Walrus-class submarine (1953)
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Royal Netherlands Navy_en_Walrus_(links)_in_Rotterdam,_Bestanddeelnr_909-3968.jpg) Walrus and Zeeleeuw | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Walrus class |
| Builders | Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, Manitowoc |
| Operators | Royal Netherlands Navy |
| Succeeded by | Zwaardvis class |
| In service | 1953–1971[1] |
| General characteristics [2][3] | |
| Type | Diesel-electric Submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 93.6 m (307 ft 1 in) |
| Beam | 8.3 m (27 ft 3 in) |
| Draft | 4.6 metres (15 ft 1 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Crew | 79 |
| Armament |
|
The Walrus class was a class of two submarines that served between 1953 and 1971 in the Royal Netherlands Navy.[4][5] They were former Balao class submarines that were loaned to the Netherlands by the United States under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program (MDAP).[6]
After the Second World War the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNN) was left with several old and obsolete submarines.[7][8] While the RNN made several plans to modernize the submarine fleet, it took many years till these plans resulted in the construction and commissioning of new submarines.[9] In the meanwhile the RNN tried to loan some of the surplus submarines that allies such as the United Kingdom and United States (US) had.[10][11] In the early 1950s this led to the US loaning two submarines to the Netherlands under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program (MDAP), which together would later form the Walrus class.[12][4] Initially the US agreed to loan the two submarines for a duration of five years, however, this was extended twice with five years.[9]
Design and construction
The two submarines of the Walrus class were built in the US by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company.[2] They were originally Balao class submarines that had served in the United States Navy (USN).[13] Before both submarines were transferred from the USN to the RNN they had undergone an extensive modernization known as Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program (GUPPY).[9][10]
Propulsion
Both Walrus class submarines were equipped with four 16 cylinder two-stroke GMC diesel engines that were capable of delivering around 6500 hp when surfaced and 2700 hp when submerged.[14][2][3] This allowed the two submarines to reach a speed of 19 kn when surfaced and 12 kn when submerged.[14] Furthermore, they each had two propellers and two 126 cells batteries.[3] The batteries had a capacity of 10.500 Ah and allowed the Walrus class submarines to operate solely on electric power for 5 hours.[14]
Armaments
When it came to armaments both submarines were equipped with a total of ten 53.3 cm torpedo tubes of which six were located at the front and four at the rear.[2] In addition, there was enough room to store 24 torpedoes inside the submarines.[14]
