Belgian minehunter Primula

Primula entering Portsmouth Naval Base, UK, 9 July 2010
History
Belgium
NamePrimula
NamesakePrimula
BuilderMercantile-Belyard Shipyard, Rupelmonde
Launched20 December 1990
Christened12 June 1991
Identification
MottoMajor longinquo reverentia
Statusin active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeTripartite-class minehunter
Displacement
  • 536 t (528 long tons) empty
  • 605 t (595 long tons) full load
Length51.5 m (169 ft)
Beam8.96 m (29.4 ft)
Height18.5 m (61 ft)
Draught3.6 m (12 ft)
Propulsion
  • 1 × 1370 kW Werkspoor RUB 215 V12 diesel engine
  • 2 × 180 kW ACEC active rudders
  • 1 × HOLEC bow propeller
Speed15 knots (28 km/h)
Range3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Boats & landing
craft carried
2 × rigid-hulled inflatable boats
Complement4 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 M2 machine guns
  • 10 × Atlas Elektronik Seafox ROV

The Belgian minehunter Primula (M924) is a Tripartite-class minehunter of the Belgian Naval Component, launched on 20 December 1990 at the Mercantile-Belyard shipyard in Rupelmonde and christened by Mrs. Adriaensens, the wife of the then Mayor of Willebroek, on 12 June 1991. The patronage of Primula was accepted by the city of Willebroek. It was the tenth and last of the Belgian Tripartite-class minehunters.

She underwent major modernization works in 2004-2005, such as the replacement of the PAP-minehunting system and 20mm-gun.