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Class overview
Name	Dokkum class
Builders	Arnhemse Scheepsbouw Maatschappij, Arnhem De Noord, Alblasserdam Gusto Shipyard, Schiedam Haarlemse Scheepsbouw Maatschappij, Haarlem J. & K. Smit, Kinderdijk L. Smit en Zoon, Kinderdijk Niestern Scheepsbouw Unie, Hellevoetsluis Wilton-Fijenoord, Schiedam
Operators	Royal Netherlands Navy  Peruvian Navy
Succeeded by	Alkmaar class
Subclasses	Wildervank
Built	1953–1957
In commission	1955–1999
Planned	18
Completed	18
Active	1
Preserved	5
General characteristics
Type	Minesweeper
Displacement	417 t (410 long tons)
Length	46.62 m (152 ft 11 in)
Beam	8.75 m (28 ft 8 in)
Draft	2.28 m (7 ft 6 in)
Propulsion	2 propellers 2,500 hp (1,900 kW) MAN diesel engines
Speed	14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Crew	38
Armament	2 x 40mm guns 1 x 20 mm machine gun (later added)

The Dokkum class was a ship class of eighteen minesweepers that were built in the Netherlands for the Royal Netherlands Navy. They were paid for by the United States under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program (MDAP).

Design

The minesweepers of the Dokkum class were designed by the Dutch engineer Scheltema de Heere and based on the standard requirements laid down by the Western Union (WU), later known as Western European Union (WEU). Since the minesweepers of both the Dokkum and Wildervank class are based on WU requirements, they are sometimes referred to in Dutch as WU-class minesweepers or minesweepers of the Western Union type.

The ships of the Dokkum class were made mostly from wood, only the frame and superstructure was made from aluminium. It also had a double hull, with the inner hull made out of mahogany and the outer hull of teak. Furthermore, they were equipped with reversible propellers.

While the minesweepers of the Dokkum and Wildervank class are almost identical, they do differ when it comes to the engines. The Dokkum class was equipped with two MAN diesel engines and the Wildervank class with two Werkspoor engines. As a result the minesweepers of the Dokkum class were more durable than those of the Wildervank class.

When it came to sweeping mines the ships of the Dokkum class were equipped with several different sweepers. As mechanic sweeper it had the Wire Mk 3 mod 2, the magnetic sweeper consisted of the ML Mk 4 and later the Mb 5, and the acoustic sweepers consisted of the AX Mk 4v, AXx Mk 6B and AX Mk 3. Furthermore, the ships were equipped with two 40 mm guns.

Conversion to minehunter

To keep in line with NATO requirements it was decided in 1962 to rebuild four Dokkum-class minesweepers (Dokkum, Drunen, Staphorst and Veere) into minehunters. During the rebuilding the ships were equipped with a Plessey 193 minehunting system, the bridge was modified to better suit mine hunting operations, an automatic track and trace system and autopilot were installed and several other modifications were implemented. The four minehunters of the Dokkum class entered service of the Royal Netherlands Navy between 1968 and 1969.

Ships in class

The ships were named after the smaller Dutch municipalities.

• ¹ = later rebuild as minehunter
• ² = later rebuild as diving support vessel

Export

In 1994 the Abcoude was sold for 450.000 Dutch guilders to Peru. In addition, the reserve parts of the ship were sold for 160.000 Dutch guilders.

Notes

Citations

1. ^ van Amstel (1991), p. 74.
2. van Amstel (1991), p. 79.
3. ^ Roetering (1997), p. 108.
4. ^ van Amstel (1991), pp. 74–76.
5. ^ Raven (1988), p. 184.
6. "Mijnenveger Dokkum was met ‚Wildervank' op bezoek in V.S." Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). 10 August 1956.
7. "Hr Ms mijnenveger Dokkum in dienst gesteld". Algemeen Handelsblad (in Dutch). 27 July 1955.
8. Schoonoord (2012), p. 36.
9. ^ Schoonoord (2012), p. 58.
10. ^ "De mijnenveger „Dokkum" niet zonder moeite te water gelaten: Nu zal het Dokkumer Diep ook uitgediept moeten worden, meent de burgemeester". Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). 13 October 1954.
11. "Mijnenveger „Dokkum" gaat met tegenzin te water: Eerste van een klasse van 32 schepen". Nieuwe Haarlemsche Courant (in Dutch). 13 October 1954.
12. ^ Woudstra (1982), p. 154.
13. Schoonoord (2012), pp. 127–128.
14. Roetering (1997), p. 109.
15. Woudstra (1982), p. 153.
16. van Amstel (1991), pp. 82-83.
17. "Hr.Ms. Dokkum M 801" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
18. "Hr.Ms. Hoogezand. ex-MSC 173. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
19. "HR.MS. ROERMOND M 806" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
20. "Hr.Ms. Naaldwijk. ex-MSC 175. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
21. "Hr.Ms. Abcoude. ex-MSC 176. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
22. "Hr.Ms. Drachten. ex-MSC 177. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
23. "Hr.Ms. Ommen. ex-MSC 178. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
24. "Hr.Ms. Giethoorn. ex-MSC 179. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
25. "Hr.Ms. Venlo. ex-MSC 180. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
26. "Hr.Ms. Drunen" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
27. "HR.MS. WOERDEN A 820 / M 820" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
28. "Hr.Ms. Naarden. ex-MSC 183. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
29. "Hr.Ms. Hoogeveen. ex-MSC 184. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
30. "Hr.Ms. Staphorst" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
31. "Hr.Ms. Sittard. ex-MSC 186. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
32. "Hr.Ms. Gemert. ex-MSC 187. (Dokkum-klasse)" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
33. "Hr.Ms. Veere" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
34. "HR.MS. RHENEN M 844" (in Dutch). Onze Marine Vloot. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
35. "Peru koopt Nederlandse mijnenveger 'Abcoude'". Nederlands Dagblad (in Dutch). 8 July 1994.
36. "Nederlandse mijnenveger aan Peru verkocht". Amigoe (in Dutch). 8 July 1994.

References

• Schoonoord, D.C.L. (2012). Pugno pro patria: de Koninklijke Marine tijdens de Koude Oorlog (in Dutch). Franeker: Van Wijnen. ISBN 978-90-5194-455-6.
• van Amstel, W.H.E. (1991). De schepen van de Koninklijke Marine vanaf 1945 (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN 90-6013-997-6.
• 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.
• Roetering, B., ed. (1997). Mijnendienst 1907-1997 90 jaar: feiten, verhalen en anekdotes uit het negentigjarig bestaan van de Mijnendienst van de Koninklijke Marine (in Dutch). ISBN 90-90-10528-X.
• Woudstra, F.G.A. (1982). Onze Koninklijke Marine (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN 90-6013-915-1.

• Mine warfare vessel classes
• Minesweepers of the Royal Netherlands Navy