Royal Netherlands Navy
Encyclopedia
The Koninklijke Marine (Royal Netherlands Navy) is the navy
of the Netherlands
. In the mid-17th century the Dutch Navy was the most powerful navy in the world and it played an active role in the wars of the Dutch Republic
and later those of the Batavian Republic
and the Kingdom of the Netherlands
. In recent times the Royal Netherlands Navy takes part in expeditionary peacekeeping and peace enforcing operations.
, Noord Holland.
Secondary naval bases are in Amsterdam
, Vlissingen, Texel
and Willemstad
(Curaçao
). Marine barracks are in Rotterdam
, Doorn, Suffisant on Curaçao
, and Savaneta on Aruba
.
is the service academy of the Royal Netherlands Navy.
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The Dutch navy has a long history. It was involved in many wars against other European powers since the late 16th century, initially for independence against Spain in European waters, later for shipping lanes, trade and colonies in many parts of the world, notably in four Anglo-Dutch wars
against England
and the United Kingdom
. In the middle of the 17th century the Dutch navy was the most powerful navy in the world.
During the Second World War, the Dutch navy was based in Allied countries after the Netherlands were conquered by Nazi Germany
in a matter of days: the Dutch navy had its headquarters in London
and smaller dependencies in Sri Lanka
and Australia
.
Around the world Dutch naval units were responsible for troop transport, for example during Operation Dynamo
in Dunkirk and D-Day
, they escorted convoys and attacked enemy targets. During the war the navy suffered heavy losses, especially in defending the Dutch East Indies, most notably the Battle of the Java Sea
in which the commander, Dutchman Karel Doorman
, went down with his ships together with 1000 of his crew.
During the relentless Japanese campaign of February and March 1942 in the Netherlands East Indies, the Dutch navy in Asia was virtually annihilated and sustained losses of a total of 20 ships [including its only two light cruisers) and 2500 men killed - as much as the Americans at Pearl Harbor
. The Dutch navy suffered from years of under-funding and came ill-prepared to face a technically and organizationally extremely well prepared, powerful and dedicated enemy, that also brought more and heavier ships with better weapons into battle, among others the Long Lance-torpedo, with which the cruiser Haguro
downed the light cruiser HNLMS De Ruyter
. This vessel was in no way a match for Haguro.. A small force of submarine
s sank more Japanese ships in the first weeks of the war than the entire British and US navies together, an exploit which earned Admiral Helfrich
the nickname "Ship-a-day Helfrich". Later in the war, a few Dutch submarines scored some remarkable hits, including one German submarine in the Mediterranean.
After the war, the relations between the Netherlands and its colonies changed dramatically. The establishment of the Republic of Indonesia, 2 days after the Japan
ese surrender, thwarted the Dutch plans for restoring colonial authority. It took 4 years of war before the Netherlands acknowledged the independence of Indonesia. The Dutch navy was stationed in Papua
until it was turned over to the Indonesians in 1962, because the action from the Military of Indonesia
, supported by the modern military equipments from Soviet Union
, as the order of President Sukarno
to integrate it into as one of Indonesian provinces.
With the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the military focus was on the army and air force; it was not until the Korean War
(1950-1953) that the navy got more recognition. The government allowed the creation of a balanced fleet consisting of 2 naval squadrons. Apart from the aircraft carrier
Hr. Ms. Karel Doorman
the Dutch navy consisted of 2 cruiser
s (2 De Zeven Provinciën class
), 12 destroyer
s (4 Holland class
, 8 Friesland class
), 8 submarine
s, 6 frigate
s (van Speijk class frigates) and a large number of minesweepers
.
As a NATO member the Netherlands developed its security policy in close cooperation with other members. The establishment of the Warsaw pact
in 1955 intensified the arms race between West and East. Technical innovations rapidly emerged, the introduction of radar and sonar were followed by nuclear weapon
systems and long-range missiles. The geopolitical situation allowed for a fixed military strategy. From 1965 onwards the Netherlands joined certain permanent NATO squadrons like the Standing Naval Force Atlantic.
Netherlands Marine Corps
is under the operational control of the Navy and is commanded by the commander of the Navy in the Caribbean
.
List of the Dutch Navy Fleet
* The Dutch Royal Navy classifies the De Zeven Provinciën
as frigates, but internationally they are most comparable to destroyers (due to their size and weapon capability) platform for Sea Based Anti-Ballistics Missile defence
The constituent Equipment of the Royal Netherlands Navy are:
All ships of the L9525 LCU class have been upgraded to Mk2. This upgrade meant enlarging the vessels and increasing their payload (enabling the craft to transport the Royal Netherlands Army
's Leopard 2 A6
).
The total tonnage will be approx. 140.000 t. Next to these ships a lot of other smaller vessels remain in the navy like the Snellius class hydrographical survey vessels.
With these changes the Royal Netherlands Navy will have 10 large ocean going vessels ranging from medium/low to high combat action ships. The renewed Dutch Navy will be a green-water navy
, having enough frigates and auxiliaries to operate far out at sea, while depending on land-based air support and with the large amphibious squadron they will have significant brown-water navy
capabilities.
