OVERVIEW: The Mercuur Submarine Support and Training ship is a diesel-powered intended to maintain, test and recover torpedoes. She has a secondary mission of acting as a staff ship for MCM operations.

DETAILS: Although armed with torpedoes, HNLMS Mercuur not designed as war ship.  Rather, it performs tests and experiments on the submarine force's torpedoes in addition to maintaining them.  The Mercuur also conducts torpedo exercises with surface ships and acts as a target ship. 

Sensors include an I-band navigation radar and a passive sonar. There is space to fit two 20mm MG's, Torpedo tubes of 324mm (above water) & 533mm (underwater). She has a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) for recovering torpedoes. 

SPECIFICATIONS:
Displacement: 		1500 full
Speed: 			14 knots (max)
Engineering: 		2 MAN 6L-20/27 diesels.  Bow thrusters
Range: 			?
Endurance: 		?
Complement: 		Crew 28 with 11 spares

NOTES: IOC: 1987. Refit in 2015.

SOURCES:"HNLMS Mercuur (A900)." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Last modified November 24, 2020. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HNLMS_Mercuur_(A900);. Karremann, Jaime. "Zr.Ms. Mercuur (A900) Torpedowerkschip." Marineschepen.nl. Accessed October 1, 2021. https://marineschepen.nl/schepen/mercuur.html. ; "Refit and Maintenance of RNLN Torpedo Ship Zr Ms Mercuur by Damen." Navy Recognition. Last modified May 21, 2015. https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/year-2015-news/may-2015-navy-naval-forces-defense-industry-technology-maritime-security-global-news/2742-refit-and-maintenance-of-rnln-torpedo-ship-zr-ms-mercuur-by-damen.html. ; "Refit and Maintenance of RNLN Torpedo Ship Zr Ms Mercuur by Damen." Navy Recognition. Last modified May 21, 2015. https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/year-2015-news/may-2015-navy-naval-forces-defense-industry-technology-maritime-security-global-news/2742-refit-and-maintenance-of-rnln-torpedo-ship-zr-ms-mercuur-by-damen.html.

Author: Parel803
