Belgian minehunter Aster

Aster is a Tripartite-class minehunter of the Belgian Naval Component, launched on 16 December 1985 at the Mercantile-Belyard shipyard in Rupelmonde and christened by Queen Paola of Belgium. The patronage of Aster was accepted by the city of Blankenberge. Aster was the first of the Belgian Tripartite-class minehunters.

Aster M915
History
Belgium
NameAster
NamesakeAster
BuilderMercantile-Belyard Shipyard, Rupelmonde
Launched16 December 1985
IdentificationPennant number M915
Statusin active service
General characteristics
Class and typeTripartite-class minehunter
Displacement
  • 536 t (528 long tons) empty
  • 605 t (595 long tons) full load
Length51.5 m (169 ft)
Beam8.96 m (29.4 ft)
Height18.5 m (61 ft)
Draught3.6 m (12 ft)
Propulsion
  • 1 × 1370 kW Werkspoor RUB 215 V12 diesel engine
  • 2 × 180 kW ACEC active rudders
  • 1 × HOLEC bow propellor
Speed15 knots (28 km/h)
Range3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Boats & landing
craft carried
Complement4 officers, 15 non-commissioned officers, 17 sailors
Sensors and
processing systems
  • 1 × Thales Underwater Systems TSM 2022 Mk III Hull Mounted Sonar
  • 1 × SAAB Bofors Double Eagle Mk III Self Propelled Variable Depth Sonar
  • 1 × Consilium Selesmar Type T-250/10CM003 Radar
Armament3 × 12.7 mm machine guns

On 11 October 2007, Aster was damaged when the minesweeper collided with a fuel lighter on the River Scheldt.[1]

In early October 2018, it was reported that the Pakistan Navy had received a decommissioned MCMV from Belgium. Jane's in its article, speculated that this could be Aster decommissioned by the Belgian Navy. Further, since the details were not provided by the parties involved, it was not clear whether the Pakistan Navy will operate it or use it as spares.[2]

Citations

  1. Silverstone 2007, p. 9.
  2. Pakistan receives decommissioned MCMV from Belgium, Jane's 360, retrieved 10 October 2018

References


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