Dokkum-class minesweeper

Sittard
Class overview
NameDokkum class
Builders
Operators
Succeeded byAlkmaar class
SubclassesWildervank
Built1953–1957
In commission1955–1999
Planned18
Completed18
Active1
Preserved5
General characteristics [1][2]
TypeMinesweeper
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.[4][5] They were paid for by the United States under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program (MDAP).[6][7]

Design[edit]

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][8] 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.[9]

The ships of the Dokkum class were made mostly from wood, only the frame and superstructure was made from aluminium.[10] It also had a double hull, with the inner hull made out of mahogany and the outer hull of teak.[10] Furthermore, they were equipped with reversible propellers.[11]

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.[9]

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[edit]

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.[12][13] 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.[14] The four minehunters of the Dokkum class entered service of the Royal Netherlands Navy between 1968 and 1969.[12]

Ships in class[edit]

The ships were named after the smaller Dutch municipalities.[15]

Dokkum-class construction data[4][16][5]
Hull number Name Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned Fate Notes
M801 Dokkum ¹ Wilton-Fijenoord 15 June 1953 12 October 1954 26 July 1955 15 April 1983 [17]
M802 Hoogezand Gusto Shipyard 17 July 1953 22 March 1955 7 November 1955 15 September 1993 Sold for scrap to R. Zorn [18]
M806 Roermond ² Wilton-Fijenoord 19 September 1953 13 August 1955 29 December 1955 16 April 1987 In use by Zeekadetkorps Lemmer [19]
M809 Naaldwijk De Noord Shipyard 2 November 1953 1 February 1955 8 December 1955 28 January 1994 In use by scouting Haarlem [20]
M810 Abcoude Gusto Shipyard 10 November 1953 2 September 1955 18 May 1956 5 November 1993 Sold to the Peruvian Navy, now named Zimic [21]
M812 Drachten Niestern Scheepsbouw Unie 29 December 1953 24 March 1955 27 January 1956 3 September 1994 [22]
M813 Ommen J. & K. Smit 22 December 1953 5 April 1955 19 April 1956 23 July 1994 [23]
M815 Giethoorn L. Smit en Zoon 22 December 1953 30 March 1955 29 March 1956 15 September 1993 Sold for scrap to R. Zorn [24]
M817 Venlo Arnhemse Scheepsbouw Maatschappij 10 February 1954 21 May 1955 26 April 1956 15 September 1993 Sold for scrap to R. Zorn [25]
M818 Drunen ¹ Gusto Shipyard 8 January 1955 24 March 1956 30 August 1956 19 April 1984 Sold for scrap to Fa. Westmetaal Amsterdam [26]
M820 Woerden ² Haarlemse Scheepsbouw Maatschappij 10 August 1954 28 November 1956 24 April 1957 September 1985 [27]
M823 Naarden Wilton-Fijenoord 28 October 1954 27 January 1956 18 May 1956 1999 In use by Zeekadetkorps Delfzijl [28]
M827 Hoogeveen De Noord Shipyard 1 February 1955 8 May 1956 2 November 1956 1999 Museum ship in Den Helder [29]
M828 Staphorst ¹ Gusto Shipyard 2 May 1955 21 July 1956 23 January 1957 20 January 1984 Sold for scrap to Fa. Westmetaal Amsterdam [30]
M830 Sittard Niestern Scheepsbouw Unie 24 March 1955 26 April 1956 19 December 1956 1999 In use by Zeekadetkorps Harlingen [31]
M841 Gemert J. & K. Smit 5 April 1995 13 March 1956 7 September 1956 15 September 1993 Sold for scrap to R. Zorn [32]
M842 Veere ¹ L. Smit en Zoon 30 March 1955 9 February 1956 27 September 1956 19 October 1984 Sold for scrap to Fa. Westmetaal Amsterdam [33]
M844 Rhenen ² Arnhemse Scheepsbouw Maatschappij 18 April 1955 31 May 1956 7 December 1956 1 January 1984 Sold for scrap to Fa. Holland en Zn. [34]

Export[edit]

In 1994 the Abcoude was sold for 450.000 Dutch guilders to Peru.[35] In addition, the reserve parts of the ship were sold for 160.000 Dutch guilders.[36]

Notes[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b van Amstel (1991), p. 74.
  2. ^ van Amstel (1991), p. 79.
  3. ^ a b c d Roetering (1997), p. 108.
  4. ^ a b van Amstel (1991), pp. 74–76.
  5. ^ a b 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. ^ Schoonoord (2012), p. 36.
  9. ^ a b Schoonoord (2012), p. 58.
  10. ^ a b "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.
  11. ^ "Mijnenveger „Dokkum" gaat met tegenzin te water: Eerste van een klasse van 32 schepen". Nieuwe Haarlemsche Courant (in Dutch). 13 October 1954.
  12. ^ a b Woudstra (1982), p. 154.
  13. ^ Schoonoord (2012), pp. 127–128.
  14. ^ Roetering (1997), p. 109.
  15. ^ Woudstra (1982), p. 153.
  16. ^ van Amstel (1991), pp. 82-83.
  17. ^ "Hr.Ms. Dokkum M 801" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  18. ^ "Hr.Ms. Hoogezand. ex-MSC 173. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  19. ^ "HR.MS. ROERMOND M 806" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  20. ^ "Hr.Ms. Naaldwijk. ex-MSC 175. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  21. ^ "Hr.Ms. Abcoude. ex-MSC 176. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  22. ^ "Hr.Ms. Drachten. ex-MSC 177. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  23. ^ "Hr.Ms. Ommen. ex-MSC 178. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  24. ^ "Hr.Ms. Giethoorn. ex-MSC 179. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  25. ^ "Hr.Ms. Venlo. ex-MSC 180. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  26. ^ "Hr.Ms. Drunen" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  27. ^ "HR.MS. WOERDEN A 820 / M 820" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  28. ^ "Hr.Ms. Naarden. ex-MSC 183. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  29. ^ "Hr.Ms. Hoogeveen. ex-MSC 184. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  30. ^ "Hr.Ms. Staphorst" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  31. ^ "Hr.Ms. Sittard. ex-MSC 186. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  32. ^ "Hr.Ms. Gemert. ex-MSC 187. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  33. ^ "Hr.Ms. Veere" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  34. ^ "HR.MS. RHENEN M 844" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  35. ^ "Peru koopt Nederlandse mijnenveger 'Abcoude'". Nederlands Dagblad (in Dutch). 8 July 1994.
  36. ^ "Nederlandse mijnenveger aan Peru verkocht". Amigoe (in Dutch). 8 July 1994.

References[edit]

  • Schoonoord, D.C.L. (2012). Pugno pro patria: de Koninklijke Marine tijdens de Koude Oorlog (in Dutch). Franeker: Van Wijnen. ISBN 978-90-5194-455-6.
  • van Amstel, W.H.E. (1991). De schepen van de Koninklijke Marine vanaf 1945 (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN 90-6013-997-6.
  • Raven, G.J.A., ed. (1988). De kroon op het anker: 175 jaar Koninklijke Marine (in Dutch). Amsterdam: De Bataafsche Leeuw. ISBN 90-6707-200-1.
  • Roetering, B., ed. (1997). Mijnendienst 1907-1997 90 jaar: feiten, verhalen en anekdotes uit het negentigjarig bestaan van de Mijnendienst van de Koninklijke Marine (in Dutch). ISBN 90-90-10528-X.
  • Woudstra, F.G.A. (1982). Onze Koninklijke Marine (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN 90-6013-915-1.
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