fully equipped hangar and flight deck for one medium-sized helicopter
HNLMS Holland is the first ship of the Holland-classoffshore patrol vessels of the Royal Netherlands Navy.
The ship was originally designed to fulfill patrol and intervention tasks against lightly armed opponents, such as pirates and smugglers. However, it also has very advanced electronic and radar surveillance capabilities which are used for military stabilization and security roles, short of outright war. Without sonar or long range weapons, it utilizes the surveillance capabilities of the Thales integrated mast, which integrates communication systems and two 4-faced phased arrays for air and surface search.[3][4]
Service history
Holland was the first ship of the Holland-class offshore patrol vessels to enter service. The ship fulfilled its first task before it had actually entered service when on 15 March 2012 it returned a mirror that had been taken from Royal Charles after the Raid on the Medway.[5]
In 2013 Holland successfully intercepted two illegal drug transports in the Dutch Caribbean. One of the cargoholds contained more than 2,000 pounds (910 kg) of cocaine.[6]
On 10 October 2016, Holland was deployed around Haiti, to help after the impact of Hurricane Mathew.[3]
In July 2018, the crew of HNLMS Holland ended a three-month drug patrol in the Dutch Caribbean with a visit to New York. While in the Caribbean Sea, Holland also performed coast guard duties. Holland's sister ship Friesland replaced the vessel in the Caribbean.[8]
.svg)
