Rotterdam-class landing platform dock
{{Short description|Dutch class of landing platform dock ships}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=File:HNLMS Rotterdam at Nieuwe Waterweg, Starboard Bow, 05.09.2016.jpg |Ship caption=Rotterdam on the Nieuwe Waterweg }} {{Infobox ship class overview |Name = Rotterdam class |Builders = Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding |Operators = {{navy|the Netherlands}} |Class before = |Class after = |Subclasses = |Cost = * ƒ265m (Rotterdam)
|Built range = 1996–2007 |In commission range = 1998–present |Total ships building = |Total ships planned = 2 |Total ships completed = 2 |Total ships cancelled = |Total ships active = 2 |Total ships laid up = |Total ships lost = |Total ships retired = |Total ships scrapped = |Total ships preserved = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship type = Landing platform dock | Ship displacement = *12,750 t (Rotterdam)
| Ship length = * {{cvt|166|m|ftin}} (Rotterdam)
| Ship beam = * {{cvt|27|m|ftin}} (Rotterdam)
| Ship height = | Ship draught = | Ship draft = {{cvt|5.9|m|ftin}} | Ship decks = | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = *Diesel-electric system
| Ship speed = {{convert|19|kn}} | Ship range = {{cvt|6000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|12|kn}} | Ship endurance = 6 weeks | Ship boats = * 4 x LCVP
| Ship capacity = * 90 armoured personnel carriers or 32 main battle tanks (Rotterdam){{cite web|url=http://www.defensie.nl/organisatie/marine/inhoud/materieel/schepen/amfibische-transportschepen |title=Amfibische transportschepen |publisher=Koninklijke Marine |access-date=7 November 2011|language=nl}}
| Ship troops = * 595 marines (Rotterdam)
| Ship complement = * 139 (Rotterdam)
| Ship sensors = *Thales Netherlands Variant 2D Combined air / surface radar
| Ship EW = * 1 × AN/SLQ-25 Nixie torpedo decoy | Ship armament = *2 × Goalkeeper CIWS guns
| Ship armour = | Ship aircraft = 4 × CH-47F Chinook or 6 × NH90 NFH helicopters | Ship aircraft facilities = Hangar and stern helicopter flight deck with two landing spots | Ship notes = }} |
The Rotterdam class{{cite web |author= |title=Rotterdam Class Landing Platform Dock (LPD) |url=https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/rotterdam/ |website=Naval Technology}} 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.
{{HNLMS|Rotterdam|L800|2}} was commissioned in 1998 and {{HNLMS|Johan de Witt|L801|2}} 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 {{sclass|Galicia|landing platform dock|4}} and {{sclass2|Bay|landing ship|4}}.
Design and description
The 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{{cite web |title=Role/Echelon 2 |url=https://www.u-project.eu/Role2 |website=U Project |access-date=25 June 2022}} – 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
File:HMS Johan de Witt, Trident Juncture 15 (22304805990).jpg
| class="wikitable" |
| Hull number
! Name ! Builder ! Laid down ! Launched ! Commissioned ! Status ! Badge ! Notes |
|---|
| L800
| {{HNLMS|Rotterdam|L800|2}} | rowspan=2 align=center |Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding | 23 February 1996 | 22 February 1997 | 18 April 1998 | In active service | 150px |
| L801
| {{HNLMS|Johan de Witt|L801|2}} | 18 June 2003 | 13 May 2006 | 30 November 2007 | In active service | 150px |
Construction and career
The 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.{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/dutch-warship-destroys-pirate-mother-ship/story?id=17554703#.UIl3jY7ffe4 |title=Dutch Warship Destroys Pirate 'Mother Ship' |publisher=ABC News |date=24 October 2012 |access-date=25 June 2022}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=118332 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923235108/http://archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=118332 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |title=Counterpiracy Flagship Comes Under Fire Off Somalia's Coast |publisher=United States Department of Defense |date=25 October 2012 |access-date=25 June 2022}}
