(NL)LCVP explained

The (NL)LCVP, which stands for (Netherlands) Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel, is a Dutch LCVP. The Royal Netherlands Navy currently operates twelve LCVP type Mk.V(C) as well as five LCUs for the Marine Corps.

(NL)LCVP type Mk.I

Also known as LCA type Mark I, LCA Mark I or L 9510 type Mk I.[1] [2] These landing crafts were made of polyester and built between 1961 and 1964 by several Dutch shipyards.[3] The polyester hull was built using the sandwich method that involved using layers of polyester.[4] Furthermore, they were equipped with a Rolls Royce diesel engine that could produce 200 bhp and drive the schottel propeller to a maximum speed of 12 knots.[5] The crafts were operated by a crew of three persons. Starting in 1983 they were replaced by the LCA Mark II.

Crafts

(NL)LCVP type Mk.I construction data
Pennant no.BuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedStatusNote
L9510Rijkswerf Willemsoord1 January 196114 December 196125 June 1962Out of servicePrototype, decommissioned on 8 December 1986.
L9511Rijkswerf WillemsoordOctober 1962February 196326 June 1963Out of serviceDecommissioned on 8 December 1986.
L9512Rijkswerf WillemsoordNovember 1962February 196326 June 1963Out of servicePreserved
L9513Rijkswerf WillemsoordDecember 1962February 196326 June 1963Out of servicePreserved
L9514A. Lecomte co. Inc.1963196317 April 1963Out of service
L9515A. Lecomte co. Inc.1963196317 April 1963Out of service
L9517A. Lecomte co. Inc.1963196317 April 1963Out of serviceDecommissioned on 8 December 1986 and sold to the Joost Dourlein Barracks.
L9518Verolme Scheepswerf1962[6] 16 April 19632 May 1963Out of service
L9520Verolme Scheepswerf196221 June 1963
12 April 1964
26 April 1964Out of serviceOriginal craft had an accident during sea trials and as a result a new craft with the same pennant was built.
L9522Verolme Scheepswerf196219 August 196327 August 1963Out of serviceDecommissioned on 8 December 1986 and gifted on 11 May 1987 to the Naval Fire department (Dutch: Marinebrandweer).

(NL)LCVP type Mk.II

Also known as LCA Mark II[7] or L 9530 type Mk II.[8] The (NL)LCVP type Mk.II first entered service in 1984 and were made of polyester.[9] They were equipped with a DAF DKS 1160/m turbo diesel engine that could produce 260 hp and drive the schottel propeller to a maximum speed of 11 knots. The crafs had a range of 220 miles and were equipped with a Racal-Decca 110 I band navigation radar and a FN FAL 7.62 mm machine gun. Each craft could carry 35 troops, a Land Rover or a BV 202E Snowcat. A first series of 6 ships was built, with a second series of another six planned. The second batch was eventually cancelled in favour of six (NL)LCVP type Mk.III.[10]

Crafts

(NL)LCVP type Mk.II construction data[11]
Pennant no.Builder Laid downCommissionedStatusNote
L9530Rijkswerf Willemsoord15 April 198210 October 1984Out of service
L9531Rijkswerf Willemsoord16 November 198220 December 1984Out of service
L9532Rijkswerf Willemsoord12 December 19834 July 1985Out of servicePreserved
L9533Rijkswerf Willemsoord28 December 198413 December 1985Out of service
L9534Rijkswerf Willemsoord1 April 198513 December 1985Out of servicePreserved
L9535Rijkswerf Willemsoord5 December 19855 January 1987Out of service

(NL)LCVP type Mk.III

Also known as LCA Mark III[12] or L 9536 type LCA Mk III. These crafts were an improved version of the LCA Mark II. They were made of polyester and ordered on 10 December 1988 at van der Giessen-de Noord.[13] The Mark III was equipped with two diesel engines that could produce 750 hp and drive its two propellers to a maximum speed of 14 knots when fully loaded or 16.5 knots when lightly loaded. It could carry a platoon of marines, a Land Rover with trailer or 120 mm mortar, a max of 6600 kg of goods or a Bv 206 snowcat. The crafts had a range of 200 miles at 12 knots and were equipped with a Racal-Decca 110 I band navigation radar. As armament it had a single 7.62 machine gun.

Crafts

(NL)LCVP type Mk.III construction data
Pennant no.BuilderStatusNote
L9536Van der Giessen-De NoordOut of service
L9537Van der Giessen-De NoordOut of service
L9538Van der Giessen-De NoordOut of service
L9539Van der Giessen-De NoordOut of service
L9540Van der Giessen-De NoordOut of service
L9541Van der Giessen-De NoordOut of service

(NL)LCVP type Mk.V(C)

The (NL)LCVP type Mk.V(C) were built as a replacement for the Mk.II and Mk.III.[14] The contract for the construction and delivery of the twelve crafts were signed on 13 December 2006 with Damen Shipyards Gorinchem. They were built in Den Helder by Visser shipyard, with the first four being delivered by 2009 and the last eight by 2011. The design of the Mk.V(C) is based on the British LCVP Mk5.

Crafts

Pennant no.BuilderStatusNote
L9565Visser ShipyardIn service
L9566Visser ShipyardIn service
L9567Visser ShipyardIn service
L9568Visser ShipyardIn service
L9569Visser ShipyardIn service
L9570Visser ShipyardIn service
L9571Visser ShipyardIn service
L9572Visser ShipyardIn service
L9573Visser ShipyardIn service
L9574Visser ShipyardIn service
L9575Visser ShipyardIn service
L9576Visser ShipyardIn service

Replacement

The Mk.V(C) will be replaced from 2025 onwards with 12 new LCVP's and 8 larger Littoral Craft Mobility (LCM).[15] [16]

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. van Amstel (1991), p. 133.
  2. van Amstel (1991), p. 119.
  3. van Amstel (1991), pp. 133-134.
  4. Woudstra (1982), p. 199.
  5. Moore (1974), p. 239.
  6. Raven (1988), pp. 190-191.
  7. Sharpe (1989), p. 390.
  8. van Amstel (1991), p. 134.
  9. Raven (1988), p. 190.
  10. van Amstel (1991), p. 135.
  11. van Amstel (1991), pp. 134-135.
  12. van Amstel (1991), pp. 119-120.
  13. Saunders (2009), p. 551.
  14. Saunders (2015), p. 572.
  15. Web site: A-brief project ‘Vervanging middelzwaar landingsvaartuig (LCVP)’ . Ministerie van Defensie . 2023-03-22 . 2024-06-14 . nl.
  16. Web site: Nieuwe landingsvaartuigen voor mariniers in alles beter . Ministerie van Defensie . 2023-03-22 . 2024-06-14 . nl.