -- to Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center in Severodvinsk (White Sea). The approved window for the NSR transit is August 25-September 15, 2014.

The second ship, "Hai Yang Shi You 278", departed Dalian, China, on August 10 and is scheduled to arrive at Rybachiy Submarine Base on August 18. It will be used to ferry an Oscar II-class SSGN ("Chelyabinsk") to Zvezda Far East Shipyard in Bolshoy Kamen (near Vladivostok).

I hope the grieving families of those who perished on MH17 are okay with this...

Update 1: Here is a news item (+ video) from July 2009 when "Transshelf" conducted the world's first ferry mission of two nuclear-powered attack submarines (Russian Victor III SSN).

Update 2: A review of the NSR Administration website indicates Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center (on behalf of Dockwise Shipping BV) submitted a request on April 14 for "Transshelf" to transfer the NSR; the NSR Administration approved the request two days later.

Update 3: Updated arrival date for "Transshelf" in the Rybachiy area (August 12).

Update 4: Updated latest position for "Transhelf" as of August 15.

The Netherlands has u-turned on its decision to sell the Karel Doorman-class support shipHowever the country's mechanised infantry is being hit by greater cutbacks

The Royal Netherlands Navy (RoNL) will now receive its new 28,000t Karel Doorman Joint Logistics Support Ship (JSS), after the Netherlands Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 25 October its intent to reverse a series of recently announced austerity-measures, after finding alternative funding.

The ship, currently being completed at DSNS's shipyard in Vlissingen, was announced for sale on 17 October after being decreed superfluous to requirements. This decision was partially explained as a result of the disbandment of the army's Leopard 2A6 main battle tank force in a previous round of cuts - with transporting the force to be one of the vessel's primary roles.

Outre l’accord avec la Pologne, le ministre allemand de la Défense, Thomas De Maizière, a signé une ambitieuse lettre d’intention sur l’approfondissement des relations de défense avec son homologue néerlandaise, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert.

Ici encore, il est question de lancer des projets de coopération tous azimuts, allant du développement conjoint de plates-formes à la création d’unités binationales et la mutualisation de certains moyens. Il est clairement spécifié dans le document, que TTU s’est procuré, que la feuille de route fixée prévoit des étapes «énergiques» en vue de résultats «tangibles».

Dans le domaine naval, «l’expertise des deux pays en matière de design et de conception de sous-marins pourrait être utilisée pour la conception d’une nouvelle classe de sous-marin pour les deux pays», alors qu’en matière de guerre des mines, la lettre propose, en partenariat avec la Belgique, d’étudier la mise en place d’un programme conjoint de remplacement des moyens de lutte contre les mines (MCM).

Enfin, il est envisagé de développer ensemble un système de DAMB navale autour du radar SMART L, conçu par Thales Nederland et qui équipe notamment les frégates néerlandaises de classe De Zeven Provincien et allemandes de classe Sachsen. Il est, par ailleurs, «suggéré» qu’en cas d’acquisition par la marine allemande du NH90 NFH, un pool trilatéral avec la Belgique pourrait être mis en place pour les pièces de rechange et la formation.

Parallèlement, des groupes de travail bilatéraux vont être créés sur tout le spectre des opérations navales : opérations amphibies, ravitaillement en mer, logistiques, opérations sous-marines, doctrine, DAMB navale et drones embarqués....

On Tech Base, the recruitment event of Defence, the Royal Navy yesterday a first model of the replacement for the M-frigates shown. Navy / material thing Defence Organisation (DMO) is conducting a study of the new frigates from 2023 should be added to the fleet. It was the first time that a design was shown to the public.

 

One of the possible designs
The design of new ships is an extremely difficult task where many disciplines come together and in which the design on many discs,. Unlike many other defense materiel, however, this is still done in the Netherlands and material things or by the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO), often in cooperation with Damen and Thales Netherlands and now in Belgium. Long before there is built, will be on the basis of the first requirements sketches. The model was shown to Tech Base is a very recent, but early development of the various options where the Navy to think. Nothing in the design is completely solid and a decision on actual construction of replacements for the M-frigates will still be years in coming.
Nevertheless, a first model a unique introduction to the Navy ships in the future on behalf Netherlands move the world.