In September 2019 Johan de Witt and {{HNLMS|Snellius|A802|2}} 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.{{cite web|title=Twee Nederlandse marineschepen naar Bahama's voor hulpverlening|url= https://www.nu.nl/buitenland/5988581/twee-nederlandse-marineschepen-naar-bahamas-voor-hulpverlening.html|publisher=www.nu.nl|accessdate=25 June 2022}}
Replacement
In March 2024 it was reported that the Dutch Ministry of Defence is planning to replace the two Rotterdam-class LPDs and the four Holland-class OPVs with a single class consisting of six ships.{{cite web |author= |date=7 March 2024 |title=Dutch Navy to replace OPV and LPD with a Single Class of Ships |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/03/dutch-navy-to-replace-opv-and-lpd-with-a-single-class-of-ships/ |website=Naval News}}{{cite web |author=Richard Scott|date=12 March 2024 |title=Netherlands outlines national route for new amphibious transport ship class |url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/sea/netherlands-outlines-national-route-for-new-amphibious-transport-ship-class |website=Janes}} The new ship class is officially designated Amphibious Transport Ships (Dutch: Amfibisch Transportschip; ATS).{{cite web |author=Djenna Perreijn |date=15 March 2024 |title=‘Wij gaan voor het allerbeste en hebben haast’ |url=https://magazines.defensie.nl/allehens/2024/02/07_nieuw-lcf-lpd-opv |website=Alle Hens |publisher=Defensie.nl |language=Dutch}} They will be built by Damen Group and it is also expected that several other Dutch companies will be involved.{{cite web |author=Jaime Karremann |date=6 March 2024 |title=Weer een A-brief: zes amfibische transportschepen (LPX) |url=https://marineschepen.nl/nieuws/A-brief-LPX-060324.html |website=Marineschepen.nl |language=Dutch}}{{cite web |author= |date=6 March 2024 |title=Weer miljardenorder: kabinet koopt zes amfibische transportschepen |url=https://www.rtl.nl/nieuws/politiek/artikel/5438737/weer-miljardenorder-kabinet-koopt-zes-amfibische-transportschepen |website=RTL Nieuws |language=Dutch}} During the development of the ships the Netherlands will work together with the United Kingdom.{{cite web |author= |date=6 March 2024 |title=Scheepsbouwer Damen wederom betrokken bij order voor nieuwe marineschepen |url=https://www.nu.nl/economie/6304217/scheepsbouwer-damen-wederom-betrokken-bij-order-voor-nieuwe-marineschepen.html |website=NU.nl |language=Dutch}} In 2023 both countries signed a statement of intent to cooperate.{{cite web |author=Jaime Karremann |date=1 July 2023 |title=LPX: Nederland wil zes nieuwe marineschepen, liefst met de Britten |url=https://marineschepen.nl/nieuws/Nederland-en-Groot-Brittannie-kijken-samen-naar-nieuwe-amfibische-schepen-300623.html |website=Marineschepen.nl |language=Dutch}}{{cite web |author=Jaime Karremann |date=26 January 2024 |title=Meer details nieuwe marineschepen: nieuwe fregatten groter |url=https://marineschepen.nl/nieuws/Meer-details-over-nieuwe-marineschepen-260124.html |website=Marineschepen.nl |language=Dutch}}
See also
- {{sclass|Albion|landing platform dock|1}}
- {{sclass|Austin|amphibious transport dock|1}}
- {{sclass|Endurance|landing platform dock|1}}
- {{sclass|Foudre|landing platform dock|1}}
- {{sclass|Makassar|landing platform dock|1}}
- {{sclass|San Antonio|amphibious transport dock|1}}
- {{sclass|Tarlac|landing platform dock|1}}
- {{sclass2|Yuzhao|amphibious transport dock|1}}
Citations
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category multi|IMO 9109756|IMO 9280768}}
- [https://www.defensie.nl/organisatie/marine/materieel/schepen/amfibische-transportschepen Rotterdam-class at defensie.nl]
- [https://www.defensie.nl/organisatie/marine/eenheden/schepen/zr-ms-rotterdam Rotterdam at defensie.nl]
- [https://www.defensie.nl/organisatie/marine/inhoud/eenheden/schepen/zr-ms-johan-de-witt Johan de Witt at defensie.nl]
{{Post1945DutchShips}}