A Naval News report, “RNLN Looks At Low-Manned Platform To Augment Frigate Fire Power” talks about the possibility of adding weapons and sensors to lightly manned small vessels to act as extensions of a large warship’s weapons and sensors. Cooperative Engagement Capability probably makes this possible. (Incidentally the vessel shown in the leading illustration is a Damen design 50 meter in length with a beam of 9 meters. More here.)
But the post also discussed another program, a new class of smaller amphibious warships, expected to enter service from the early 2030s, that will also fill the role of Offshore Patrol Vessels.
Captain Van der Kamp also outlined the RNLN’s evolving thinking on a replacement amphibious shipping capability, dubbed LPX…these new ships are also expected to assume the patrol and surveillance tasks currently performed by the navy’s four Holland class patrol vessels…“We would combine these amphibious ships with the function of a patrol vessel to do Coastguard patrols in the Caribbean and counter-drugs operations in the Caribbean.”
The four Holland class OPVs were commissioned 2012 to 2013, so in the early 2030s they will be at the most 23 years old. These ships are similar in size, speed, capabilities, and mission to the OPCs. They have frequently conducted drug interaction missions in the Caribbean with US Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachments embarked and at least on one occasion using a USCG helicopter.
The other two ships being replaced, HNLMS Rotterdam and HNLMS Johan de Witt. are older, commissioned in 1998 and 2007. They have a combined capability to land about 1200 Marines. I presume the cumulative capability of the new ships will be similar. Each of them can also carry up to 32 tanks, but the Netherlands Marine Corps does not have any tanks, nor do they have organic heavy artillery. Their only armored vehicles are much smaller, so perhaps the replacement ships will not need the capability to handle tanks.
Why is the Netherlands Navy choosing to do this?
Going from six ships to perhaps only four is likely to decrease the total crew requirements.
It may be that the landing ships are considered better able to meet the disaster response component that has been one of the OPVs’ missions.
The Netherlands Navy may not see any wartime role for the OPVs, or at least no role the new LPX could not also do.
Nevertheless, it seems the changes is rooted in changes in the Marine Corps concept of operation. “…leaner and smaller units that would unload further away from land.”
It may be significant that the new ships are referred to as LPX not LPDX. That may mean that they would not have a well deck. It might be thought they are paralleling US Marine Corp thinking that resulted in the Marines shedding their tanks and heavy artillery and the formation of a Littoral Regiment and a program to build relatively small Landing Ship, Mediums. On the other hand, given the way the Netherlands Marine Corps names their units, “Raiding Section,” “Raiding Troop,” and “Raiding Squadron,” they obviously see themselves as a raiding organization more akin to the British Royal Marine Commandos of WWII than to the US Marine Corps that seized and held islands in the Pacific. They do have a long and continuing association with the Royal Marines. In any case they are and probably will remain essentially light infantry.
If the new ships are to replace the four OPVs, then I would presume they would still need at least four ships. If they were following the USMC example, they may build a larger number of smaller ships, but I don’t think that will be the case. If they are to “…unload further away from land,” they are going to be very different from the beachable LSMs envisioned by the US Marines. The British developed LCVP Mk5c used by the Netherlands Marine Corps are big boats, 15.7 m (51 ft 6 in) in length and displacing 24 tons. If they are to be swung from davits, it will not be from a small ship.
I would not be surprised if the LPX program came out as four ships that look a lot like slightly larger Danish Absalon class (which can reportedly transport a company-sized landing force of some 200 soldiers with vehicles). Four ships that could each transport 300 Marines, each equipped with four LCVPs (or its replacement), a pair of “FRISC” (Fast Raiding, Interception and Special forces Craft) RHIB, with hangar space for a couple of helicopters, could replicate the transport capacity of the two LPDs in a more flexible, distributed, and perhaps more survivable force package. The resulting ships would effectively be modern high-speed transports (APD/LPR).
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Damen is quite a capable ship designer and builder. If they wanted a pure LST, they could easily go with their LST-120 class, which IMHO the USMC should look at for their LSM requirement. But they’ve already got their eyes set on the ‘Damen Crossover’ found here: https://www.damen.com/vessels/defence-and-security/crossovers
@DaSaint, thanks, this is sort of what I was thinking they might go for, but I did expect it to be a little larger, say 8,000 tons.
Was there an article that pointed you to this?
Over the past 20 years or so, I’ve basically figured out how the RNLN works: they support Dutch shipbuilding, unless they’ve lost the proficiency in a particular class, like SSKs. Therefore, if they’re stating they’re moving away from a particular set of craft, they’re only going to do so when they have something in mind – something already developed and presented to them. So…I actually like DAMEN designs and check their site frequently, and decided to see what’s going on, and voila! The ‘Crossover’ series of Patrol/Support/Landing ships. They were never going to purchase or license a Danish design to the detriment of their yards.
