Dokkum-class minesweeper

Last updated
Sittard M830.jpg
Sittard
Class overview
NameDokkum class
Builders
Operators
Succeeded by Alkmaar class
Subclasses Wildervank
Built1953–1957
In commission1955–1999
Planned18
Completed18
Active1
Preserved5
General characteristics [1] [2]
Type Minesweeper
Displacement417 t (410 long tons)
Length46.62 m (152 ft 11 in)
Beam8.75 m (28 ft 8 in)
Draft2.28 m (7 ft 6 in)
Propulsion
Speed14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Crew38
Armament

The Dokkum class was a ship class of eighteen minesweepers that were built in the Netherlands for the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN). [4] [5] They were paid for by the United States under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program (MDAP). [6] [7] The ships of the Dokkum class were the last dedicated minesweepers that served in the RNLN. [8]

Contents

Design

The minesweepers of the Dokkum class were designed by the Dutch engineer Scheltema de Heere and based on the standard requirements laid down by the Western Union (WU), later known as Western European Union (WEU). [3] [9] Since the minesweepers of both the Dokkum and Wildervank class are based on WU requirements, they are sometimes referred to in Dutch as WU-class minesweepers or minesweepers of the Western Union type. [10]

The ships of the Dokkum class were made mostly from wood, only the frame and superstructure was made from aluminium. [11] It also had a double hull, with the inner hull made out of mahogany and the outer hull of teak. [11] Furthermore, they were equipped with reversible propellers. [12]

While the minesweepers of the Dokkum and Wildervank class are almost identical, they do differ when it comes to the engines. The Dokkum class was equipped with two MAN diesel engines and the Wildervank class with two Werkspoor engines. [3] As a result the minesweepers of the Dokkum class were more durable than those of the Wildervank class. [10]

When it came to sweeping mines the ships of the Dokkum class were equipped with several different sweepers. As mechanic sweeper it had the Wire Mk 3 mod 2, the magnetic sweeper consisted of the ML Mk 4 and later the Mb 5, and the acoustic sweepers consisted of the AX Mk 4v, AXx Mk 6B and AX Mk 3. [3] Furthermore, the ships were equipped with two 40 mm guns. [1]

Conversion to minehunter

To keep in line with NATO requirements it was decided in 1962 to rebuild four Dokkum-class minesweepers (Dokkum, Drunen, Staphorst and Veere) into minehunters. [13] [14] During the rebuilding the ships were equipped with a Plessey 193 minehunting system, the bridge was modified to better suit mine hunting operations, an automatic track and trace system and autopilot were installed and several other modifications were implemented. [15] The four minehunters of the Dokkum class entered service of the Royal Netherlands Navy between 1968 and 1969. [13]

Ships in class

The ships were named after the smaller Dutch municipalities. [16]

Dokkum-class construction data [4] [17] [5]
Hull numberNameBuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedDecommissionedFateNotes
M801 Dokkum ¹ Wilton-Fijenoord 15 June 195312 October 195426 July 195515 April 1983 [18]
M802 Hoogezand Gusto Shipyard 17 July 195322 March 19557 November 195515 September 1993Sold for scrap to R. Zorn [19]
M806 Roermond ² Wilton-Fijenoord 19 September 195313 August 195529 December 195516 April 1987In use by Zeekadetkorps Lemmer [20]
M809 Naaldwijk De Noord Shipyard 2 November 19531 February 19558 December 195528 January 1994In use by scouting Haarlem [21]
M810 Abcoude Gusto Shipyard 10 November 19532 September 195518 May 19565 November 1993Sold to the Peruvian Navy, now named Zimic [22]
M812 Drachten Niestern Scheepsbouw Unie 29 December 195324 March 195527 January 19563 September 1994 [23]
M813 Ommen J. & K. Smit 22 December 19535 April 195519 April 195623 July 1994 [24]
M815 Giethoorn L. Smit en Zoon 22 December 195330 March 195529 March 195615 September 1993Sold for scrap to R. Zorn [25]
M817 Venlo Arnhemse Scheepsbouw Maatschappij 10 February 195421 May 195526 April 195615 September 1993Sold for scrap to R. Zorn [26]
M818 Drunen ¹ Gusto Shipyard 8 January 195524 March 195630 August 195619 April 1984Sold for scrap to Fa. Westmetaal Amsterdam [27]
M820 Woerden ² Haarlemse Scheepsbouw Maatschappij 10 August 195428 November 195624 April 1957September 1985 [28]
M823 Naarden Wilton-Fijenoord 28 October 195427 January 195618 May 19561999In use by Zeekadetkorps Delfzijl [29]
M827 Hoogeveen De Noord Shipyard 1 February 19558 May 19562 November 19561999 Museum ship in Den Helder [30]
M828 Staphorst ¹ Gusto Shipyard 2 May 195521 July 195623 January 195720 January 1984Sold for scrap to Fa. Westmetaal Amsterdam [31]
M830 Sittard Niestern Scheepsbouw Unie 24 March 195526 April 195619 December 19561999In use by Zeekadetkorps Harlingen [32]
M841 Gemert J. & K. Smit 5 April 199513 March 19567 September 195615 September 1993Sold for scrap to R. Zorn [33]
M842 Veere ¹ L. Smit en Zoon 30 March 19559 February 195627 September 195619 October 1984Sold for scrap to Fa. Westmetaal Amsterdam [34]
M844 Rhenen ² Arnhemse Scheepsbouw Maatschappij 18 April 195531 May 19567 December 19561 January 1984Sold for scrap to Fa. Holland en Zn. [35]