Defense capability. Although tests conducted concerning the capability of the APAR (Active Phased Array Radar
) have been very successful, no decision has been made by the Dutch Government in purchasing SM-3 missiles - mainly because the SM-3 is not operational yet. Four ships are being fitted out for Tactical ballistic Missile Defense. If purchased (after US export approval) the four LCFs will be fitted out with only eight SM-3 missiles each, due to the high costs for each missile (approximately $2.5 - $5 million).
Submarines:
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. In the mid-17th century the Dutch Navy was the most powerful navy in the world and it played an active role in the wars of the Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
and later those of the Batavian Republic
Batavian Republic
The Batavian Republic was the successor of the Republic of the United Netherlands. It was proclaimed on January 19, 1795, and ended on June 5, 1806, with the accession of Louis Bonaparte to the throne of the Kingdom of Holland....
and the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy with territory in Western Europe and in the Caribbean. The four parts of the Kingdom—Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten—are referred to as "countries", and participate on a basis of equality...
. In recent times the Royal Netherlands Navy takes part in expeditionary peacekeeping and peace enforcing operations.
Bases
The main naval base is Den HelderDen Helder
Den Helder is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Den Helder occupies the northernmost point of the North Holland peninsula...
, Noord Holland.
Secondary naval bases are in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Vlissingen, Texel
Texel
Texel is a municipality and an island in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It is the biggest and most populated of the Frisian Islands in the Wadden Sea, and also the westernmost of this archipelago, which extends to Denmark...
and Willemstad
Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles
Willemstad is the capital city of Curaçao, an island in the southern Caribbean Sea that forms a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Formerly the capital of the Netherlands Antilles prior to its dissolution in 2010, it has an estimated population of 140,000. The historic centre of...
(Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
). Marine barracks are in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, Doorn, Suffisant on Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, and Savaneta on Aruba
Aruba
Aruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
.
Service academy
The Royal Netherlands Naval CollegeRoyal Netherlands Naval College
The Royal Netherlands Naval College in Den Helder is the service academy of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The KIM offers a program of four or five years and also a short course of sixteen to twenty-two months...
is the service academy of the Royal Netherlands Navy.
Dutch Golden Age
Anglo-Dutch Wars
The Anglo–Dutch Wars were a series of wars fought between the English and the Dutch in the 17th and 18th centuries for control over the seas and trade routes. The first war took place during the English Interregnum, and was fought between the Commonwealth of England and the Dutch Republic...
against England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. In the middle of the 17th century the Dutch navy was the most powerful navy in the world.
World War II
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
in a matter of days: the Dutch navy had its headquarters in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and smaller dependencies in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Around the world Dutch naval units were responsible for troop transport, for example during Operation Dynamo
Operation Dynamo
The Dunkirk evacuation, commonly known as the Miracle of Dunkirk, code-named Operation Dynamo by the British, was the evacuation of Allied soldiers from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk, France, between 26 May and the early hours of 3 June 1940, because the British, French and Belgian troops were...
in Dunkirk and D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
, they escorted convoys and attacked enemy targets. During the war the navy suffered heavy losses, especially in defending the Dutch East Indies, most notably the Battle of the Java Sea
Battle of the Java Sea
The Battle of the Java Sea was a decisive naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, that sealed the fate of the Netherlands East Indies....
in which the commander, Dutchman Karel Doorman
Karel Doorman
Karel Willem Frederik Marie Doorman was a Dutch Rear Admiral who commanded ABDACOM Naval forces, a hastily-organized multinational naval force formed to defend the East Indies against an overwhelming Imperial Japanese attack. Doorman was killed and the main body of ABDACOM Naval forces destroyed...
, went down with his ships together with 1000 of his crew.
During the relentless Japanese campaign of February and March 1942 in the Netherlands East Indies, the Dutch navy in Asia was virtually annihilated and sustained losses of a total of 20 ships [including its only two light cruisers) and 2500 men killed - as much as the Americans at Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
. The Dutch navy suffered from years of under-funding and came ill-prepared to face a technically and organizationally extremely well prepared, powerful and dedicated enemy, that also brought more and heavier ships with better weapons into battle, among others the Long Lance-torpedo, with which the cruiser Haguro
Japanese cruiser Haguro
|-External reference links: -External links:**...
downed the light cruiser HNLMS De Ruyter
HNLMS De Ruyter
HNLMS De Ruyter may refer to one of seven ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy named after Admiral Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter :...
. This vessel was in no way a match for Haguro.. A small force of submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s sank more Japanese ships in the first weeks of the war than the entire British and US navies together, an exploit which earned Admiral Helfrich
Conrad Emil Lambert Helfrich
Luitenant-Admiraal Conrad Emil Lambert Helfrich, GNL, KCB of the Royal Netherlands Navy was a leading Dutch naval figure of World War II. He was born in Semarang....
the nickname "Ship-a-day Helfrich". Later in the war, a few Dutch submarines scored some remarkable hits, including one German submarine in the Mediterranean.
