In 1975 the Netherlands, Belgium and France signed an agreement to develop a new mine countermeasures vessel together.[8] At the same time it was also decided that each country would contribute to the construction by being responsible for certain components and systems.[6][9] As a result, the Netherlands was responsible for the main propulsion, the gearboxes and propellers.[9] France delivered the mine countermeasure and electronics systems, while Belgium build the remaining electronics and mechanic installations.[8]
The construction of the Alkmaar class started in 1979 at the shipyard of Van der Giessen-De Noord in Alblasserdam.[10] The ships were made from polyester, which required new construction methods in comparison to the previous mine countermeasure vessels that were built at the shipyard.[1][11] As a result, Van der Giessen-De Noord invested 42 million Dutch guilders to build a new dedicated production hall that had a specific climate indoors and allowed serial construction in the same way as for aircraft production.[9][11][12] Inside the production hall there was an assembly line that contained four stations, with each ship staying around 21 weeks at a station before moving to the next.[13] Besides a new hall and tools, the shipyard also had to train personnel to be able to handle fiberglass and fiberglass sheets, which were used to construct the polyester ships.[13] The construction of the 15 minehunters are estimated to have cost a total of 1.3 billion Dutch guilders.[10]
Mine countermeasure systems
To hunt mines the Alkmaar class was equipped with the French DUBM 21B sonar, which was used to detect and classify mines, a RacalDecca 1229 radar and an EVEC plotting system.[14][10] The sonar had a range of almost one kilometer and allowed the ship to search for mines up to a depth of 80 meters underwater.[15][16] In addition, each ship was equipped with two Poisson Auto-Propulsé (PAP) type 104 submarine drones that were used for mine disposal.[17][10] This PAP 104 wire guided drone had a television camera aboard for observation and could be fitted out with explosives to destroy mines from a safe distance.[17][18]
The minehunters of the Alkmaar class are equipped with a Brons-Werkspoor A-RUB 215 V12 diesel engine that can produce 1900 bhp.[19][20] This non magnetic diesel engine was produced by Brons-Industrie and a development of the earlier Werkspoor RUB 215 diesel engine.[21][22] The Brons-Werkspoor A-RUB 215 V12 diesel engine can drive the two active screws of the minehunters to a maximum speed of 15 knots.[19] Besides the two screws, the minehunters also have a bow thruster.[19]
Service history
Between 1987 and 1989 Maassluis, Hellevoetsluis and Urk were active in the Persian Gulf as part of a Western European Union (WEU) mine clearing operation and placed under Belgian command.[23]
In 1990 Alkmaar and Zierikzee took part in the exercise Safe Pass at the west coast of America.[24]
In 2024 Willemstad, Makkum and Zierikzee took part in BALTOPS alongside other naval ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy.[25]
In March 2023 it was reported that the Netherlands would donate two Alkmaar-class minehunters to Ukraine.[35][36] The transfer of these ships would most likely start from 2025.[37][38]
Raven, G.J.A., ed. (1988). De kroon op het anker: 175 jaar Koninklijke Marine (in Dutch). Amsterdam: De Bataafsche Leeuw. ISBN90-6707-200-1.
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). Roetering. ISBN90-90-10528-X.
Schoonoord, D.C.L. (2012). Pugno pro patria: de Koninklijke Marine tijdens de Koude Oorlog (in Dutch). Franeker: Van Wijnen. ISBN978-90-5194-455-6.
van Amstel, W.H.E. (1991). De schepen van de Koninklijke Marine vanaf 1945 (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN90-6013-997-6.
Woudstra, F.G.A. (1982). Onze Koninklijke Marine (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN90-6013-915-1.
Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen; Budzbon, Przemysław, eds. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN1-55750-132-7.
Wesselo, J.H. (1985). "Diesel engine developments in the Netherlands". Schip en Werf. Vol. 52, no. 11. Rotterdam: Wyt & Zonen. pp. 175–176.