HNLMS Evertsen returns to Den Helder on Wednesday 13 May. The air defence and command frigate left its home port in early February for an exercise, but was subsequently deployed to the Mediterranean.
In the eastern part of the Mediterranean, the ship was tasked with protecting the French Carrier Strike Group, Cyprus and allied territory against drones and missiles. As a result, HNLMS Evertsen was deployed for longer than planned.
French request
HNLMS Evertsen departed Den Helder on 4 February and joined the French task force, including the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, on 6 February for an international exercise. During the voyage towards the Baltic Sea, the war between the United /Israel and Iran broke out, and the French task force was given a new mission in the Mediterranean.
This was followed by a French request asking whether HNLMS Evertsen could remain part of the French naval task force. This was due to its sensors and weapon systems, which enable the frigate to defend a naval task force against attacks by drones and missiles.
On 9 March, Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen and Dutch Defence Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius announced that the Netherlands would grant the request. This was a defensive deployment.
In command of air defence
HMS Evertsen has, on several occasions within the French naval task force, been in command of the entire air defence as Anti-Air Warfare Commander. Commander Marcel Keveling describes this as remarkable: ‘It is an honour for a Dutch naval vessel to be entrusted with such responsibility within a French naval task force.’
During its deployment in the Mediterranean, the ship was placed on high alert on several occasions, but this did not lead to the use of weapons. However, the crew did test various weapon systems. The ship launched an anti-aircraft missile to engage short-range air targets, and the rapid-fire gun was also tested to neutralise nearby targets.
Due to the deployment, the Evertsen was away from home for over three months rather than the originally planned nine weeks. On Wednesday 13 May, HNLMS Evertsen will sail into its home port in Den Helder.
