Belgian minehunter Aster (M915)

Career
Name: Aster
Namesake: Aster
Builder: Mercantile-Belyard Shipyard, Rupelmonde
Launched: 16 December 1985
Status: in active service, as of 2012
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 propellor
Speed: 15 knots (28 km/h)
Range: 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Boats and 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

Aster (M915) is a Tripartite-class minehunter of the Belgian Naval Component, launched on December 16, 1985 at the Mercantile-Belyard shipyard in Rupelmonde and christened by Queen Paola of Belgium. The patronage of Aster was accepted by the city of Blankenberge. Aster was the first of the Belgian Tripartite-class minehunters.

It is currently commanded by Lieutenant First Class (Lieutenant Commander) Luc Van Tricht[1].

References