MD-11
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
After takeoff the landing gear would not come up. We flew the appropriate departure instructions and coordinated with ATC to level off and enter holding. In holding; the Captain ran the QRH procedure whilst I flew the plane and covered the primary radio frequency. The Captain then swapped aircraft control to his seat while I tried the QRH procedure. Confirming the gear would not come up; we made plans to return to [departure airport] while coordinating with ramp; Maintenance and the Dispatcher. The landing was uneventful. Maintenance was outstanding and we were airborne in less than six hours.[Cause was a] failure of the landing gear trim system.I'd rather have the landing gear refuse to come up; than have the landing gear come up without the gear trim system functioning properly. Standard procedures and good coordination made this a non-issue.
MD-11 First Officer reported returning to departure airport after the landing gear failed to retract.