Belgian minehunter Aster (M915)

Career
Name:	Aster
Namesake:	Aster
Builder:	Mercantile-Belyard Shipyard, Rupelmonde
Launched:	16 December 1985
Status:	in active service, as of 2010
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 metres (169 ft)
Beam:	8.96 metres (29.4 ft)
Height:	18.5 metres (61 ft)
Draught:	3.6 metres (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.

Sightings

27 September 2010 leaving harbour in Dartmouth, Devon, in company with Belgian minehunter Primula (M924)

<googlemap version="0.9" lat="50.356797" lon="-3.573518" zoom="15" width="400" controls="large"> 50.35321, -3.574934, M915 heading downriver </googlemap>

Pictures

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  Visiting Dartmouth, Devon, 27 September 2010