After the war, the relations between the Netherlands and its colonies changed dramatically. The establishment of the Republic of Indonesia, 2 days after the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese surrender, thwarted the Dutch plans for restoring colonial authority. It took 4 years of war before the Netherlands acknowledged the independence of Indonesia. The Dutch navy was stationed in Papua
Western New Guinea
West Papua informally refers to the Indonesian western half of the island of New Guinea and other smaller islands to its west. The region is officially administered as two provinces: Papua and West Papua. The eastern half of New Guinea is Papua New Guinea.The population of approximately 3 million...
until it was turned over to the Indonesians in 1962, because the action from the Military of Indonesia
Military of Indonesia
The Indonesian National Armed Forces in 2009 comprises approximately 432,129 personnel including the Army , Navy including the Indonesian Marine Corps and the Air Force ....
, supported by the modern military equipments from Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, as the order of President Sukarno
Sukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
to integrate it into as one of Indonesian provinces.
NATO cooperation
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
(1950-1953) that the navy got more recognition. The government allowed the creation of a balanced fleet consisting of 2 naval squadrons. Apart from the aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
Hr. Ms. Karel Doorman
HNLMS Karel Doorman (R81)
HNLMS Karel Doorman was a Colossus-class aircraft carrier of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The ship was the British HMS Venerable before she was sold in 1948 to the Netherlands as a light attack carrier. In 1960 she was involved in the decolonization conflict in Western New Guinea with Indonesia...
the Dutch navy consisted of 2 cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
s (2 De Zeven Provinciën class
De Zeven Provinciën class cruiser
The De Zeven Provinciën-class is a class of light cruisers. They were built by Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij and Wilton-Fijenoord for the Royal Netherlands Navy...
), 12 destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s (4 Holland class
Holland class destroyer
The Holland class destroyers were built for the Royal Netherlands Navy in the 1950s. They were the first major ships designed and built by the Dutch after World War II...
, 8 Friesland class
Friesland class destroyer
The Friesland Class destroyers were built for the Royal Netherlands Navy in the 1950s. They were a larger modified version of the Holland class destroyer with more powerful machinery. Eight ships were built. They were replaced by the Kortenaer class frigates in the early 1980s and seven ships were...
), 8 submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s, 6 frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
s (van Speijk class frigates) and a large number of minesweepers
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
.
As a NATO member the Netherlands developed its security policy in close cooperation with other members. The establishment of the Warsaw pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
in 1955 intensified the arms race between West and East. Technical innovations rapidly emerged, the introduction of radar and sonar were followed by nuclear weapon
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
systems and long-range missiles. The geopolitical situation allowed for a fixed military strategy. From 1965 onwards the Netherlands joined certain permanent NATO squadrons like the Standing Naval Force Atlantic.
Naval squadron
Contains all surface combatants, replenishment ships and amphibious support ships. Netherlands Marine CorpsNetherlands Marine CorpsThe Korps Mariniers is the marine corps and amphibious infantry component of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The marines are trained to operate anywhere in the world in all environments, under any condition and circumstance, as a rapid reaction force. The Korps Mariniers can be deployed to a given...
- 1 Brigade (MTC: Mariniers Training Commando (formerly known as GOEM: Groep Operationele Eenheden Mariniers) consisting of 4 battalions
- 2 Operational Marine Battalions (MARNSBAT1,2)
- 1 Amphibious combat support battalion (AMFGEVSTBAT)
- 1 Amphibious Logistical battalion (AMFLOGBAT)
- 1 rifle company (32 Infcoy) is permanently stationed at ArubaArubaAruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
Coast Guard
Although the Coast Guard is not an official part of the Navy, it is under its operational control. Also the Netherlands Antilles & Aruba Coast GuardNetherlands Antilles & Aruba Coast Guard
The Dutch Caribbean Coastguard or DCCG is the coast guard of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean. The unit is a joint effort between all constituent countries within the Kingdom...
is under the operational control of the Navy and is commanded by the commander of the Navy in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
.
Equipment
The Royal Netherlands Navy currently operates 7 main classes of vessels:- Note: in the Royal Netherlands Navy frigates are interchangeable with destroyers as there is no separate class
Type ship Defensenote 1974 Defensenote 1984 Priority Document 1993 Marine study 2005 Economize 2011 LC frigates 4 4 M frigates 4 8 8 2 2 GW frigates 2 2 2 L frigates 1 2 2 S frigates 12 10 6 MLM frigates 6 Frigates 25 22 18 6 6 Patrolships 4 4 Submarine 6 6 4 4 4 Supply ships 2 2 2 1 ATS 1 2 2 JSS 1 1 Minehunters 15 15 15 10 6 Minesweepers 11 11 Total ships 59 56 40 28 21 LRMP Aircraft 21 13 13 Helicopters 36 30 20 20 20 Total aircraft 57 43 33 20 20
List of the Dutch Navy Fleet
De Zeven Provinciën class frigate
The De Zeven Provinciën class frigates are highly advanced air-defence and command frigates in service with the Koninklijke Marine . This class of ships is also known as LCF...
as frigates, but internationally they are most comparable to destroyers (due to their size and weapon capability) platform for Sea Based Anti-Ballistics Missile defence
The constituent Equipment of the Royal Netherlands Navy are:
Surface combatants
- 4 De Zeven ProvinciënDe Zeven Provinciën class frigateThe De Zeven Provinciën class frigates are highly advanced air-defence and command frigates in service with the Koninklijke Marine . This class of ships is also known as LCF...
class air defence and command frigate (LCF, officially classified as frigates but in size and weaponry they could be classified as destroyers)- HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën (F802)HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën (F802)HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën is the first ship of the De Zeven Provinciën class air defence and command frigates in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy...
