Everything about Royal Netherlands Navy totally explained
The
Koninklijke Marine (
Royal Netherlands Navy ) is the
navy of the
Netherlands. Unlike in some other countries the
marines are part of the navy, rather than being an independent branche of the Armed forces.
Bases
The main base is
Den Helder, Noord Holland.
Secondary bases are in
Rotterdam,
Amsterdam,
Flushing and
Willemstad (
Curaçao)
History
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.
World War II
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.
After the war, the relations between the Netherlands and its colonies changed dramatically. The establishment of the
Republic of Indonesia, 2 days after the
Japanese 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.
Cold War and NATO cooperation
With the creation of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the military focus was on the army and air force; it wasn't 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
cruisers (2
De Zeven Provinciën class), 12
destroyers (4
Holland class, 8
Friesland class), 8
submarines, 6
frigates (van Speijk class frigates) and a large number of
minesweepers.
As a NATO member the Netherlands developed its safety 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.
Current structure
The constituent parts of the Royal Netherlands Navy are:
Naval squadron
Contains all surface combatants, replenishment ships and amphibious support ships.
Submarine service
Contains the submarines and a support vessel.
Mine Detection and Clearing Service
Contains various minehunters.
Hydrographical Survey
Contains ships which map the oceans.
1 Brigade (MTC: Mariniers Training Commando (formerly known as GOEM: Groep Operationele Eenheden Mariniers) consisting of 6 battalions
- 3 operational marine battalions (MARNSBAT1,2,3)
- 1 combat support battalion (GEVSTBAT)
- 1 logistical battalion (LOGBAT)
- 1 Amphibious support battalion (AMFOSTBAT)
3 MARNSBAT (consisting of 2 rifle companies) is permanently stationed at the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba
Coast Guard
Although the Coast Guard isn't an official part of the Navy, it's under its operational control.
Equipment
The constituent Equipment of the Royal Netherlands Navy are:
Surface combatants
4 De Zeven Provinciën class air defence and command frigate (LCF, officially classified as frigates but in size and weaponry they could be classified as destroyers)
3 Karel Doorman class multi-role frigates (also known as M-class)
Amphibious assault ships
2 landing platform dock (LPD) / Amphibious Transport Ships
Submarines
4 S802 Walrus classDiesel/electric attack submarines. (currently being upgraded for operations well in the 21th century
Mine detection and clearing ships
10 Tripartite (Alkmaar class) mine hunters
4 A851 Cerberus class diving support vessels.
Support ships
1 Zuiderkruis class replenishment Ships
1 Amsterdam class replenishment Ships
1 A900 Mercuur class Torpedo recovery ship
1 A804 Pelikaan logistic support vessel for the Netherlands Antilles
Hydrographical survey ships
2 A802 Snellius class hydrographical survey ship.
Training ships
1 A902 Van Kinsbergen class training ship
1 Y8050 Urania class sailing naval training vessel
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 (being able to transport the Leopard 2 A6 of the Royal Netherlands Army).
6 L9536 LCVP Mk3 class landing craft vehicle personnel
- L9536
- L9537
- L9538
- L9539
- L9540
- L9541
6 L9530 LCVP Mk2 class landing craft vehicle personnel
- L9530
- L9531
- L9532
- L9533
- L9534
- L9535
The 12 LCVP's will be replaced by 12 LCVP Mk5c in the next years.
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
1 Y8005 Nieuwediep class touring boat
2 Y8200 harbor vessels
1 WM1-9002 Jonge Jan class harbor vessel
1 WM1-9003 Jonge Prins 3 class harbor vessel
3 patrol cutters for the Netherlands Antilles (NAACGC Jaguar P810, NAACGC Panter P811 and NAACGC Poema P812)
Maritime helicopters
20 SH-14D Lynx anti-submarine warfare helicopters
20 NH-90 anti-submarine/surface warfare helicopters (being introduced)
Armored vehicles (Marine Corps)
106 BV206S armored all-terrain personnel carriers
74 BVS10 armored all-terrain personnel carriers
20 XA-188 wheeled armored personnel carriers
4 Leopard 1 BARV beach armored recovery vehicles
Unarmored vehicles (Marine Corps)
Landrover Defender
Unimog 1.2 ton truck
Various DAF trucks
Artillery (Marine Corps)
RT-120 (Habé Rayé) 120mm mortars
L16A2 81mm mortar
Personal weapons
Diemaco C7A1 assault rifle
Glock 17 pistol
Diemaco C7 LSW light machinegun
FN MAG general purpose machinegun
M2HB 12.7mm (.50cal) heavy machinegun
SSG sniper rifle
MP5 submachine gun
P90 submachine gun
M590A1 shotgun
AT4 anti-tank rocket
Carl Gustav anti-tank rocket
M47 Dragon anti-tank missile
FIM-92C Stinger man-portable surface to air missile
2012 PLAN
In 2012 the new fleet plan of the Royal Netherlands Navy will be completed, consisting of these ships:
4 P840 Holland Class
4 F802 De Zeven Provinciën class
2 F827 Karel Doorman class
4 S802 Walrus class
2 L800 Rotterdam class
1 Zuiderkruis class JSS
1 Amsterdam class replenishment ship
10 Tripartite (Alkmaar class)
And several other smaller vessels including the A802 Snellius.
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 that'll have significant brown-water navy 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.
Upgrading of the 2 remaining F827 Karel Doorman 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 a year later than originally planned.
Heavy upgrading for Walrus class Submarines including new Sonar and AIP
Upgrading the Zeven Provinciën class LCF frigates Theatre Ballistic Missile Defense
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 missile 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 isn't 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 class, (1979-2003) - 8 sold to Greece, 2 sold to UAE
2 Jacob van Heemskerck class, (1986-2005) - 2 sold to Chile
6 of 8 Karel Doorman class, (1991-2008) - 2 sold to Chile, Belgium and Portugal
2 Tromp class, (1974-2000) - 2 scrapped
1 Colossus-class aircraft carrier, Karel Doorman (1948-1969) Sold to Argentina
Some ships
Historic ships
Hr.Ms Buffel
Hr.Ms. Abraham Crijnssen
Hr.Ms. De Ruyter
Hr.Ms. Jacob van Heemskerk
Hr.Ms. Kortenaer
Hr.Ms. Java
Hr.Ms. Tromp
Hr.Ms. Bonaire
Hr.Ms. Schorpioen
Hr.Ms. Johan Maurits van Nassau
De Delft (1783-1797) 18th century ship of the line. Reconstructed in Rotterdam (Delfshaven)
De Zeven Provinciën (1665-1694), 17th century ship of the line and flagship of Michiel de Ruyter currently being reconstructed at the Bataviawharf
Submarines:
Further Information
Get more info on 'Royal Netherlands Navy'.
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