Tromp-class frigate
 HNLMS Tromp in 1995
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Tromp class |
| Builders | Koninklijke Maatschappij De Schelde |
| Operators |  Royal Netherlands Navy |
| Preceded by | De Zeven Provinciën-class |
| Succeeded by | De Zeven Provinciën class |
| Built | 1971–1974 |
| In commission | 1975–2000 |
| Completed | 2 |
| Retired | 2 |
| General characteristics [1][2][3] | |
| Type | Frigate |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 138.4 m (454 ft 1 in) |
| Beam | 14.8 m (48 ft 7 in) |
| Draught | 4.6 m (15 ft 1 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 18 kn (21 mph; 33 km/h) |
| Complement | 306 |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys |
|
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 1 × Westland WG-13 Lynx Mk.25/27/81/SH-14D maritime helicopter |
| Aviation facilities | 1 helicopter pad & hangar |
The Tromp class were two frigates built for the Royal Netherlands Navy during the 1970s to replace the De Zeven Provinciën-class cruisers as squadron flagships.
The Tromp-class frigates entered service in 1975 and 1976 and served until 1999 and 2001. Both ships were built by Royal Schelde Shipyard in Flushing (Vlissingen). The ships served as fleet flagships and area air defence vessels. Their 3D radar under a large polyester radome gave the ships the nickname "Kojak" in the Netherlands Navy. Originally the ships were to have the British Sea Dart missile system, but this was changed to the more compact American Standard surface-to-air missile.
The ships were replaced by the De Zeven Provinciën-class frigates. A total of four new frigates have been built, including two also named Tromp and De Ruyter.
Design
[edit]Armament
[edit]The Tromp class frigates were armed with twin (1x2) Bofors 120 mm automatic naval guns with each gun being able to fire 38 to 42 shots per minute at a maximum distance of 21.6 kilometers.[5] Initially the British 4.5-inch naval gun and French 100 mm naval gun were also considered, alongside the Bofors guns.[6] However, as a result of austerity measures it was decided that the Bofors guns were a better option financially.[7] The Bofors guns were refurbished naval guns that had been removed from the HNLMS Gelderland.[4] Before installation they were extensively modified and modernized with the help of Wilton-Fijenoord.[6] This resulted in the naval guns becoming considerable more accurate.[5]
Service history
[edit]In 1977 and 1979 the aluminium deckhouses on both ships were repaired at the shipyard of Koninklijke Maatschappij De Schelde after cracks had been found.[8][9] As a result all succeeding frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy had deckhouses made of steel.[9]
In July 1981 the Soviet aircraft carrier Kiev entered the North Sea and was escorted by both ships of the Tromp-class.[10][11]
Between 1981 and 1982 Fokker delivered 3 new large radomes for the Tromp-class frigates (one for each ship and one for reserve).[12]
Ships
[edit]_en_Hr.Ms._Witte_de_With_(F813)_met_Lynx-helicopter_(2158_018605).jpg)
| Name | Pennant | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tromp | F801 | KM de Schelde, Vlissingen | 4 August 1971 | 2 June 1973 | 3 October 1975 | decommissioned 1999. Her gun has been preserved by the Dutch Navy Museum. |
| De Ruyter | F806 | KM de Schelde, Vlissingen | 22 December 1971 | 9 March 1974 | 3 June 1976 | decommissioned 2001. Her bridge and radar have been preserved by the Dutch Navy Museum in Den Helder, North Holland. |
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^ Grove (1990), p. 97.
- ^ Nooteboom (2001), p. 181.
- ^ Woudstra (1982), p. 72.
- ^ a b Gardiner, Chumbley and Budzbon (1995), p. 276.
- ^ a b van Beveren, Arthur (17 September 2024). "Materieel van toen: Bofors kanon van 12 cm, nummer 10". Materieelgezien (in Dutch). Defensie.nl.
- ^ a b Nooteboom (2001), p. 126.
- ^ "Trompklasse/ Geleide-wapenfregatten (Nederland)". Marineschepen.nl (in Dutch). 18 September 2023.
- ^ "Marine-fregatten vertonen scheuren". Trouw. 2 November 1978.
- ^ a b Nooteboom (2001), p. 117.
- ^ "Koerswijziging". Limburgsch dagblad. 30 July 1981.
- ^ "Marine houdt Russisch konvooi in de gaten". Het Parool. 30 July 1981.
- ^ "Fokker-Ypenburg levert marine radarkoepels". NRC Handelsblad. 10 March 1981.
Bibliography
[edit]
- Nooteboom, S.G. (2001). Deugdelijke schepen: marinescheepsbouw 1945-1995 (in Dutch). Zaltbommel: Europese Bibliotheek. ISBN 90-288-2637-8.
- Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen; Budzbon, Przemysław, eds. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
- Grove, Eric J. (1990). NATO Major Warships: Europe. London: Tri-Service Press. ISBN 1-85400-006-3.
- Woudstra, F.G.A. (1982). Onze Koninklijke Marine (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN 90-6013-915-1.
Further reading
[edit]- van Amstel, W.H.E. (1991). De schepen van de Koninklijke Marine vanaf 1945 (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN 90-6013-997-6.
- 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.
- Visser, Arie; Lemmers, Alan (2014). De vloot getekend: de scheepsklassen van de Koninklijke Marine na 1945 (in Dutch). Franeker: van Wijnen. ISBN 9789051944891.
- 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.