- HNLMS Tromp (F803)HNLMS Tromp (F803)HNLMS Tromp is the second De Zeven Provinciën class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy. It was laid down in 1999, launched in 2001, and commissioned in 2003...
- HNLMS De Ruyter (F804)HNLMS De Ruyter (F804)HNLMS De Ruyter is the third De Zeven Provinciën class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy. It was laid down in 2000, launched in 2002, and commissioned in 2004. The frigate is named after the famous Dutch admiral Michiel de Ruyter .The frigate should not be mistaken with the former Hr. Ms...
- HNLMS Evertsen (F805)HNLMS Evertsen (F805)HNLMS Evertsen is the fourth De Zeven Provinciën class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy.Hr Ms Evertsen visited South Africa in late 2007 as part of a NATO task force on a friendship visit....
- HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën (F802)
- 2 Karel Doorman classKarel Doorman class frigateThe Karel Doorman class is a class of eight multi-purpose frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The class is also known as the "Multi-purpose" or M class....
multi-Purpose-frigates (also known as M-class)- HNLMS Van Speijk (F828)HNLMS Van Speijk (F828)HNLMS Van Speijk is the eighth and last ship in the Karel Doorman-class of multi-purpose frigates.Van Speijk was laid down 1 October 1991, launched 26 March 1994, and commissioned 7 September 1995....
- HNLMS Van Amstel (F831)HNLMS Van Amstel (F831)HNLMS Van Amstel 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...
- HNLMS Van Speijk (F828)
- 2 Holland class
- HNLMS Holland (P840)
- HNLMS Zeeland (P841)
Amphibious assault ships
- 2 landing platform dock (LPD) / Amphibious Transport Ships
- HNLMS Rotterdam (L800)HNLMS Rotterdam (L800)The Rotterdam class is a Landing Platform Dock or LPD amphibious warfare ship of the Royal Netherlands Navy. It is equipped with a large helicopter deck for helicopter operations and a dock for large landing craft....
- HNLMS Johan de Witt (L801)
- HNLMS Rotterdam (L800)
Submarines
- 4 S802 WalrusWalrus class submarineThe Walrus-class submarine is the only submarine class currently in operation in the Royal Netherlands Navy. They have been in use since 1990 and are all named after sea mammals.-Design:...
class Diesel/electric attack submarines. (currently being upgraded for operations well into the 21st Century)- HNLMS Walrus (S802)
- HNLMS Zeeleeuw (S803)
- HNLMS Dolfijn (S808)
- HNLMS Bruinvis (S810)
Mine detection and clearing ships
- 10 Tripartite (Alkmaar class)Tripartite class minehunterThe Tripartite class is a class of mine warfare vessel used by the navies of Belgium, France and the Netherlands, as well as Pakistan, Indonesia, Latvia, and Bulgaria.-Description:...
mine hunters- HNLMS Haarlem (M853) (out of commission sept 2011)
- HNLMS Maasluis (M856) (out of commission sept 2011)
- HNLMS Makkum (M857)
- HNLMS Middelburg (M858) (out of commission sept 2011)
- HNLMS Hellevoetsluis (M859) (out of commission sept 2011)
- HNLMS Schiedam (M860)
- HNLMS Urk (M861)
- HNLMS Zierikzee (M862)
- HNLMS Vlaardingen (M863)
- HNLMS Willemstad (M862)
- 4 A851 Cerberus class diving support vessels.
- HNLMS Cerberus (A851)
- HNLMS Argus (A852)
- HNLMS Nautilus (A853)
- HNLMS Hydra (A854)
Support ships
- 1 ZuiderkruisHNLMS Zuiderkruis (A832)HNLMS Zuiderkruis is one of two replenishment ships serving with the Royal Netherlands Navy. The Zuiderkruis entered service in 1975 and is to be decommissioned at the end of 2011.-External links:*...
class replenishment Ship- HNLMS Zuiderkruis (A832)HNLMS Zuiderkruis (A832)HNLMS Zuiderkruis is one of two replenishment ships serving with the Royal Netherlands Navy. The Zuiderkruis entered service in 1975 and is to be decommissioned at the end of 2011.-External links:*...
- HNLMS Zuiderkruis (A832)
- 1 AmsterdamHNLMS Amsterdam (A836)HNLMS Amsterdam is one of two replenishment ships serving with the Royal Netherlands Navy. The Amsterdam entered service in 1995....
class replenishment Ship- HNLMS Amsterdam (A836)HNLMS Amsterdam (A836)HNLMS Amsterdam is one of two replenishment ships serving with the Royal Netherlands Navy. The Amsterdam entered service in 1995....
- HNLMS Amsterdam (A836)
- 1 A900 Mercuur class Torpedo recovery ship
- HNLMS Mercuur (A900)
- 1 A804 Pelikaan logistic support vessel for the Netherlands Antilles (amphibious & diving operations and transport)
- HNLMS Pelikaan (A804)HNLMS Pelikaan (A804)HNLMS Pelikaan is an DAMEN Logistic Support Vessel 6513.The ship was built and designed special for the Caribbean seas, it functions as a support ship for the Royal Netherlands Navy in the area. The ship is permanently moored off the Rima-pier at the naval base parera at Curaçao. She came in...
