Ensdorf Class Minesweeper

Fgs Siegburg is a Ensdorf class minesweeper class mine hunter 

The five minesweepers of the German Navy's Type 352 Ensdorf class are former Type 343 Hameln class minesweepers that have been upgraded with the TROIKA PLUS system.

The Ensdorf class have three modes to clear mine fields:

TROIKA PLUS: This system employs up to four remote controlled Seehund ("Seal") drones which perform the sweep. The drones are small unmanned boats that can simulate the acoustic and magnetic signatures of bigger ships to trigger mines. Their small size and special construction let them survive the effects of exploding mines unharmed.

Mine hunting: Mines detected with the hull-mounted sonar can be identified and exploded with expendable Seefuchs (SeaFox) ROVs.

Classical minesweeping: Against moored mines the classical minesweeping using towed wire cutters to cut the anchors of mines can be conducted.

The Ensdorf class replaced the Type 351 Lindau class minesweepers in service with the German Navy.

The ships were not decommissioned for their rebuilding to Type 352, so the listed dates are the ones of their commission as Type 343. Auerbach/Oberpfalz  (Auerbach/OPV) is one single name.

The ships currently belong to the 5. Minensuchgeschwader (5th Mine Sweeping Squadron) based in Kiel at the Baltic Sea.

She is seen here alongside in Leith 27^th April 2012

Ships unofficial mascot - it looks like a character from the Angry Bird game destroying a mine

De Zeven Provinciën Class Frigate

Hr Ms De Ruyter is a De Zeven Provinciën class frigate from the Netherlands navy.

See HERE for more details

Bremen Class Frigates

Fgs Rheinland Pfalz is a Bremen Class Frigate from the German navy

See HERE for more details.

Ships Crest

Holland Class

Holland Class OPV

Holland Class offshore patrol vessels (OPV’s) were built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding for the Royal Netherlands Navy.  The series of four OPVs are named after Dutch coastal provinces.

HrMs Holland             (P840)

HrMs Zealand             (P841)            

HrMs Friesland           (P842)              

HrMs Groningen         (P843)

The Royal Netherlands Navy will deploy the OPV’s in the Caribbean and the North Sea.  The OPV’s can support international task forces in anti-piracy missions, counter-drug operations and block ships in coastal areas during crises.

The OPV’s have a broad platform to provide stability in marine seas. Its stealthy design incorporates innovative techniques to reduce radar reflectivity. The body is built with thick steel, which has a lower tensile strength. It is heavier than the steel used for frigates and can resist the impact of small-calibre weapons.

The hull is stretched and the bridge and superstructure are placed aft wards, to help optimise the sea keeping capabilities of the OPV’s. The speed is cut down to reduce fuel consumption and increase the range of the vessels. Two rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) and one NH-90 helicopter are also carried to support interception operations.

The OPV’s can accommodate 50 ship crew members and up to 40 non-listed persons, including a helicopter detachment, law enforcement detachment (LED), a platoon of marines or a medical team. Approximately 100 evacuees can also be boarded.  These vessels can also carry out emergency missions.

The OPV’s can sail at a speed 21.5kt. Its maximum range is 5,000nm.   Total displacement is 3750 tonnes.

The project is estimated to cost €467.8m (with each mast alone costing €30m).  The OPV’s were built between 2008 and 2012.

Friesland is seen here arriving at Leith without her mast..

She was escorted by the Forth Ports tugs Fidra and Seal Carr

D'Estienne D'Orves Class

The Lieutenant de Vaisseau Lavallée is a French D'Estienne D'Orves (Type A 69) class frigate of 950 tons displacement launched in 1979. She is crewed by 83 ratings and 7 officers and has a top speed of 23 knots and a range of 7200 km at 15 knots.

The A69 type Avisos are small warships mainly designed for coastal anti-submarine defence, but are also available for high sea escort missions.  Built on a simple and robust design, they have an economical and reliable propulsion system which allows them to be used for overseas presence missions. The A69 design was based in the project of the João Coutinho class corvettes of the Portuguese Navy.

Ships in the class

A total of 17 ships of this class were built and named after the heroes of the Second World War. Eight of these ships have since been decommissioned and six of them were sold to the Turkish Navy where they were redesignated as the B Class corvette.

The nine ships remaining in French service will have their heavy weapons removed and be reclassified as oceanic patrol ships. They will replace the P400 class patrol vessels in this role.

Decommissioned or transferred (To Turkey)

F781 D'Estienne d'Orves (decommissioned in 1999, now TCG Beykoz)

F782 Amyot d'Inville (decommissioned in 1999, now TCG Bartin)

F783 Drogou (decommissioned in 2000, now TCG Bodrum)

F784 Détroyat (decommissioned in 1997)

F785 Jean Moulin (decommissioned in 1999)

F786 Quartier-Maître Anquetil (decommissioned in 2000, now TCG Bandirma)

F787 Commandant de Pimodan (decommissioned in 2000, now TCG Bozcaada)

F788 Second-Maître Le Bihan (decommissioned in 2002, now TCG Bafra)

In service in the French Navy

F789 Lieutenant de vaisseau Le Hénaff

F790 Lieutenant de vaisseau Lavallée

F791 Commandant L'Herminier

F792 Premier-Maître L'Her

F793 Commandant Blaison

F794 Enseigne de vaisseau Jacoubet

F795 Commandant Ducuing

F796 Commandant Birot

F797 Commandant Bouan

Lieutenant de Vaisseau Lavallée is seen here departing Leith 28^th March 2012.  The Forth Ports tugs  Seal Carr (bow) and Oxcar (stern) were helping out.