HNLMS Vlaardingen

History
Netherlands
NameVlaardingen
NamesakeThe city of Vlaardingen
BuilderVan der Giessen de Noord, Alblasserdam
Laid down5 May 1986
Launched6 August 1988
Commissioned15 March 1989
Decommissioned27 March 2024
IdentificationHull number: M868
FateDonated to the Ukrainian Navy
Badge
Ukraine
NameMelitopol
Cost11.4 million (2007) (equivalent to 14.08 million in 2022)[1]
Acquired2025
Commissioned2025
IdentificationHull number: M312
StatusIn active service
General characteristics [2][3]
TypeAlkmaar-class minehunter
Displacement588 t (579 long tons) full load
Length51.50 m (169 ft 0 in)
Beam8.90 m (29 ft 2 in)
Height18.5 m (60 ft 8 in)
Draft2.60 m (8 ft 6 in)
Propulsion1 × 1,860 hp (1,390 kW) Werkspoor RUB 215 V12 diesel engine
Speed15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Range3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Boats & landing
craft carried
Crew44
Sensors &
processing systems
1 × DUBM 21B sonar
Armament1 × 20 mm (0.79 in) machine gun

Melitopol (M312) (ex-HNLMS Vlaardingen (M863)) is a former minehunter of the Royal Netherlands Navy. Now in service with the Ukrainian Navy.[2][3]

History

Dutch service

Vlaardingen is the result of a cooperation between France, Belgium and The Netherlands. She is the fourteenth ship of the class in Dutch service and the third ship in the Dutch Navy to be named Vlaardingen. The commissioning ceremony took place in Alblasserdam on 15 March 1989.[3]

The decommissioning ceremony took place in Vlaardingen on 27 March 2024.[4]

Ukrainian service

Vlaardingen was pledged to the Ukrainian Navy in 2024 together with the Makkum following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. She was transferred in 2025 and renamed Melitopol.[2][3] The ship can't travel to the Black Sea because of the Montreux Convention.

References

  1. ^ 1262 to 1789 Leonardo Ridolfi, The French economy in the longue durée: a study on real wages, working days and economic performance from Louis IX to the Revolution (1250–1789), Ridolfi, L. (2019). Six Centuries of Real Wages in France from Louis IX to Napoleon III: 1250–1860. The Journal of Economic History, 79(3), 589-627. 1798 to 1809: Mitchell, B. R. (Brian R.). (1975). European historical statistics, 1750-1970. New York: Columbia University Press, 1810 to 1903: Sauvy, Alfred. Variations des prix de 1810 à nos jours. Journal de la société française de statistique, Volume 93 (1952) , pp. 88-104 1904 to 2022: Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques, Coefficient de transformation de l'euro ou du franc d'une année, en euro ou en franc d'une autre année – Base 2015 – Série utilisée par le convertisseur franc-euro – Identifiant 010605954
  2. ^ a b c "Alkmaarklasse mijnenjagers" (in Dutch). Marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d "Hr.Ms. Vlaardingen. (bnr. 863)" (in Dutch). Onze Marinevloot. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  4. ^ "Mijnenjager Vlaardingen uit dienst, Makkum later dit jaar" (in Dutch). Marineschepen.nl. Retrieved 9 August 2025.