- HNLMS Pelikaan (A804)
Hydrographical survey ships
- 2 A802 Snellius class hydrographical survey ship.
- HNLMS Snellius (A802)
- HNLMS Luymes (A803)
Training ships
- 1 A902 Van Kinsbergen class training ship
- MOV Van Kinsbergen (A902)
- 1 Y8050 Urania class sailing naval training vessel
- HNLMS Urania (Y8050)
Landingcraft (Marine Corps)
- 5 L9525 LCU Mk2 class landing craft utility
- L9525
- L9526
- L9527
- L9528
- L9529
All ships of the L9525 LCU class have been upgraded to Mk2. This upgrade meant enlarging the vessels and increasing their payload (enabling the craft to transport the Royal Netherlands Army
Royal Netherlands Army
The Royal Netherlands Army is the land forces element of the military of the Netherlands.-Short history:The Royal Netherlands Army was raised on 9 January 1814, but its origins date back to 1572, when the so-called Staatse Leger was raised...
's Leopard 2 A6
Leopard 2
The Leopard 2 is a main battle tank developed by Krauss-Maffei in the early 1970s for the West German Army. The tank first entered service in 1979 and succeeded the earlier Leopard 1 as the main battle tank of the German Army. Various versions have served in the armed forces of Germany and twelve...
).
- 12 LCVP Mk5c class landing craft vehicle personnel built by Visser Shipyard in Den Helder in 2009-2010
- L95XX
- 17 Fast Raiding, Interception and Special Forces Craft for use as small landing crafts. To be replaced by the new FRISC's.
- 6 L9536 LCVP Mk3 class landing craft vehicle personnel
- L9536 (out of commission Jan 2010)
- L9537
- L9538
- L9539 (out of commission Jan 2010)
- L9540
- L9541
- 6 L9530 LCVP Mk2 class landing craft vehicle personnel
- L9530
- L9531
- L9532
- L9533
- L9534
- L9535
Other ships
- 5 A874 Linge class large tugs.
- HNLMS Linge (A874)
- HNLMS Regge (A875)
- HNLMS Hunze (A876)
- HNLMS Rotte (A877)
- HNLMS Gouwe (A878)
- 2 Y8018 Breezand class harbor tugs
- HNLMS Breezand (Y8018)
- HNLMS Bergzand (Y8019
- 5 Y8055 Schelde class harbor working boats
- HNLMS Schelde (Y8055)
- HNLMS Wierbalg (Y8055)
- HNLMS Malzwin (Y8055)
- HNLMS Zuidwal (Y8055)
- HNLMS Westwal (Y8055)
- 1 Y8536 Patria class inshore tanker
- HNLMS Patia (Y8536)
- 1 Y8005 Nieuwediep class touring boat
- HNLMS Nieuwediep (Y8005)
- 2 Y8200 harbor vessels
- Y8200
- Y8300
- 1 WM1-9002 Jonge Jan class harbor vessel
- Jonge Jan (WM1-9002)
- 1 WM1-9003 Jonge Prins 3 class harbor vessel
- Jonge Prins 3 (WM1-9003)
- 3 patrol cuttersDamen Stan 4207 patrol vesselThe Damen Stan Patrol 4100, Damen Stan Patrol 4207 and Damen Stan Patrol 4708 are three related designs from the Damen Group, a Dutch shipbuilding firm.The Stan 4207 design are patrol vessels.They are wide, and can travel at 22 knots....
for the Netherlands Antilles (NAACGC Jaguar P810, NAACGC Panter P811 and NAACGC Poema P812)
- 46 Fast Raiding, Interception and Special Forces Craft, 11 for Special Operation use, 17 to replace the old FRISC's of the Dutch Marines, 12 for use in the Dutch territories in the Caribbean and 6 to use in combination with the new Holland Class OPV's
Maritime helicopters
- 21 SH-14D LynxWestland LynxThe Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants...
(Only 10 still operational thanks to life-prolonging maintenance. This was necessary due to delivery delays of the NH-90. One is currently held by Libyan pro-Qadhafi forces after a failed attempt to rescue two people from Libya on February 27, 2011.) While carrying Koninklijke Marine titles, they actually belong to the Defensie Helikopter Commando (DHC), or Defence Helicopter Command, since July 4, 2008. - 20 NH-90 12 NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH) and 8 transport version of the NATO Frigate Helicopter (TNFH) (Being introduced until the end of 2015)
Armored vehicles (Marine Corps)
- 156 BV206S armored all-terrain personnel carriers(127 will get a Mid-Life Update, the rest will be disposed of or sold)
- 74 BVS10 armored all-terrain personnel carriers
- 20 XA-188Sisu XA-180The Patria Pasi is a Finnish made six-wheeled armoured personnel carrier originally designed for Finnish Defence Forces. The first version was produced in 1983 and serial production began in 1984. The basic design was based on easy usage, simple basic structure and low cost maintenance...
wheeled armored personnel carriers(11 to be sold to Estonia, the rest will be disposed of or sold) - 4 Leopard 1 BARV beach armored recovery vehicles
Unarmored vehicles (Marine Corps)
- Land Rover Defender
- 40 Mercedes-Benz 280 CDIMercedes-Benz G-ClassThe original 460-series Geländewagen went on sale for civilian buyers in 1979, after having debuted in February of that year. It was offered with two wheelbases, a short wheelbase of 2,400 mm and a long one of 2,850 mm. One could choose between three body styles: A two-door short...
