German shipbuilder NVL Group has revealed new details of a new multipurpose vessel concept reflecting the company’s vision for a successor to the German Navy’s current Type 404 tenders.
Developed in collaboration with industry partners, including Danish payload handling and mission module specialist SH Defence, the NTV 130 design concept was presented by NVL Group for the first time with a 1:50 scale model at the DALO Industry Days 2024 exhibition in Copenhagen in late August.
The German Navy’s fleet includes six Type 404 tenders, commissioned between January 1993 and November 1994, which support submarine, fast attack craft, and mine countermeasures (MCM) squadrons. However, these vessels are showing their age, lack a permanent command facility for Commander Task Group (CTG) staff, and are increasingly outdated for modern operational needs.
The replacement of these tenders is expected to be managed by the Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) procurement authority under what was formerly referred to as the ‘Mittlere Unterstützungseinheit schwimmende Einheiten’ (MUsE). However, there is at this stage no publicly available details on the specific requirements of the project, or the intended naming.
In the absence of a formal requirement, NVL has proactively developed the NTV 130 concept over the last 18 months as a potential solution for the MUsE ship system. At 142 meters in overall length and with a full load displacement of 14,000 tonnes, the NTV 130 would be significantly larger than the Type 404. The design emphasizes modularity and flexibility, allowing it to serve as a multifunctional mothership configurable for various support, logistics, and tactical roles. These include afloat support for corvette, submarine, and MCM squadrons; transportation of a mechanized task unit with embarked military forces; medical support; task unit command and control; special forces support; and minelaying. The vessel is also designed to accommodate and operate with autonomous and uncrewed systems, aligning with the likely requirements for the MUsE project.
NVL Group states that the NTV 130 aims to balance multiple mission profiles through a large, adaptable platform that exploits modularity for rapid role reconfiguration. This flexibility is achieved through a ship architecture and internal layout centered around SH Defence’s The Cube mission modularity solution.
The NTV 130 is designed to house up to 120 20-foot TEU containers. NVL has worked cooperatively with SH Defence to develop an integration solution for the skidding system associated with The Cube, enabling efficient module movement within the ship and influencing the design of internal lifts between decks, as well as external access doors and hatches. One notable feature is the integration of the mine laying module.
The vessel’s aviation facilities include provisions for the operation and support of different rotary-wing aircraft: a hangar for the integration of one NH90 helicopter as an organic element is located beneath the flight deck connected by an elevator. Replenishment-at-sea systems for both liquids and solids are positioned amidships, with additional astern fueling capabilities.
A dedicated command area within the ship will accommodate a CTG staff, supporting operations such as those conducted by a standing NATO MCM group. Unlike the Type 404, which was mostly built to commercial standards, the NTV 130 is envisioned to be constructed to militarized specifications. It is designed in accordance with German Naval Standards and NATO STANAGs, aligning with NATO capability requirements for warships, and includes appropriate provisions for NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection and damage control.
