Tromp-class frigate
Class of Dutch frigates
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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.
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 & 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 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
Armament
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
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
_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
Equivalent frigates of the same era
