GDR 99 - Seaborne Systems

Drean Comes True
for Dutch Navy


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• Fresh Approach to Sub Upgrades • Britain's New Strategic Carrier • How to Run a Tight Ship • Preparing to Take the Plunge • Dream Comes True for Dutch
Top: The Hr Ms Rotterdam during trials

The Dutch Navy obtained its first amphibious transport ship, the Rotterdam, on 18 April 1998. Gerald Van Oosbree of Mildata Defence Images reports.

From now on Dutch marines don't have to rely on their British and NATO counterparts to give them a lift. Of course, this will not mean an end to the long relationship between the Dutch and British marines and navies. The British/ Dutch Amphibious Force, 25 years old this year, will greatly benefit from the Hr Ms Rotterdam and the new Royal Navy helicopter carrier HMS Ocean.

The Dutch navy designates the Hr Ms Rotterdam an amphibious transport ship (ATS), giving it a wider range of roles than the mere landing and supporting of marines. Although this is the primary task of the vessel, the Dutch navy also plans to use the Hr Ms Rotterdam to haul equipment anywhere in the world so it won't have to use commercial vessels all the time. As a support ship the Hr Ms Rotterdam has full medical facilities that include a dentist chair, a medical treatment room, two operating tables, a 10-bed ICU, a 100-bed sick bay and its own laboratory.

Design


An LCU in the dock of the Rotterdam looking towards the rear light

Schelde Shipbuilding in Vlissingen, Holland, built the Hr Ms Rotterdam under a contract signed in 1994. Production began early in 1995 and the laying of the keel took place during the following year. The name-giving ceremony was held in 1997 and the ship was commissioned into the Royal Netherlands Navy in 1998. The ship was not built from the keel up, the traditional method. Instead, 20 slices of ship, from keel to top, were assembled with all fittings, pipes and systems and these slices were then fitted together to form the complete ship.

The ship also is built to Lloyd's commercial specifications. This means that safety features built in ferries for instance, are also fitted to the Hr Ms Rotterdam. This will allow the ship to enter all commercial ports anywhere in the world if permission is granted. The Hr Ms Rotterdam is believed to be the first warship in the world to be granted this access.

The Hr Ms Rotterdam has a sister ship in the Spanish navy, The Galicia built by Spanish shipbuilder Empresa National Bazan. Acting on a desire by NATO to increase amphibious transport capability, the Dutch and Spanish navies signed a memorandum of understanding. The ships are not exactly the same but they share many similarities. The initial Dutch design was widened to allow the larger Spanish landing craft access to the dock. The MoU has also spoken of its intention to buy the same communications and radar equipment. The Hr Ms Rotterdam's propulsion is diesel-electric, facilitating the continuous slow speed needed for dock operations. This propulsion system is more commonly found on submarines. Two diesel propulsion plants supply the energy needed for the electric propulsion system to drive the two fixed pitch propellers. The Galicia has a conventional diesel propulsion system.

Space


The helicopter deck with the two landing grids and walkway on the left

The first impression on boarding the Hr Ms Rotterdam is space. Many warships lack space but the Rotterdam has plenty to store food, stores, equipment and ammunition, as well as to house the crew, the marines battalion and their vehicles. The ship has enough room to support a 600-plus battalion for three weeks. It has approximately 1,250m sq of storeroom, of which 136m sq is refrigerated. It also has 326m sq of ammunition storage.

The largest space on board is the internal dock and adjacent vehicle deck that measure almost 1,800 m sq. Together they run nearly the full length and breadth of the ship. The dock can hold four big LCUs or six smaller LCVPs, and a ramp connects the dock to the vehicle deck, allowing direct loading and unloading of the landing craft.

During amphibious operations the dock can be flooded by lowering the stern of the ship four metres into the water. The dock holds 2.5 metres of water, allowing landing craft and other amphibious craft to embark or disembark the Hr Ms Rotterdam straight from or into the water. The ship can continue dock operation up to sea-state four and has been tested in Force six winds.


The vehicle deck forward of the dock

In its pure transport role where the dock is also used as a parking area, the Hr Ms Rotterdam can transport 32 Leopard 2A5s or 90 YPR-765 apcs. The vehicle deck and ramps are high enough to allow any streetlegal piece of equipment access.

Above the dock is the helicopter deck and hangar. The 56x25-metre deck allows the simultaneous operation of two helicopters. The hangar deck can hold four heavy helicopters (EH 101) or six medium helicopters (NFH 90).

Currently, the Dutch navy operates only Lynx helicopters but will be getting the naval version of the NFH 90 in 2007. In the meantime, Royal Navy Sea Kings help out. The Dutch air force has flown one of its Cougars equipped with floats from the Hr Ms Rotterdam but these helicopters can be operated from the ship only in the best weather and the calmest seas. Cougars do not come with hooks or reversible rotorblades to pin them to the deck.

Two Goalkeeper C/WS and four 20mm Oerlikons, relatively light armament for a big ship, are used only as a last resort. The ship is not supposed to operate alone and conducts amphibious operations only on unopposed landings. To ward off other dangers, the Hr Ms Rotterdam is also equipped with a torpedo decoy system, a chaff decoy launching system, ESM/ECM, IFF, an infra-red scanner and various types of radar.

Although a dream has come true for Dutch marines, they want a second ATS. The decision will be made in the next couple of years but, in the meantime, the crew of Hr Ms Rotterdam and the marines will be kept very busy.