The Rotterdam class[citation needed] are two landing platform dock (LPD) ships in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy. Built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding at Vlissingen, their mission is to carry out amphibious warfare by transporting the bulk of the Korps Mariniers. Each ship has both a large helicopter flight deck and a well deck for large landing craft, as well as space for up to 33 main battle tanks.
 Rotterdam on the Nieuwe Waterweg
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Rotterdam class |
| Builders | Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding |
| Operators |  Royal Netherlands Navy |
| Cost | |
| Built | 1996–2007 |
| In commission | 1998–present |
| Planned | 2 |
| Completed | 2 |
| Active | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Landing platform dock |
| Displacement |
|
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Draft | 5.9 m (19 ft 4 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph) |
| Range | 6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Endurance | 6 weeks |
| Boats & landing craft carried | |
| Capacity |
|
| Troops |
|
| Complement |
|
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys | 1 × AN/SLQ-25 Nixie torpedo decoy |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 4 × CH-47F Chinook or 6 × NH90 NFH helicopters |
| Aviation facilities | Hangar and stern helicopter flight deck with two landing spots |
Rotterdam was commissioned in 1998 and Johan de Witt in 2007. Rotterdam and Johan de Witt are based at the Nieuwe Haven Naval Base in Den Helder, the Netherlands.
The class is the result of a joint project between Spain and the Netherlands for developing a common class of LPD that would fulfill the needs of both countries to replace older ships. This process produced the Enforcer design, which forms the basis of the Rotterdam class as well as the similar Galicia class and Bay class.
Design and description
editThe project began in the Netherlands in 1990 as the Royal Netherlands Navy sought a solution to their LPD requirements. Spain joined the project in July 1991 and the definition stage was completed by December 1993. The Rotterdam class spawned from the joint Enforcer design with the Dutch lead ship being authorised on 29 July 1994. The LPDs were designed to transport a battalion of marines, disembark them offshore, and provide general logistic support.
The ships are equipped with a large helicopter deck for helicopter operations and a dock for large landing craft. The ships have a complete Echelon II hospital – a step above a first aid unit, but below a fully-functional hospital[4] – including an operating theater and intensive care facilities with ten beds. A surgical team can be stationed on board. The ship also has a desalination system enabling it to convert seawater into drinking water.
Ships in class
edit
| Hull number | Name | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Status | Badge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L800 | Rotterdam | Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding | 23 February 1996 | 22 February 1997 | 18 April 1998 | In active service | 
|
[1] |
| L801 | Johan de Witt | 18 June 2003 | 13 May 2006 | 30 November 2007 | In active service | 
|
[2] |
Construction and career
editThe first ship, named Rotterdam, was ordered in April 1994 and laid down by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding at their shipyard in Vlissingen, the Netherlands on 23 February 1996. The second vessel, named Johan de Witt, was ordered in May 2002 and laid down on 18 June 2003. Rotterdam was commissioned on 22 February 1997 and Johan de Witt on 30 November 2007. Both ships are based at Nieuwe Haven Naval Base, Den Helder.
In October 2012, while serving as the flagship for Operation Ocean Shield, Rotterdam sank a suspected Somali pirate ship off the east coast of Africa.[5] Rotterdam came under sustained attack from shore based weapons while rescuing the crew of the sunken ship and sustained damage to one of her small boats.[6]
In September 2019 Johan de Witt and Snellius were sent to the Bahamas for humanitarian aid after the country was hit by Hurricane Dorian. The ships loaded supplies like food, water and medicines at the island of Sint Maarten before continuing to the Bahamas.[7]
See also
edit- Albion-class landing platform dock
- Austin-class amphibious transport dock
- Endurance-class landing platform dock
- Foudre-class landing platform dock
- Makassar-class landing platform dock
- San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock
- Tarlac-class landing platform dock
- Yuzhao-class amphibious transport dock
Citations
edit- ^ a b "Zr.Ms. Rotterdam (L800) LPD". marineschepen.nl.
- ^ a b "Johan de Witt Landing Platform Dock". marineschepen.nl.
- ^ "Amfibische transportschepen" (in Dutch). Koninklijke Marine. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
- ^ "Role/Echelon 2". U Project. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ "Dutch Warship Destroys Pirate 'Mother Ship'". ABC News. 24 October 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ "Counterpiracy Flagship Comes Under Fire Off Somalia's Coast". United States Department of Defense. 25 October 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ "Twee Nederlandse marineschepen naar Bahama's voor hulpverlening". www.nu.nl. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
External links
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