New and improved landing craft to boost amphibious ops for Dutch marines
The RNLN's LCUs are 36m-long, 6.8m-wide and displace 8,000 tonnes. They have a speed of 11kt and a range of 200nm. (Damen)
The Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) is embarking on the upgrade and replacement of its existing amphibious landing craft to provide new capabilities for long-range transport and marine assault.
The first of five upgraded RNLN Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Mk II vessels will be delivered by the end of 2023.
A spokesperson from the Netherlands MoD told Shephard that the LCU (L 9525) will complete its mid-life upgrade (MLU) soon although 'due to some shifting priorities there is a small delay in the delivery of the first LCU'.
The MLU is being completed by De Haas Shipyard in Rotterdam under a contract awarded in 2022 and the first LCU entered the shipyard in January 2023.
'Within the MLU, the general and forward operating base capabilities of the LCU are
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