Van Amstel-class frigate

Last updated
Aankomst Hr. Ms. De Zeeuw Den Helder, Bestanddeelnr 904-6769.jpg
HNLMS De Zeeuw at Den Helder on 9 July 1951
Class overview
NameVan Amstel class
Builders
OperatorsNaval Jack of the Netherlands.svg  Royal Netherlands Navy
Succeeded by Van Speijkclass
Subclasses Cannon-classdestroyer escort
Built1943-1944
In commission1950-1967
Planned6
Completed6
Retired6
General characteristics
Type Frigate
Displacement
  • 1,240  tons standard
  • 1,620 tons full load
Length93.3 m (306 ft)
Beam11 m (36 ft)
Draft3.5 m (11 ft) full load
Propulsion
Speed21 knots (39 km/h)
Range10,800 nautical miles (20,000 km; 12,400 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement
  • 15 officers
  • 201 enlisted men
Armament

The Van Amstel class was a class of six frigates that were built during the Second World War in the United States and served as Cannon-class destroyer escort during that war. [1] After the war the destroyer escorts were loaned to the Dutch navy as part of the MDAP and from 1950 to 1967 served as the Van Amstel-class frigates.

Contents

History

During the Second World War the United States built several destroyer escorts, such as the Cannon class. The construction time of the destroyer escorts was short, it took about four months to build a Cannon-class destroyer escort. This led to the construction of many escorts. Some ships were immediately after construction given to allied nations such as the Brazilian Navy and the French Navy. [2] During the Second World War the destroyer escorts functioned as protectors of the supply and troop transport vessels against the submarine threat and airborne attacks. Although the estimated lifetime of the destroyer escorts was short, many managed to reach an age of 20 years. After World War II, a large number of destroyer escorts were loaned or sold to other navies, including the Netherlands. [3] The last active Cannon-class destroyer was the Filipino BRP Rajah Humabon, the former USS Atherton, which was decommissioned in 2018. [4]

After the Second World War the Mutual Defense Aid Program signed to help West-Europe militarily and financially. [5] The aim of the MDAP program was to ensure that West-Europe remained outside the sphere of influence of the Soviet Union. To this end the United States provided under the MDAP a lot of money and material to West European countries, for example, in 1950 1,450,000,000 dollars was spent under the MDAP. [5] In the period 1950-1951 the Netherlands was lent six frigates of the Cannon-class as part of the MDAP. These ships were the former USS Burrows, USS Rine Heart, USS Gustafson, USS O'Neill, USS Stern and the USS Eisner, which were put into service as the HNLMS Van Amstel, HNLMS De Bitter, HNLMS Van Ewijck, HNLMS Dubois, HNLMS De Zeeuw and HNLMS Van Zijll. [6] The destroyer escorts that were meant for the Netherlands were the first ships that the United States, on the grounds of the MDAP program made available to an ally. [7]

The frigates of the Van Amstel-class had, like all other Cannon-class ships, a diesel electric tandem motor drive and were because of this known in the US as the DET type. [8] [9] [10] The four diesels together delivered 6000pk for a maximum speed of 19 knots. The range of the ships was considerable: 10,000 nautical miles. [11]

In the 1960s were outdated and needed to be replaced. The Royal Netherlands Navy began designing in August 1960 the successor of the Van Amstel-class frigates. [12] These frigates would later be known as the Van Speijk-class frigates, and started to replace the Cannon-class frigates in 1967. [6] In 1968 the Cannon-class frigates were sold and scrapped by various companies. [3]

Ships in class

The following ships were part of the Van Amstel-class, they were built by several shipbuilders.

ShipPennant numberCommissionedShipbuilderFate
Van Amstel F8061950 Dravo Corporation Returned to the United States in 1967.
De Bitter F8071950 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company Returned to the United States in 1967.
Van Ewijk F8081950 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company Returned to the United States in 1967.
Dubois F8091950 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company Returned to the United States in 1967.
De Zeeuw F8101951 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company Returned to the United States in 1967.
Van Zijll F8111951 Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company Returned to the United States in 1967.

Related Research Articles

Royal Netherlands Navy Navy of the Netherlands

The Royal Netherlands Navy is the naval force of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Destroyer escort US Navy warship classification

Destroyer escort (DE) was the United States Navy mid-20th-century classification for a 20-knot warship designed with the endurance necessary to escort mid-ocean convoys of merchant marine ships. The Royal Navy and Commonwealth forces identified such warships as frigates, and that classification was widely accepted when the United States redesignated destroyer escorts as frigates (FF) in 1975. From circa 1954 until 1975 new-build US Navy ships designated as destroyer escorts (DE) were called ocean escorts. Destroyer escorts and frigates were mass-produced for World War II as a less expensive antisubmarine warfare alternative to fleet destroyers. Similar types of warships in other navies of the time included the 46 diesel-engined Kaibōkan of the Imperial Japanese Navy., 10 Kriegsmarine escort ships of the F-class and the two Amiral Murgescu-class vessels of the Romanian Navy.