- 17 UnimogUnimogUnimog is a range of multi-purpose auto four wheel drive medium trucks produced by Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. The name Unimog is pronounced in German and is an acronym for the German "UNIversal-MOtor-Gerät", Gerät being the German word for machine or device...
1.2-ton truck - Various DAF trucks
Artillery (Marine Corps)
- RT-120 (Habé Rayé) 120mm mortars
- L16A2 81mm mortar
- Brandt MO-60-V - 60mm Commando mortarCommando mortarCommando mortar refers to a class of infantry light mortars designed for maximum portability and rapid deployment, at the expense of accuracy and repeatability....
Personal weapons
- Diemaco C7A1Diemaco C7The Colt Canada C7 rifle is a service rifle variation of the M16 rifle that is manufactured by Diemaco/Colt Canada, a subsidiary of Colt Firearms after 2005, and used by the Canadian Forces, Hærens Jegerkommando , Military of Denmark , Iceland Crisis Response Unit, the Military of the Netherlands ...
5.56mm assault rifleAssault rifleAn assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies... - Diemaco C8A1Diemaco C7The Colt Canada C7 rifle is a service rifle variation of the M16 rifle that is manufactured by Diemaco/Colt Canada, a subsidiary of Colt Firearms after 2005, and used by the Canadian Forces, Hærens Jegerkommando , Military of Denmark , Iceland Crisis Response Unit, the Military of the Netherlands ...
5.56 mm carbineCarbineA carbine , from French carabine, is a longarm similar to but shorter than a rifle or musket. Many carbines are shortened versions of full rifles, firing the same ammunition at a lower velocity due to a shorter barrel length.... - Diemaco C7 LSWDiemaco C7The Colt Canada C7 rifle is a service rifle variation of the M16 rifle that is manufactured by Diemaco/Colt Canada, a subsidiary of Colt Firearms after 2005, and used by the Canadian Forces, Hærens Jegerkommando , Military of Denmark , Iceland Crisis Response Unit, the Military of the Netherlands ...
light machinegun - Glock 17 pistol
- FN MAGFN MAGThe FN MAG is a Belgian 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun, designed in the early 1950s at Fabrique Nationale by Ernest Vervier. It has been used by more than 80 countries, and it has been made under licence in countries such as Argentina, Egypt, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the...
general purpose machinegun - M2HB 12.7mm (.50cal) heavy machinegun
- SSG sniper rifle
- Accuracy International AWMAccuracy International AWMThe AWM is a sniper rifle manufactured by Accuracy International. It is also known as the AWSM , which typically denotes the .338 Lapua Magnum version.-The Arctic Warfare Magnum system:...
sniper rifle in .338 Lapua Magnum - M107 12.7mm sniper rifle
- MP5 submachine gun
- P90 submachine gun
- M590A1 shotgun
- AT4AT4The AT4 is an 84-mm unguided, portable, single-shot recoilless smoothbore weapon built in Sweden by Saab Bofors Dynamics...
anti-tank rocket - Panzerfaust 3Panzerfaust 3The Panzerfaust 3 is a modern and disposable recoilless RPG anti-tank weapon developed between 1978 and 1985 and put into service by the Bundeswehr in 1992...
anti-tank weapon - GillSpike (missile)Spike is a fourth generation man-portable fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile with tandem-charged HEAT warhead, developed and designed by the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and in service with a number of nations....
anti-tank missile - FIM-92C StingerFIM-92 StingerThe FIM-92 Stinger is a personal portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile , which can be adapted to fire from ground vehicles and helicopters , developed in the United States and entered into service in 1981. Used by the militaries of the U.S...
