Potvis (Dutch: Sperm whale) was a Potvis class (modified Dolfijn-class submarine) of the Royal Netherlands Navy.

Potvis
History
Netherlands
NamePotvis
NamesakeSperm whale
BuilderWilton-Fijenoord, Schiedam
Laid down17 September 1962
Launched12 January 1965
Commissioned2 November 1965
Decommissioned18 June 1992
IdentificationS 804
MottoFearsome in battle
FateBroken up and scrapped in 1994
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeDolfijn-class submarine
Displacement
  • 1140 tons standard
  • 1509 tons surfaced
  • 1831 tons submerged
Length78.3 m (256 ft 11 in)
Beam7.8 m (25 ft 7 in)
Draught5 m (16 ft 5 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 14.5 kn (26.9 km/h; 16.7 mph) surfaced
  • 17 kn (31 km/h; 20 mph) submerged
Complement67
Armament
  • 4 × 21 in (533 mm) bow torpedo tubes
  • 4 × 21 in stern torpedo tubes

Ship history

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Potvis being commissioned in 1965

The submarine was laid down on 17 September 1962 at the Wilton-Fijenoord shipyard in Schiedam and launched on 12 January 1965. 2 November 1965 she was commissioned in the Dutch navy.[2]

In January 1968 Potvis and Dolfijn left the port of Den Helder for a war simulation in the northern Atlantic Ocean that would last 5 weeks.[2] The boat was overhauled in 1970 at the Wilton-Fijenoord shipyard.[2] From October until November 1976 Potvis and the tender Mercuur perform torpedo system trials at Andros, Bahamas.[2] From 2 to 21 July 1978 Potvis, Dolfijn, Zeehond and Zwaardvis practiced firing exercises.[2]

On 19 November 1982 a refit of the boat started at the Naval Yard in Den Helder. This lasts until 8 August 1983.[2] In 1984 she made a visit to Willemstad Curaçao. The following years she made several visits to Norway and Scotland.[2]

On 18 June 1992 she was finally decommissioned and broken up 1994, wearing a special ceremony painting of a Sperm whale.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Dutch Submarines: The Dolfijn submarine class". dutchsubmarines.com. 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Dutch Submarines: The submarine Potvis". dutchsubmarines.com. 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.