Enforcer covers a series of scaled landing platform dock (LPD) designs – ranging from 120 m to 180 m in length – configured to transport and then deploy an embarked military force of marines, vehicles, equipment and stores. The Enforcer LPD ‘portfolio’ has recently been updated to incorporate equipment and material upgrades, improved internal logistics, and greater levels of design ‘flexibility’.
The Royal Marines and the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps have trained, exercised and operated together since 1973 under the umbrella of the UK/Netherlands Amphibious Force. Both corps are currently embarking on modernisation efforts intended to deliver more agile, disaggregated and scalable capability optimised for a range of combat and non-combat roles.
In mid-2023 the UK and Netherlands governments signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) to explore opportunities to develop a common littoral strike platform to address both UK Royal Navy (RN) and Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) requirements from the early 2030s. Under the SoI, the two navies have been in talks to pin down requirements and timelines for the respective Multi Role Support Ship (MRSS) and future amphibious ship (LPX) programmes, and understand how their operational concepts and key user requirements can be harmonised to establish the basis for a common procurement programme.
A decision is expected in early 2024 as to whether there is sufficient convergence to take the programme forward on a bilateral basis. The RN has ambitions to procure up to six MRSS vessels to replace its existing amphibious shipping: the RNLN’s LPX programme is looking at a multi-role capability to replace the LPDs HNLMS Rotterdam and HNLMS Johan de Witt in the amphibious role, while also addressing the patrol and surveillance tasks currently performed by the four Holland-class patrol vessels.
Richard Keulen, director naval sales support at Damen Naval, said the company was fully supportive of the UK/NL initiative. “We see that senior officers in both navies are heavily invested,” he told Naval News at the NEDS exhibition in Rotterdam on 30 November. “And we see a great opportunity to work together with UK industry if this cooperation comes to fruition. We have already had early talks with potential partners.”
“It is worth remembering that an earlier version of the Enforcer design provided the basis for the UK’s Bay-class landing ship dock design. We now think our updated Enforcer family offering the basis for an off-the-shelf solution to meet the needs of the two navies.
Richard Keulen, Director Naval Sales Support at Damen Naval
“We understand that the respective user requirements may need to be adjusted, but we think the timelines are about right. And this is not just about the new build, but the whole lifecycle cost case.”
While the UK and Netherlands are working to maximise commonality, it is recognised that the respective MRSS and LPX requirements may ultimately demand different sized vessels. According to Keulen, the modular design of Enforcer family would enable a ‘common’ if not identical solution. “We can maximise commonality in power, propulsion, systems and accommodation even if the ships are scaled differently,” he said. “For example, both superstructure and dock can be sized in various dimensions while retaining the same basic architecture with regard to systems and internal arrangements.”
Our video coverage of Damen’s Enforcer during NEDS 2023:
