HNLMS Groningen (P843)

In late 2012 Groningen was exercising with HNLMS Friesland when MV Baltic Ace sank after a collision with another ship. Both Holland-class offshore patrol vessels assisted in the search for survivors.^[5]

On 28 April, Groningen departed Den Helder for deployment to the Caribbean on counter-drug operations and coast guard duties. On her way to the Caribbean she completed multiple exercises with six other European navies (MAOC-N).

In early June Groningen received an overnight notification from the US Coast Guard. A patrol plane saw a boat, a so-called go-fast, heading north at high speed. A US helicopter on board the ship took off immediately. Groningen itself headed to the specified location off the coast of Panama. When the smugglers heard the helicopter, they jettisoned their cargo. Groningen arrived moments later. The crew managed to retrieve multiple packages of drugs from the water. They recovered about half of the estimated 300 kilograms (660 lb).

The three smugglers were arrested and transferred to the Coast Guard.^[6] She returned home to Vlissingen on 5 September for a short maintenance period.^[7]

On 29 December two Russian navy vessels, the destroyer Vice-Admiral Kulakov and a tug from the Sliva-class sailed along the Dutch coast being escorted by Groningen.^[8]

On 9 August Groningen departed Den Helder for a four-month deployment off the coast of Somalia, as part of the EU anti-piracy mission Atalanta.^[9] On 11 December she sailed back into her homeport.^[10]

In 2016 Groningen was deployed to the Caribbean on counter-drug operations and coast guard duties.

In December 2018, the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) was reported to be planning to trial a new crewing concept for its Holland-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) and selected Groningen for this two-year long pilot project. The main purpose of the project is to provide clarity for crews to know when they are deployed and when they are back home.^[11]

On 19 July, the ship's NH90 NFH helicopter crashed off the coast of Aruba, killing two crew members and injuring two passengers. The Dutch Ministry of Defence launched an investigation, grounding all of the country's NH90s until more is known.^[12][13]

In 2023 HNLMS Groningen was fitted with a Hull Vane, which led to a 16% fuel reduction at 17.5 knots and 10% across the full usage profile.^[14]

• HNLMS Holland (P840)
• HNLMS Zeeland (P841)
• HNLMS Friesland (P842)

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