HMS Rotterdam without her SA532

[Stafsels]

Hi aqll,

I am but wondering:
- The Duth navy has the H800 HMS Rotterdam, which is a ship with an substantial landing dock;
- In the past CH-47D were not allowed to operate from it for as this airframe is to heavy and is not supported by the deck of the HMS Rotterdam (in sort: when trying to land it would fall from the main deck just below just into the hangar deck)
- in the past some eight Sa.532 mk.2 Cougar were equiped with floats for operations on and with HMS Rotterdam;
- the float were interchangable between all 17 Cougars;
- last years (presumably for the operations within Afghanistan) the Cougars were not very often seen with their floats on.

What will happen with the HMS Rotterdam now that their main helicopter has been selected to be phased out?

Operations with NAH-64D and NHF-90 are not very likely....

Greetings,

Henk

[KIER]

Whats your source ??????

Off course the NH-90 will be operating in the future from the HMS Rotterdam, and his big (twin) brother De Wit.

Why not ???

It can carry 6 NH-90's ( and De Wit can also carry 4 CH-47's)



Kier

[Rockville]

- The Duth navy has the H800 HMS Rotterdam, which is a ship with an substantial landing dock;

Small correction: HNLMS Rotterdam, L 800.

- In the past CH-47D were not allowed to operate from it for as this airframe is to heavy and is not supported by the deck of the HMS Rotterdam (in sort: when trying to land it would fall from the main deck just below just into the hangar deck)

I don't know what the source of your info is, but the flight deck of RDAM is designed for ops with helos up to the Chinook. The main problem is the configuration of the Chinook. They are not fitted for a shut down o/b a maritime vessel, so they can only operate from RDAM with the rotors running. Unfortunately that's also the problem with the new “F”.

- in the past some eight Sa.532 mk.2 Cougar were equiped with floats for operations on and with HMS Rotterdam;
- the float were interchangable between all 17 Cougars;

I'm not aware of the exact numbers, but a number of them are indeed “maritime ops ready” as well as the crews.

What will happen with the HMS Rotterdam now that their main helicopter has been selected to be phased out?

The main helo of RDAM is still the Lynx. And next to come is the NH-90.

[aviodromefriend]

Hi aqll,

I am but wondering:
- The Duth navy has the H800 HMS Rotterdam, which is a ship with an substantial landing dock;

Yes, the dock can hold multiple landing craft, for choppers it is not that useful, as above it is a helicopterdeck.

- In the past CH-47D were not allowed to operate from it for as this airframe is to heavy and is not supported by the deck of the HMS Rotterdam (in sort: when trying to land it would fall from the main deck just below just into the hangar deck)

The hangar is situated in front of the helideck at the same level, there are no lifts or something like that to get the helis to a non-existing hangardeck below the helideck.

- in the past some eight Sa.532 mk.2 Cougar were equiped with floats for operations on and with HMS Rotterdam;

According to the then commander of Soesterberg AB the floats had nothing to do with operating from a ship. It was because of operations over the former Yugoslavia, if they were hit from the ground and ended on water, they could float for a while. IIRC Rotterdam hadn't even entered service at that time.

What will happen with the HMS Rotterdam now that their main helicopter has been selected to be phased out?

The Cougar has never been the main helicopter for any Dutch vessel. All the ships with helicoptercarrying capabilities that are in service now, except the before the end of the year going Zuiderkruis are designed for Lynx operations, with NH-90 already in mind. (Even already phased out ships were NH-90 capable.)

I'm not aware of the exact numbers, but a number of them are indeed “maritime ops ready” as well as the crews.

Yes, some loadmasters even just qualified for maritime ops when Rotterdam was on its way to the former Antilles, returning to Gilze after passing the Street of Dover. (And since that time Johan de Witt hasn't left the harbour, so there is much made use of their training.)

[Stafsels]

Thanks!
So NH-90 it will be!

Greetings,

Henk