HNLMS Tromp (F803)

HNLMS Tromp (F803) (Dutch: "Zr. Ms. Tromp") is the second De Zeven Provinciën class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy. It was laid down in 1999, launched in 2001, and commissioned in 2003. The frigate is named after Dutch naval heroes Maarten Tromp (1598–1653) and Cornelis Tromp (1629–1691).

As of 18 June 2010, Commander René Tas is HNLMS Tromp's commanding officer.

The frigate should not be mistaken with the former HNLMS Tromp (F801), which was a Tromp class frigate built in the 1970s.

Theatre Ballistic Missile Tracking Exercises, 2006
In November 2006, HNLMS Tromp participated in a live Theatre Ballistic Missile (TBM) Tracking Exercise (TRACKEX). The event took place on the Pacific Missile Range Facility off Hawaii. For the TRACKEX, HNLMS Tromp was equipped with the experimental Extended Long Range (ELR) modification to its Thales Nederland SMART-L radar. During the exercise, a ballistic missile surrogate was launched from Kauai Island and was successfully tracked by the HNLMS Tromp using its ELR-modified SMART-L radar. Another successful TRACKEX was held in December 2006.

Deployment to the Indian Ocean, 2010
HNLMS Tromp deployed to the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa as part of Operation Atalanta, which is composed of European Union naval units. The operation is tasked with suppression of piracy in the region.

On 14 March 2010, HNLMS Tromp responded to a distress call from the transport ship MV Lubeck, which was under attack from two pirate skiffs. The Tromp launched her helicopter, which forced the whaler mother ship to stop. The Tromp then sent a boarding party to secure the vessel. The following day, the Tromp tracked down the two skiffs about 100 km from the whaler and stopped them. Crew from the Tromp sank the mother ship, and confiscated satellite phones, AK-47s, a rocket launcher, and boarding equipment.

Three days later, on 17 March 2010, HNLMS Tromp was involved in an incident with suspected pirates off the coast of eastern Africa. Two small boats approached the frigate at high speed. After realizing the Tromp was a warship, the pirates fled. However, the Tromp pursued and captured the two boats, along with a mother ship. The frigate destroyed the two boats and released the pirates to the mother ship, after it had been cleared of weapons.

On 5 April 2010, HNLMS Tromp rescued the container ship MV Taipan by rappelling 6 Marines from its Lynx helicopter (under covering fire from the helicopter and the Tromp) to the deck of the Taipan, resulting in the capture of 10 pirates. The 13 crew (2 German, 3 Russian, 8 Sri Lankan) were unharmed having taken refuge in a secure location after stopping the ship's engines.

State Visit Norway, 2010
On 1 June 2010, Queen Beatrix visited Norway with the HNLMS Tromp for a 3-day state visit.

2011 Libyan civil war
On her return to her homeport in February 2011 through the Mediterranean, the ship was deployed to the Gulf of Sidra to potentially assist in the safe return of Dutch nationals during the 2011 Libyan civil war. While performing an evacuation mission near the town of Sirte, a Lynx helicopter and its three man crew were captured by members of the Libyan Army. The Dutch engineer and Swedish woman they were trying to rescue were allowed to leave Libya; negotiations yielded the crew's release.