<i>Karel Doorman</i>-class frigate Ship class

The Karel Doorman-class frigates are a series of eight multi-purpose vessels built for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Its namesake is Karel Doorman, a Dutch naval officer whose ship was struck by a Japanese torpedo in the battle of the Java Sea in 1942, and who, as a result of which, went down with his ship.

<i>Buckley</i>-class destroyer escort Class of American destroyer escorts

The Buckley-class destroyer escorts were 102 destroyer escorts launched in the United States in 1943–44. They served in World War II as convoy escorts and anti-submarine warfare ships. The lead ship was USS Buckley which was launched on 9 January 1943. The ships had General Electric steam turbo-electric transmission. The ships were prefabricated at various factories in the United States, and the units brought together in the shipyards, where they were welded together on the slipways.

<i>Edsall</i>-class destroyer escort Class of American destroyer escorts

The Edsall-class destroyer escorts were destroyer escorts built primarily for ocean antisubmarine escort service during World War II. The lead ship, USS Edsall, was commissioned on 10 April 1943 at Orange, Texas. The class was also known as the FMR type from their Fairbanks-Morse reduction-geared diesel drive, with a type of engine used in the submarines of the time. The FMR's substitution for a diesel-electric power plant was the essential difference from the predecessor Cannon ("DET") class. This was the only World War II destroyer escort class in which all the ships originally ordered were completed as United States Navy destroyer escorts. Destroyer escorts were regular companions escorting the vulnerable cargo ships. Late in the war, plans were made to replace the 3-inch (76 mm) guns with 5-inch (127 mm) guns, but only Camp was refitted. In total, all 85 were completed by two shipbuilding companies: Consolidated Steel Corporation, Orange, Texas (47), and Brown Shipbuilding, Houston, Texas (38). Most were en route to the Pacific Theater when Japan surrendered. One of the ships participated in Operation Dragoon and two were attacked by German guided missiles.

<i>Cannon</i>-class destroyer escort Class of American destroyer escorts

The Cannon class was a class of destroyer escorts built by the United States primarily for antisubmarine warfare and convoy escort service during World War II. The lead ship, USS Cannon, was commissioned on 26 September 1943 at Wilmington, Delaware. Of the 116 ships ordered, 44 were cancelled and six were commissioned directly into the Free French Forces. Destroyer escorts were regular companions escorting vulnerable cargo ships.

BRP <i>Rajah Humabon</i> (PS-11)

The BRP Rajah Humabon (PS-11) was a former destroyer escort of the United States Navy and a former frigate of the Philippine Navy. It was the last World War II-era destroyer escort/frigate active in its fleet, and one of the oldest active warships in the world, until 15 March 2018 when it was formally decommissioned after 75 years. She was one of three ex-USN Cannon-class destroyer escorts that served the Philippine Navy, the others being BRP Datu Sikatuna (PF-5/PS-77) and BRP Datu Kalantiaw (PS-76).

BRP <i>Datu Kalantiaw</i> (PS-76)

BRP Datu Kalantiaw (PS-76) was the first of three ex-USN Cannon-class destroyer escorts that served with the Philippine Navy, the others being BRP Datu Sikatuna (PS-77/PF-5) and BRP Rajah Humabon (PS-78/PF-11). She was also the flagship of the Philippine Navy from 1967 to 1981.

The BRP Datu Sikatuna (PF-5) was one of the three ex-USN Cannon-class destroyer escorts that served with the Philippine Navy, the others being BRP Datu Kalantiaw (PS-76) and BRP Rajah Humabon (PF-11).

BRP <i>Rajah Lakandula</i> (PF-4)

BRP Rajah Lakandula (PF-4) was a frigate of the Philippine Navy, and was its only ex-USN Edsall-class destroyer escort. She was also the flagship of the Philippine Navy from 1981 to 1988.

HNLMS Zeeland (D809) was a destroyer of the Holland class. The ship was in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy from 1955 to 1979. The destroyer was named after the Dutch province of Zeeland and was the twenty-first ship with this name. In 1978 the ship was taken out of service and later broken up and scrapped. The ship's radio call sign was "PAAU".