man-portable surface to air missile
2012 future naval inventory
In 2012 the new fleet plan of the Royal Netherlands Navy will be completed, consisting of these ships:| Class | Type | Number | Dates | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| De Zeven Provinciën De Zeven Provinciën class frigate The De Zeven Provinciën class frigates are highly advanced air-defence and command frigates in service with the Koninklijke Marine . This class of ships is also known as LCF... |
Frigate | 4 | 2002 | Mainly Anti-Air Warfare with ABM capability, ASW and with extensive Command & Communication Facilities |
| Karel Doorman class Karel Doorman class frigate The Karel Doorman class is a class of eight multi-purpose frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The class is also known as the "Multi-purpose" or M class.... |
Frigate | 2 | 1994 | Multipurpose tasks |
| Holland Class | Offshore Patrol Vessel | 4 | 2011 | Ocean patrols |
| Alkmaar class Tripartite class minehunter The Tripartite class is a class of mine warfare vessel used by the navies of Belgium, France and the Netherlands, as well as Pakistan, Indonesia, Latvia, and Bulgaria.-Description:... |
Minehunter | 10 | 1989 | Minehunting/Minesweeping (combined) |
| Amsterdam class HNLMS Amsterdam (A836) HNLMS Amsterdam is one of two replenishment ships serving with the Royal Netherlands Navy. The Amsterdam entered service in 1995.... |
Replenishment | 1 | 1995 | Fleet support/replenishing |
| Zuiderkruis class JSS | Joint Support Ship | 1 | 2014 | Combined Amphibious Operations/Seabased Helicopter Platform & Fleet Support/Replenishing |
| Rotterdam class HNLMS Rotterdam (L800) The Rotterdam class is a Landing Platform Dock or LPD amphibious warfare ship of the Royal Netherlands Navy. It is equipped with a large helicopter deck for helicopter operations and a dock for large landing craft.... |
Landing Platform Dock | 2 | 1998/2007 | Troop & Equipment Transport, Helicopter Platform with Command & Communication & Hospital Facilities |
| Walrus class Walrus class submarine The Walrus-class submarine is the only submarine class currently in operation in the Royal Netherlands Navy. They have been in use since 1990 and are all named after sea mammals.-Design:... |
Submarine | 4 | 1994 | MultiPurpose Diesel-electric powered hunter-killer submarines for Deep Ocean Operations and Brown Water & Special Force Operations |
The total tonnage will be approx. 140.000 t. Next to these ships a lot of other smaller vessels remain in the navy like the Snellius class hydrographical survey vessels.
With these changes the Royal Netherlands Navy will have 10 large ocean going vessels ranging from medium/low to high combat action ships. The renewed Dutch Navy will be a green-water navy
Green-water navy
A Green-Water Navy is a naval term that refers to a naval force whose power projection capability is regional in nature. This is a relatively new terminology, as earlier non blue-water navies used to be collectively referred to as brown-water navy....
, having enough frigates and auxiliaries to operate far out at sea, while depending on land-based air support and with the large amphibious squadron they will have significant brown-water navy
Brown-water navy
Brown-water navy is a term that originated in the United States Navy, referring to the small gunboats and patrol boats used in rivers, along with some of the larger ships that supported them as "mother ships," from which they operated...
capabilities.
Future changes
- Purchase of 4 Large Offshore Patrol Vessels Holland Class. The Dutch Ministry of Defence announced recently that these vessels will enter service a year later than planned.
- Extensive upgrading of the 2 remaining F827 Karel Doorman classKarel Doorman class frigateThe Karel Doorman class is a class of eight multi-purpose frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The class is also known as the "Multi-purpose" or M class....
, new SEWACO systems and lay-out of the ships. After these upgrades the ships can last till 2020–2025 - Purchase of 20 NH-90 helicopters to replace the Lynx helicopters currently in use and integration of all maritime helicopter into the Dutch Defense Helicopter Command
- Purchase New joint support ship Zuiderkruis class JSS. The Dutch Ministry of Defence announced recently that this vessel will enter service in 2015 and be able to combine sea replenishment capabilities with the ability to act as a sea based platform in support of amphibious operations (incl. CH-47 & AH-64 Helicopters).
- Extensive upgrading for Walrus class Submarines including new Sonar, weapons upgrades and probably AIP system for near shore operations.
- Upgrading the Zeven Provinciën class LCF frigates Theatre Ballistic Missile Defense and considered SLCM integration.
- Increasing the size of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps. Currently, several units of the Marine Corps are being reorganized.
Theater Ballistic Missile Defense
Together with the United States and several other NATO members, the Dutch Navy is testing and updating its ships for Tactical ballistic missileTactical ballistic missile
A tactical ballistic missile is a ballistic missile designed for short-range battlefield use. Typically, range is less than . Tactical ballistic missiles are usually mobile to ensure survivability and quick deployment, as well as carrying a variety of warheads to target enemy facilities, assembly...
Defense capability. Although tests conducted concerning the capability of the APAR (Active Phased Array Radar
Active Phased Array Radar
APAR is a shipborne multifunction radar developed and manufactured by Thales Nederland. It is the first Active Electronically Scanned Array MFR employed on an operational warship.-Characteristics:...
) have been very successful, no decision has been made by the Dutch Government in purchasing SM-3 missiles - mainly because the SM-3 is not operational yet. Four ships are being fitted out for Tactical ballistic Missile Defense. If purchased (after US export approval) the four LCFs will be fitted out with only eight SM-3 missiles each, due to the high costs for each missile (approximately $2.5 - $5 million).
Decommissioned ships
- 10 Kortenaer classKortenaer class frigateThe Kortenaer class was a class of frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy. They were built to be a general purpose frigate; able to combat all surface, submarine and aircraft targets. Like some of the other frigates of the 1970s and 1980s, they featured a COGOG propulsion system...
, (1979-2003) - 8 sold to Greece, 2 sold to UAE - 2 Jacob van Heemskerck classJacob van Heemskerck class frigateThe Jacob van Heemskerck class frigate was a class of frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy. They were built to be an air defence version of the Kortenaer class frigate. 2 ships were built for the Dutch Navy and have recently been sold to the Chilean Navy...