Thanks, I didn’t expect them to build additional Absalons, but to take the idea of a sort of fat frigate with a lot of versatility. Thought maybe they would make it faster than the Absalons.
The current overhaul of structures of the Dutch marines aims to enable sustainable, autonomous, distributed missions of individual raiding squadrons (companies) while lowering their logistics footprint – they therefore do not need a vessel for larger formations, but instead ships that can possibly provide fire support and sensor/EW support to smaller-unit operations.
The move towards this restructuring has been going on in various stages since 2015 (with “implementation” always planned for a timeframe of 2024-2035), and Crossover was presented by Damen as their possible solution to it fairly early – while presenting it with a plethora of variants and possible adaptions to be able to present a product for whatever the Ministry of Defense cooks up.
I am really surprised no one else has built ships along the Absalon model. When you need a frigate, its a frigate. When you need an attack transport it is an attack transport. When you need disaster response it can do that. Really very appropriate for smaller navies that cannot afford to build a wide range of types.
Agreed, but that may be changing. First, single-role ships have become damn expensive, but technology that allows ‘enough’ capability with smaller, lighter sensors and command systems, allow designers to start to focus on the hull-form itself in terms of flexibility. Size has its benefits, and in this case, volume allows for mission flexibility. Marry a decent hull form, an efficient propulsion system (no gas turbines), automation or minimized manning, and all of a sudden you have room for 200+ extra personnel. It’s like the age of sail where there were always a company of marines on the frigates or larger warships.
LCS, with all it’s issues, has actually heralded the concept of a more multimission platform. Where they failed was the ‘need for speed’, which everyone has now realized was grossly misplaced. 25-30 knots is all that is needed, and range plus payload flexibility is more important than speed.
Agreed. Extreme speed for tactical use is not longer particularly valuable, but high cruising speed–getting where you need to be quick is. I am a bit concerned that I don’t think the Constellation class can make 20 knots on diesels. I know the FRMMs couldn’t.
Something like the Damen crossover design would make handling large numbers of migrants a lot easier and would allow continued use of the flight deck for flight operations vs what we are doing now, putting migrants on the flight deck under an awning.
I think when you look at the proposed Vard 115m and 125m concept there is a whole lot of Absalon in their design decisions. Speed is the same. Engine type basically the same but with more power for the same speed. Right now I am hot for ships that can move shipping containers in such a way those containers might launch missiles when called upon. I also continue to want a rear boat launch that isn’t the only boat launch such that a Captas-4 can be integrated quickly when called upon. The unique question for the U.S. is whether to have a flight deck that can support larger helos like H-53, V-22 and H-47.
The RNLN has announced that a total of 6 LPX ships will be build to replace the 2 LPD’s + 4 OPV’s. The 12 LCVP’s will be replaced by 12 new Littoral Assault Craft (LAC) for personnel + 8 Littoral Craft Mobility (LCM) for cargo and personnel. The LAC will be purchased off the shelve from a supplier, i expect Damen’s Fast Assault Craft 1604 with some small modifications. The first LAC is planned to join the fleet in 2025. The LCM’s need to be developed with the industry (Damen) and are planned to join the fleet in 2028 – 2029. The 5 in service LCU’s are currently under MLU and are planned to be kept in service at least until 2032. MARSOF will receive 13 new Future Fast Interceptors to replace the FRISC vessels.
The RNLMC will change into a more special operations style unit where marines operate in smaller self-sufficient teams with long range fire support from ships, mortars on the ground & UAV’s. The new vehicles for the marines will be lightweight (Polaris MRZR type).
My expectation for the LPX will be a Absalon/ Crossover style vessel ranging 6500 – 9000 ton’s capable of housing 200 to 300 troops and the equipment they carry. The LPX should be capable of carrying the new LCA and LCM vessels, a small welldeck could be a option. An other option is the use of a overhead crane to load/unload the boats into the water and load / unload vehicles, cargo and personnel via the stern in a steelbeach style system.
I expect more information about this project this year with the A-brief to be send to the parlement in 2024.
Six ships rather than four would make the 200 troops/ship capacity seem logical, giving a total capacity equal to what they have now.
If the British are smart, they should consider similar ships for their revamped Marine Commando units.
The British and Dutch marines frequently operate together. The Brits are talking about new Littoral squadrons. Their two LPHs are now approaching 20 years old so they need to start planning replacements soon. RN MCM fleet is now very old and the Crossovers could also fil that role using offboard systems.
I can’t help but think the Dutch have the success of these two ships in mind.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Princess_Beatrix
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Queen_Emma