Friesland-class destroyer


The Friesland-class destroyers were built for the Royal Netherlands Navy in the 1950s. They were a larger modified version of the with more powerful machinery. Eight ships were built. They were replaced by the s in the early 1980s and seven ships were sold to the Peruvian Navy where they served until 1991. The main armament was supplied by Bofors.
The machinery was identical to that used in the American s and manufactured under licence by Werkspoor. The radar was manufactured by Hollandse Signaalapparaten.

History

After World War II, the Royal Netherlands Navy had to be rebuilt. There were different visions about what the navy should look like, opinions on the subject - or fantasies - diverged. One of the plans was based on the Royal Netherlands Navy having no less than 48 submarine destroyers. That number, however, was quickly scaled back. For the 1947 budget, funds were included for the first time for the new ships: the so-called "Submarine Destroyer 1947". In 1948 six ships of these Holland-class destroyers were ordered, but only 4 would eventually be built. In 1948 it was announced that the Dutch navy would purchase, alongside the four "Holland-class" ships, another eight submarine destroyers. In September 1948, a new improved design was made on basis of the Holland-class destroyers, this design was at the time called "Submarine Destroyer 1949" and would later be known as the Friesland-class destroyer. Like the Holland-class destroyers the Friesland-class destroyers were designed by engineer K. de Munter, who was employed at the Bureau Scheepsbouw which fell directly under the Dutch Ministry of the Navy.

Ships

In contrast to previous Dutch Navy practice the ships were named after provinces or cities rather than admirals.
NamePennant numberBuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedFate
D812NDSM, Amsterdam17 December 195121 February 195322 March 1956Broken up 1979
D813NDSM, Amsterdam21 February 19529 January 195412 September 1956Sold to the Peruvian Navy 1980 as
D814KM de Schelde, Vlissingen28 November 19535 September 195531 October 1956Sold to the Peruvian Navy 1980 as
D815Wilton-Fijenoord, Schiedam15 October 19538 August 19554 October 1957Sold to the Peruvian Navy 1982 as
D816NDSM, Amsterdam9 January 195426 March 19551 August 1957Sold to the Peruvian Navy 1981 as
D817KM de Schelde, Vlissingen15 February 19542 June 19561 October 1957Sold to the Peruvian Navy 1980 as
D818RDM, Rotterdam7 January 195426 January 195628 February 1957Sold to the Peruvian Navy 1981 as
D819NDSM, Amsterdam25 March 195525 August 195610 April 1958Sold to the Peruvian Navy 1980 as