Export

In 1994 the Abcoude was sold for 450.000 Dutch guilders to Peru. [36] In addition, the reserve parts of the ship were sold for 160.000 Dutch guilders. [37]

Notes

Citations

  1. 1 2 van Amstel (1991), p. 74.
  2. van Amstel (1991), p. 79.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Roetering (1997), p. 108.
  4. 1 2 van Amstel (1991), pp. 74–76.
  5. 1 2 Raven (1988), p. 184.
  6. "Mijnenveger Dokkum was met ‚Wildervank' op bezoek in V.S." Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). 10 August 1956.
  7. "Hr Ms mijnenveger Dokkum in dienst gesteld". Algemeen Handelsblad (in Dutch). 27 July 1955.
  8. Henkelman, K.F.J. (February 2010). "Het project Herintroductie Mijnenvegen" (PDF). Marineblad (in Dutch). Vol. 120, no. 1. pp. 22–26.
  9. Schoonoord (2012), p. 36.
  10. 1 2 Schoonoord (2012), p. 58.
  11. 1 2 "De mijnenveger „Dokkum" niet zonder moeite te water gelaten: Nu zal het Dokkumer Diep ook uitgediept moeten worden, meent de burgemeester". Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). 13 October 1954.
  12. "Mijnenveger „Dokkum" gaat met tegenzin te water: Eerste van een klasse van 32 schepen". Nieuwe Haarlemsche Courant (in Dutch). 13 October 1954.
  13. 1 2 Woudstra (1982), p. 154.
  14. Schoonoord (2012), pp. 127–128.
  15. Roetering (1997), p. 109.
  16. Woudstra (1982), p. 153.
  17. van Amstel (1991), pp. 82-83.
  18. "Hr.Ms. Dokkum M 801" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  19. "Hr.Ms. Hoogezand. ex-MSC 173. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  20. "HR.MS. ROERMOND M 806" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  21. "Hr.Ms. Naaldwijk. ex-MSC 175. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  22. "Hr.Ms. Abcoude. ex-MSC 176. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  23. "Hr.Ms. Drachten. ex-MSC 177. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  24. "Hr.Ms. Ommen. ex-MSC 178. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  25. "Hr.Ms. Giethoorn. ex-MSC 179. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  26. "Hr.Ms. Venlo. ex-MSC 180. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  27. "Hr.Ms. Drunen" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  28. "HR.MS. WOERDEN A 820 / M 820" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  29. "Hr.Ms. Naarden. ex-MSC 183. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  30. "Hr.Ms. Hoogeveen. ex-MSC 184. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  31. "Hr.Ms. Staphorst" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  32. "Hr.Ms. Sittard. ex-MSC 186. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  33. "Hr.Ms. Gemert. ex-MSC 187. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  34. "Hr.Ms. Veere" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  35. "HR.MS. RHENEN M 844" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  36. "Peru koopt Nederlandse mijnenveger 'Abcoude'". Nederlands Dagblad (in Dutch). 8 July 1994.
  37. "Nederlandse mijnenveger aan Peru verkocht". Amigoe (in Dutch). 8 July 1994.

References