HNLMS <i>Noord-Brabant</i> (D810)

HNLMS Noord-Brabant (D810) was a Holland-class anti-submarine destroyer of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The ship was from 1955 to 1974 in Dutch service. On 9 January 1974, HNLMS Noord-Brabant was rammed amidships by an English merchant ship. The damage was estimated to be expensive so the Royal Netherlands Navy decided to not repair the damage but instead decommission the ship earlier than planned. The ship's radio call sign was "PAIP".

HNLMS <i>Gelderland</i> (D811)

HNLMS Gelderland (D811) was a destroyer of the Holland class. The ship was in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy from 1955 to 1973. The destroyer was named after the Dutch province of Gelderland and was the twenty-first ship with this name. In 1973 the ship was taken out of service, after which it was given a berth in Amsterdam for the Technical Training Royal Navy (TOKM) school. During her service the ship's radio call sign was "PARY". The ship was sold for scrapping in 1988.

HNLMS <i>Van Galen</i> (F834) Frigate

HNLMS Van Galen (F834) is a ship of the Karel Doorman class of multi-purpose frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy. Built by the shipyard Koninklijke Schelde Groep in Vlissingen. The ship is named after captain and convoy commander Johan van Galen and served from 1994 to 2008 with the Dutch navy. The radio call sign of the frigate was "PAMG".

Roofdier-class frigate Ship class

The Roofdier class was a class of six frigates that were built in the United States as Patrol Craft Escorts (PCE) for the Netherlands. The frigates were loaned to the Royal Netherlands Navy as part of the Mutual Defense Assistance Act (MDAP) and from 1954 to 1984 served as the Roofdier-class frigates.

HNLMS <i>Tromp</i> (F801)

HNLMS Tromp (F801) was a frigate of the Tromp class. The ship was in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy from 1975 to 1999. The frigate was named after Dutch naval hero Tromp. The ship's radio call sign was "PADE".

HNLMS <i>Witte de With</i> (F813)

HNLMS Witte de With (F813) was a frigate of the Jacob van Heemskerck class. The ship was in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy from 1986 to 2006. The frigate was named after Dutch naval hero Witte Corneliszoon de With. The ship's radio call sign was "PAVP".

HNLMS <i>Jacob van Heemskerck</i> (F812)

HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck (F812) was a frigate of the Jacob van Heemskerck class. The ship was in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy from 1986 to 2004. The frigate was named after Dutch naval hero Jacob van Heemskerck. The ship's radio call sign was "PAVO".

HNLMS <i>Philips van Almonde</i> (F823)

HNLMS Philips van Almonde (F823) was a frigate of the Kortenaer class. The ship was in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy from 1981 to 2002. The frigate was named after Dutch naval hero Philips van Almonde. The ship's radio call sign was "PADF".

HNLMS Van Amstel may refer to following ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy:

References

  1. ↑ Bas Flipse (28 May 2012). "Marinefoto Maandag 74". Marineschepen.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  2. ↑ "Classes of Destroyer Escorts". www.ussslater.org. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  3. 1 2 ""Van Amstelklasse" fregatten". navyinside.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  4. ↑ Priam Nepomuceno (15 March 2018). "Navy retires WW II-era BRP Rajah Humabon from service". www.pna.gov.ph. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  5. 1 2 "NATO the first five years 1949-1954". www.nato.int. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  6. 1 2 Ivan Gogin. "VAN AMSTEL destroyer escorts (1943-1944/1950-1951)". www.navypedia.org. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  7. ↑ ""Cannon" Klasse". onzevloot.weebly.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  8. ↑ U.S. Destroyers: an illustrated design history by Norman Friedman. Chapter 7. ISBN   1-55750-442-3.
  9. ↑ Rivet, Eric; Stenzel, Michael (April 22, 2011). "Classes of Destroyer Escorts". History of Destroyer Escorts. Destroyer Escort Historical Museum. Retrieved July 8, 2012. The Cannon class was very similar in design to the Buckley class, the primary difference being a diesel-electric power plant instead of the Buckley class's turboelectric design. The fuel-efficient diesel-electric plant greatly improved the range of the Cannon class, but at the cost of speed.
  10. ↑ Rivet, Eric; Stenzel, Michael (April 22, 2011). "Classes of Destroyer Escorts". History of Destroyer Escorts. Destroyer Escort Historical Museum. Retrieved July 8, 2012. Except for the propulsion, the EDSALL class was nearly identical to the CANNON class in every respect. This fourth class of destroyer escort mounted a direct-drive diesel configuration that proved to be extremely reliable.
  11. ↑ "Cannon Class". destroyerhistory.org. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  12. ↑ "DE NEDERLANDSE VOORGESCHIEDENIS". onzevloot.weebly.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 June 2018.

Bibliography

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