Karel Doorman-class frigate

Template:Infobox ship imageTemplate:Infobox ship class overviewTemplate:Infobox ship characteristics

The Karel Doorman-class frigates are a series of eight multi-purpose vessels built for the Royal Netherlands Navy. The class takes its name from the lead ship, whose namesake is Karel Doorman, a Dutch naval officer who went down with his ship at the Battle of the Java Sea in 1942.

Design history

In the 1970s, Dutch naval authorities deemed the Template:Sclass2s old, outdated, and therefore in need of replacement. This led to the construction of the Karel Doorman-class frigates in the mid 1980s after the Dutch navy had finalised the design and requirements for the frigates at the end of the 1970s and early 1980s.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The design of the class was made in-house at the Royal Netherlands Navy, in close collaboration with construction site De Schelde in Vlissingen and design agency Nevesbu. For the first time stealth technology was used in the design, such as the sloping walls of the bridge section. Much attention was also paid to the care and facilities for the crew, with more privacy and improved comfort.<ref name="defensieMfregrat">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The Karel Doorman class were designed as multi-purpose frigates that could perform a wide range of missions. Their armament reflects this by incorporating many features, such as the ability to engage submarines, aircraft and surface vessels.<ref name="navaltechnology">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Besides warfare the armaments can also be used to support anti-drug and piracy operations.

First amongst this class to be launched was Template:HNLMS. Laid down in February 1985 and launched in April 1988, the vessel was commissioned by the Royal Netherlands Navy in May 1991. Karel Doorman was followed by Template:HNLMS, Template:HNLMS, Template:HNLMS, Template:HNLMS, Template:HNLMS, Template:HNLMS, and Template:HNLMS. Even while the ships were still under construction, Dutch authorities tried, and ultimately failed, to negotiate purchase orders by interested foreign navies.<ref>Rommelse (2008), Export M-fregatten, 1986-1994: De BV Nederland met vallen en opstaan, p. 225.</ref> However, six decommissioned Karel Doorman-class frigates were eventually bought by the Belgian, Chilean, and Portuguese navies, and the proceeds were subsequently invested in development of the Template:Sclass.

Armament

These multi-purpose frigates can be used in the anti-submarine, anti-aircraft, or surface combat roles. Their primary surface armament consists of two quad RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship launchers with a range of up to Template:Convert. Also available is an OTO Melara 76 mm gun, which has both anti-ship and anti-air capabilities.

Air defence is provided by an AIM-7 Sparrow medium-range semi-active radar homing air-to-air missile with a range of up to Template:Convert Sixteen VLS cells are mounted on the port external bulkhead of the hangar. The Goalkeeper close-in weapon system provides close-range air defence and can fire up to four thousand Template:Convert rounds per minute at a range of Template:Convert.

For anti-submarine warfare, each ship is equipped with two twin torpedo launchers, firing Mark 46 torpedoes; and carries one NH90 NFH or Westland Lynx helicopter. The helicopter is also armed with two Mk 46 torpedoes, and carries dipping sonar and forward-looking infrared systems.

List of ships

Karel Doorman class construction data
Ship	Pennant No.	Named after	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Decommissioned	Fate
Template:HNLMS	F827	Karel Doorman	Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding	26 February 1985	20 April 1988	31 May 1991	2006	Sold to Belgium
Template:HNLMS	F829	Willem van der Zaan		6 November 1985	21 January 1989	28 November 1991	25 August 2006	Sold to Belgium
Template:HNLMS	F830	Tjerk Hiddes de Vries		28 October 1986	9 December 1989	26 February 1993	3 February 2006	Sold to Chile
Template:HNLMS	F831	Jan van Amstel		3 May 1987	19 May 1990	27 May 1993		In active service
Template:HNLMS	F832	Abraham van der Hulst		8 February 1989	7 September 1991	15 December 1993	2004	Sold to Chile
Template:HNLMS	F833	Aert Jansse van Nes		10 January 1990	16 May 1992	2 June 1994	20 December 2007	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:HNLMS	F834	Johan van Galen		7 June 1990	21 November 1992	1 December 1994	2009	Sold to Portugal<ref name="Vries20112023" />
Template:HNLMS	F828	Jan van Speyk		1 October 1991	26 March 1994	7 September 1995		Laid up as of mid 2021<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Sale to foreign navies

Chile

File:Almirante Blanco Encalada (FF-15).jpg

Template:Ship

In 2004 two ships, Tjerk Hiddes and Abraham van der Hulst were sold to Chile and renamed Almirante Riveros (FF-18) and Blanco Encalada (FF-15) respectively. Blanco Encalada commissioned into the Chilean Navy on 16 December 2005, with Almirante Riveros commissioned in April 2007.

Ship	Pennant No.	Named after	Acquired	Commissioned	Decommissioned	Status
Template:Ship	FF-15	Manuel Blanco Encalada	2004	16 December 2005		In active service
Template:Ship	FF-18	Galvarino Riveros Cárdenas	3 February 2006	April 2007		In active service

Belgium

File:Belgian frigate Louise-Marie in London.jpg

Template:Ship

On 20 July 2005, the Belgian government decided to buy two of the remaining six Dutch M-class frigates to replace the two remaining frigates of the Template:Sclass in service with the Belgian Naval Component, which in turn might be sold to Bulgaria. On 21 December 2005, Karel Doorman and Willem van der Zaan were sold to Belgium and renamed Leopold I (F930) and Louise-Marie (F931) respectively. They were recommissioned between 2007 and 2008.