, (1986-2005) - 2 sold to Chile - 6 of 8 Karel Doorman classKarel Doorman class frigateThe Karel Doorman class is a class of eight multi-purpose frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The class is also known as the "Multi-purpose" or M class....
, (1991-2008) - 2 each sold to Chile, Belgium and Portugal - 2 Tromp class, (1974-2000) - 2 scrapped
- 1 Colossus-class aircraft carrier, Karel DoormanHNLMS Karel Doorman (R81)HNLMS Karel Doorman was a Colossus-class aircraft carrier of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The ship was the British HMS Venerable before she was sold in 1948 to the Netherlands as a light attack carrier. In 1960 she was involved in the decolonization conflict in Western New Guinea with Indonesia...
(1948-1969) Sold to Argentina
Historic ships
- Hr.Ms. De RuyterHNLMS De RuyterHNLMS De Ruyter may refer to one of seven ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy named after Admiral Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter :...
- Hr.Ms. Jacob van HeemskerkHNLMS Jacob van HeemskerkHNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck was a Tromp-class light cruiser of the Royal Netherlands Navy, named after Admiral Jacob van Heemskerk ....
- Hr.Ms. Kortenaer
- Hr.Ms. Java
- Hr.Ms. TrompHNLMS TrompAt least seven ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy have been named HNLMS Tromp after Admiral Maarten Tromp , or his son Cornelis Tromp :* Zr. Ms. Admiraal C. Tromp, a 7-gun armed schooner, which served from 1809-1826....
- Hr.Ms. BonaireHNLMS BonaireHNLMS Bonaire was a 4th class screw steamship of the Royal Netherlands Navy, now under restoration as a museum ship.Bonaire was built for the Royal Netherlands Navy as a steam frigate with barquentine rig and a retractable screw, and was launched at Rotterdam on 12 May 1877.From 1924 she served at...
- Hr.Ms. SchorpioenHNLMS SchorpioenHNLMS Schorpioen is a sister ship of HNLMS Buffel. Built in the same year, 1868 in France, they were the core of the then renewed Royal Netherlands Navy, replacing the outdated wooden ships that combined sailing and steam propulsion and carried so called smooth-bore guns. These new ships were...
- Hr.Ms. Johan Maurits van NassauHNLMS Johan Maurits van NassauHNLMS Johan Maurits van Nassau, named after John Maurice of Nassau, was a Dutch sloop that served in the early part of World War II, when it was sunk...
- Hr.Ms. Abraham Crijnssen
- Hr.Ms. BuffelHNLMS BuffelHNLMS Buffel is a 19th century iron-clad ram ship, now one of the main attractions of the Maritime Museum Rotterdam, also known as the Prince Hendrik Museum, named after its founder, Prince Henry "the Navigator", who had a naval career and established the basis of the museum back in 1874.- Build...
- DelftDutch ship DelftThe Delft was a Dutch 56-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the navy of the Dutch Republic and the Batavian Republic.The order to construct the ship was given on 27 May 1782 by the Admiralty of the Meuse...
, 18th century fourth rate ship of the lineShip of the lineA ship of the line was a type of naval warship constructed from the 17th through the mid-19th century to take part in the naval tactic known as the line of battle, in which two columns of opposing warships would manoeuvre to bring the greatest weight of broadside guns to bear... - De Zeven ProvinciënDutch ship De Zeven Provinciën (1665)De Zeven Provinciën was a Dutch ship of the line, originally armed with 80 guns. The name of the ship was also written as De 7 Provinciën. The literal translation is "The Seven Provinces", the name referring to the fact that the Dutch Republic in the 17th century was a confederation of seven...
, 17th century ship of the line and flagshipFlagshipA flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
of Michiel de RuyterMichiel de RuyterMichiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter is the most famous and one of the most skilled admirals in Dutch history. De Ruyter is most famous for his role in the Anglo-Dutch Wars of the 17th century. He fought the English and French and scored several major victories against them, the best known probably...
Submarines:
- O-20Dutch submarine O-20The O 20 was a Dutch in the Royal Netherlands Navy that saw service during World War II. O 20 along with her sister ship O 19 were the first boats in the world to be equipped with a "getrimd diesel systeem" or "snort system" that allowed the submarine to run its diesel engines while submerged.O 20...
See also
- Dutch Naval AviationDutch Naval AviationThe Netherlands Naval Aviation Service is the naval aviation branch of the Royal Netherlands Navy.-World War I:Although the MLD was formed in 1914, with the building of a seaplane base at De Mok, Texel, it developed slowly in the inter-war years due to limited budget...
- Ships of the Royal Netherlands NavyShips of the Royal Netherlands NavyThis article contains lists of current, future and historically notable Ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy.-De Zeven Provinciën class frigates:...
- Military history of the NetherlandsMilitary history of the NetherlandsThe Dutch-speaking people have a long history; the Netherlands as a nation-state dates from 1568. Belgium became an independent state in 1830 when it seceded from the Netherlands....
- Military ranks of the Dutch armed forcesMilitary ranks of the Dutch armed forces-Koninklijke Landmacht, KL :The Landmacht is the land based part of the Dutch military. Its task are the following:* To defend Dutch soil and that of NATO allies.* To contribute to peace, stability and safety world wide....