Keeten-class minesweeper

The Keeten class was a ship class of three minesweepers that served in the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNN) between 1946 and 1964.[3][4] They were former Royal Navy harbour defence motor launches sold to the RNN in 1946.

Keeten
Class overview
NameKeeten class
Builders
Operators Royal Netherlands Navy
Built1942–1942
In service1946–1964
Planned3
General characteristics [1][2]
TypeMinesweeper
Displacement46 t (45 long tons) full load
Length21.95 m (72 ft 0 in)
Beam4.87 m (16 ft 0 in)
Draught1.54 m (5 ft 1 in)
Installed power152 bhp (113 kW) each engine
Propulsion
  • Twin handed Gardner 8L3 marine diesel engines
  • 2 propellers
Speed11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Range2,000 mi (1,700 nmi; 3,200 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)(1,650 gallons)
Crew12

History edit

The ships were used as patrol boats in the Dutch East Indies and in this role were equipped with a single 20 mm gun and a single machine gun.[2] They were known as RP104, RP105 & RP106.

In 1949 the ships were reclassified as shallow-water minesweepers, with their hull numbers changing to MV31, MV32 & MV33 respectfully.

 
Keeten being unloaded in the Port of Rotterdam after transport.

The three ships were decommissioned on 15 August 1951 and put on transport to The Netherlands on 2 September 1951. In February 1953 they were recommissioned as HNLMS Keeten (M881), HNLMS Mastgat (M882) & HNLMS Zijpe (M883).

In January 1956 they left service as minesweepers and entered a refit period to become diving support vessels.[4] When the entered service as diving support vessels, there hull numbers changed once more to Y8128, Y8129 & Y8130 respectfully.[3]

Mastgat was and Zijpe were both decommissioned in 1962.[4] Keeten was the last to be decommissioned in 1964.[2]

Ships in class edit

Hull number Name Builder Comm./Recomm. Decomm. Fate Notes Source
RP104 / MV31 / M881 / Y8128 Jakhals [a] Frederick Nichol, Durban 20 April 1946 15 August 1951 Ex-HMS HDML 1337 [5]
Keeten [b] February 1953 1964
RP105 / MV32 / M882 / Y8129 Panter [c] Frederick Nichol, Durban 10 July 1946 15 August 1951 Sold to Wijsmuller bv. Ex-HMS HDML 1400 [6]
Mastgat [d] February 1953 20 December 1962
RP106 / MV33 / M883 / Y8130 Hermelijn [e] The Berthon Boat Company, Lymington 10 July 1946 15 August 1951 Sold to Hoekman bv. Ex-HMS HDML 1483 [7]
Zijpe [f] February 1953 October 1962
  1. ^ Jakhals was the unofficial name until 1953.
  2. ^ Keeten was the official name from 1953 onwards.
  3. ^ Panter was the unofficial name until 1953.
  4. ^ Mastgat was the official name from 1953 onwards.
  5. ^ Hermelijn was the unofficial name until 1953.
  6. ^ Zijpe was the official name from 1953 onwards.

Notes edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ "HARBOUR DEFENCE MOTORLAUNCHES" (in Dutch). Onze Marinevloot. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b c van Amstel (1991), p. 83.
  3. ^ a b van Amstel (1991), pp. 83-84.
  4. ^ a b c Raven (1988), p. 184.
  5. ^ "Hr.Ms. Keeten. ex HMS HDML 1337" (in Dutch). Onze Marinevloot. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Hr.Ms. Mastgat. Hrex-HMS HDML 1400" (in Dutch). Onze Marinevloot. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Hr.Ms. Zijpe. ex-HMS HDML 1483" (in Dutch). Onze Marinevloot. Retrieved 15 December 2023.

References edit

  • Raven, G.J.A., ed. (1988). De kroon op het anker: 175 jaar Koninklijke Marine (in Dutch). Amsterdam: De Bataafsche Leeuw. ISBN 90-6707-200-1.
  • van Amstel, W.H.E. (1991). De schepen van de Koninklijke Marine vanaf 1945 (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN 90-6013-997-6.