HR.MS. DE RUYTER (F804)

The Hr. Ms. De Ruyter is an air defense and command frigate of the Dutch Royal navy. It is one of the four Dutch frigates of the 'Zeven Provinciën'-class and is therefor a sistership of the 'Hr. Ms. De Zeven Provinciën' and the 'Hr. Ms. Tromp'.

Source: Dutch Royal Navy

The Hr. Ms. De Ruyter has a crew of 174 persons and is already the 13th ship to bear the name 'De Ruyter'. Of course the ship was named after the well-known hero at sea Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter, who was born on March 24, 1607 in Flushing and died on April 29, 1676 on board of his flagship 'Eendracht'.

The frigate was built by 'De Schelde' in Flushing between 2000 en 2002. It is 144 meters long, 17 meters wide, can reach a speed of 30 knots, is incorporated with stealth techniques and is armed with a Oto Breda-cannon 127 mm, Vertical Launch System (VLS) Mk 41 for Enhanced Sea Sparrow Missiles en Standard Missiles, Harpoon Missile, Goalkeeper (fast fire cannon), Mk. 46 Torpedo-weapons and a Lynx orNH-90 helikopter.

The ship entered the port of Rotterdam this morning and is currently berthed at the Parkkade to visit the upcoming Wereldhavendagen-weekend.