Belgian minehunter Narcis

Narcis (M923) is a Tripartite-class minehunter of the Belgian Naval Component, launched in 1990, at the Mercantile-Belyard shipyard in Rupelmonde and christened by Mrs. Lafosse-De Backer, the wife of the then Mayor of Mons, on 14 March 1991. The patronage of Narcis was accepted by the city of Mons. It was the ninth of the Belgian Tripartite-class minehunters. The Belgian government chose to deploy the ship as part of its involvement with enforcing the Libyan no-fly zone.^[1]

History
Belgium
Name	Narcis
Namesake	Narcissus
Builder	Mercantile-Belyard Shipyard, Rupelmonde
Laid down	30 March 1990
Launched	27 September 1990
Christened	14 March 1991
Commissioned	30 March 1991
Identification	Call sign: ORGN MMSI number: 205211000
Status	in active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Tripartite-class minehunter
Displacement	536 t (528 long tons) empty 605 t (595 long tons) full load
Length	51.5 m (169 ft)
Beam	8.96 m (29.4 ft)
Height	18.5 m (61 ft)
Draught	3.6 m (12 ft)
Propulsion	1 × 1370 kW Werkspoor RUB 215 V12 diesel engine 2 × 180 kW ACEC active rudders 1 × HOLEC bow propeller
Speed	15 knots (28 km/h)
Range	3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Boats & landing craft carried	2 × rigid-hulled inflatable boats 1 × Atlas Elektronik Seafox ROV
Complement	4 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
Armament	3 × 12.7 mm machine guns

In 2024, during the Russo-Ukrainian war, it was announced that Narcis will be donated to Ukraine at some time in the future. The ship will undergo full maintenance before donation. In total 3 Tripartite class ships were announced (as of 2024) to be donated to Ukraine. Belgium will provide basic training and the Netherlands offers on-the-job training for the crews.^[2]

References

1. "230 Belgische militairen nemen deel aan operatie Odyssey Dawn". Demorgen.be. 2011-03-20. Retrieved 2011-03-20.
2. Administrator (2024-03-15). "Belgium Increases Military Aid to Ukraine with 300 Lynx Combat Vehicles & 3 Minehunter Ships | Defense News March 2024 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army year 2024 | Archive News year". Army Recognition. Retrieved 2024-03-18.

External links