Ship	Pennant No.	Named after	Acquired	Commissioned	Decommissioned	Status
Template:Ship	F930	Leopold I of Belgium	22 December 2005	29 March 2007		In active service
Template:Ship	F931	Louise of Orléans	22 December 2005	8 April 2008		In active service

Portugal

File:The Portuguese navy frigate NRP Bartolomeu Dias (F-333) (cropped) 01.jpg

Template:Ship

In May 2006, Portugal's Defence Minister, Luís Amado, showed interest in buying two Karel Doorman-class frigates to replace the two remaining frigates of the Template:Sclass in service with the Portuguese Navy — instead of buying two frigates of the Template:Sclass, offered by the United States. A committee of the Portuguese government arrived in the Netherlands to evaluate the condition of two frigates to be bought.

On 1 November 2006, the Portuguese Defence Minister Nuno Severiano Teixeira signed a contract for the purchase of the frigates Template:HNLMS and Template:HNLMS. Van Nes, renamed NRP Bartolomeu Dias (F333), was transferred to Portugal on 16 January 2009 and Van Galen, renamed NRP Dom Francisco de Almeida (F334) was transferred on 15 January 2010. With the sale of two M-class frigates to Portugal only two of the eight ships remained with the Royal Netherlands Navy.<ref name="defensieMfregrat" />

Ship	Pennant No.	Named after	Acquired	Commissioned	Decommissioned	Status
Template:NRP	F333	Bartolomeu Dias	1 November 2006	16 January 2009		In active service
Template:NRP	F334	Francisco de Almeida	1 November 2006	15 January 2010		In active service

Modernisation

The Royal Netherlands Navy and the Belgian Naval Component decided to upgrade the four frigates by rebuilding both hangar and helicopter deck for the NH90 NFH helicopter as well to replace the forward mast for fitting the new Thales SeaWatcher 100 phased array surface search radar and Gatekeeper electro-optical surveillance system. In addition, they were also equipped with a new Low Frequency Active and Passive Sonar (LFAPS).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The first ship to receive the upgrade was Van Speijk in April 2012, next was Leopold I, followed by Van Amstel and Louise Marie is undergoing the modernization. SMART-S 3D search radars will not be replaced by SMART-S MK2.

Seawatcher 100 is a non-rotating active phased array radar for naval surface surveillance. The system automatically detects and tracks asymmetric threats and very small objects such as swimmers and periscopes in all weather conditions. Seastar can also be used for helicopter guidance. Seastar is internationally marketed as Sea Watcher 100

Gatekeeper is a 360-degree panoramic electro-optical surveillance and alerter system based on IR/TV technology. Designed to counter emerging asymmetric threats down to small boats and swimmers, Gatekeeper increases short-range situational awareness in littoral environments.

In 2018 the Portuguese Navy decided to modernize its two Karel Doorman-class frigates (Mid-life update), the first frigate started modernization in 2018 and was delivered in September 2021,<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref> the second frigate started modernization in 2020 and was received in October 2022.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In November 2024 it was reported that the Portuguese Navy had acquired eight Harpoon Block II conversion kits from the Netherlands.<ref name="AR18112024">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> These kits can be used to convert Harpoon Block I missiles to Block II, which the Portuguese Navy can launch from its modernized Karel Doorman-class frigates.<ref name="AR18112024" />

Replacement

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The two multipurpose M-frigates which are still in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy are reaching the end of their life; they were designed to last until 2018/2023. Because of this the Dutch Ministry of Defence started design studies in 2013. The new frigates are again planned to fulfill a general purpose role with anti-submarine warfare as its specialty. However, since the Netherlands Royal Navy only owns six frigates in total by 2017, the new ships have to be able to perform well in all areas of the spectrum. This means that anti-air equipment also has to be present, in the form of VLS cells carrying Standard Missile 2 or ESSM projectiles. Due to budget cuts, the replacement program was delayed and is now projected to deliver the first ships in 2028–29.

First designs

In November 2013 on a techbase in Amsterdam a 3D-printed model of one of the designs was shown to the public. The ships were going to be, just like their predecessor, multipurpose-frigates with anti-submarine being the main task. This new class is going to have an integrated mast made by Thales Nederland; the ships of the Holland class did also get this type of mast. At first this new class was to be replacing the Karel Doorman-class vessels in 2020; however, Minister of Defence Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert had changed this date to 2023.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This was subsequently further pushed back to the end of the decade.

By 2017, it was made clear the new Future Surface Combatant (Koninklijke Marine) will be developed in cooperation with the Belgian Marine Component and at least four vessels are to be built (two for the Royal Dutch Navy and two for the Belgian Marine Component), with the possibility more will be ordered as soon as the acquisition procedure reaches a more definitive phase.

See also

• List of naval ship classes in service

References

Bibliography

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• Joris Janssen Lok, 'The Netherlands: Dutch M frigates are ready for action,' Jane's Defence Weekly, 14 October 1995
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Further reading

• Template:Cite book
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External links

• Karel Doorman class
• Schelde Shipbuilding: Multipurpose Frigates