 

Future Surface Combatant
Gives the design of the Future Surface Combatant shown, according to the designers of DMO spot, a weather ship of 145 meters with a crew of 120 people. The frigate will be able to operate in the highest spectrum of force is therefore equipped with both sensors and weapons for air targets and surface targets. Because the M-submarine warfare frigates as additional specialization and LCF'en not excel here, will the FSC herein provided. It is unlikely that mine action capacities are added to the ship, because that again states very different demands on the platform in areas such as requirements for magnetism.

 

Visible are at least a 76 mm Oto Melara gun, such as the Navy already has since the 80s. There is no choice in this design for a stealth casing of the gun. For the model rockets has about 16 cells of the bucket, behind the gun. A lot less than a LCF, but just as much as the M-frigate has those missiles in an older configuration. Also, there are in the model to see, even if only four instead of the usual eight. The known Harpoon canisters
As for the OPV's designers opted for a similar Hitrole and Marlin setup: two front and two rear. The hangar is a CIWS as a last resort against incoming targets.

 

The role of "drones" on the water, under

water and in the air in the future on naval vessels only growing. These new weapons are, not surprisingly, do not forget by DMO. In the midships of the model can be found. USV's either Unmanned Service Vessels This unmanned, but armed ships can from the mothership behind drug smugglers or pirates.

The FSC also accommodate manned units including a helicopter and a FRISC. This requires a large helipad, hangar and slipway incorporated into the design.
The sensors are evolved and are placed in a new, larger mast.

Not revolutionary
Who after seeing the Zumwaltklasse expected, a revolutionary design is perhaps somewhat disappointed. It is striking how long the ship, especially the bin. But laser weapons, a totally different hull shape or numerous spectacular developments not. Shows the model The designers seem to build on proven concepts as the previously LCF and OPV , two classes where this model is clearly related.
Netherlands also works in the development of these ships together with Belgium. Great Britain and Germany are just before and take the next 10 years, new frigates in service, contemporaries called respectively the Type 26 frigate and the Type 127 frigate .
If the new ships are ordered and actually come into service around 2023, the M-frigates probably ascended. Zr.Ms. From Speijk and Zr.Ms. Van Amstel are resp. 30 and 28 years old. Their history began in the 70s of the last century.

THE HAGUE, 05/09/13 - The defence ministry has to find over 300 million euros of extra savings. The Dutch navy's biggest vessel, currently being built n Vlissingen will be sold before it is commissioned, Trouw newspaper reported Wednesday.
The scrapping of the logistics support ship, which was to be the biggest and tallest ship in the Dutch navy, is part of a 330 million euro pruning operation, according to the paper. Where the navy gives up a ship, an entire battalion will be scrapped in the army.
The air force will also have to make do with six or seven fewer F16 fighter aircraft. At the same time, the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft is being chosen as the successor to this fleet. The number of JSFs will depend on the price. A ceiling of 4 billion euros will apply to the total order.
These measures, to be announced on Prince‚'s Day (17 September), are on top of the 1 billion euros in cutbacks that Defence had already been saddled with earlier. As part of this, 12,000 jobs will be lost, mostly in the higher echelons.
According to Trouw, while the Karel Doorman (which will cost over 400 million euros), is being sold, at the same time, a new but smaller and cheaper supply ship will be built. HMS Amsterdam (commissioned in 1995), now sailing in the Caribbean, will also have to remain in service longer than planned.
The navy will also have to sacrifice a company, which involves 180 to 200 people. Which battalion will be scrapped is not yet clear. It could be one of the four armoured infantry battalions, possibly one of the two stationed in Havelte.
The scrapping of a battalion costs between 600 and 650 jobs. Additionally, the pruning of support services is to yield savings of 40 million euros.

The Dutch and Russian navies have taken steps to strengthen their maritime ties. On behalf of Defence Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy, Vice Admiral Matthieu Borsboom, signed a Letter of Intent with his Russian counterpart Admiral Victor Chirkov, in St Petersburg.

The agreement lays the foundation for an enhancement of the bilateral maritime cooperation in areas such as hydrography, submarine escape and the combined fight against piracy. Borsboom and Chirkov also discussed Russian participation in the submarine rescue exercise Bold Monarch and various other activities, which are being organised as part of the Netherlands-Russia friendship year 2013.