Walrus-class submarine

The Dutch submarine Zeeleeuw, at SAIL Amsterdam 2005.
Class overview
Name: Walrus class
Builders: Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij
Operators:  Royal Netherlands Navy
Preceded by: Zwaardvis class
In commission: 1992-
Completed: 4
Active: 4
General characteristics
Class and type: none
Type: Attack submarine
Displacement:
  • 2,350 t surfaced,
  • 2,650 t submerged,
  • 1,900 t standard
Length: 67.73 m (222.2 ft)
Beam: 8.4 m (28 ft)
Draft: 6.6 m (22 ft)
Propulsion: 3 diesels, diesel-electric, 5,430 shp (4 MW), 1 shaft, 5 blades
Speed:
  • 13 knots (24 km/h) surfaced,
  • 20 knots (37 km/h) submerged
Range: 18,500 km (10,000 nmi) at 9 kn (17 km/h)
Test depth: >300 m (980 ft)
Complement: 50 to 55
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • Surface Search Radar:
  • Signaal/Racal ZW 07
  • Sonar Systems:
  • Thomson Sintra TSM 2272 Eledone Octopus
  • GEC Avionics Type 2026 towed array
  • Thomson Sintra DUUX 5 passive ranging and intercept
Armament:
  • 4 × 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes (20 × Honeywell Mk 48 or Honeywell NT 37 torpedoes
  • mines,
  • SubHarpoon SSM)

The Walrus-class submarine is the only submarine class currently in operation in the Royal Netherlands Navy. They have been in service since 1990 and are all named after sea mammals.

Design

The Walrus-class submarines are unusual in that instead of a cross-shaped assembly of stern diving planes and rudders, they mount four combined rudders and diving planes in an "X" configuration. This tail configuration was first tested in 1960 on the United States Navy's USS Albacore, and has since been used by the Walrus class, all Swedish Navy submarines since the Sjöormen class, the Royal Australian Navy's Collins class, the German Type 212A and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Sōryū class.

The submarines were in high demand by NATO during the Cold War since they combined a highly skilled crew with a very silent boat. At that time the majority of NATO submarines were either nuclear or brown water subs, with the Walrus class being among the rare blue water diesel electric submarines in service.

Operational History

After the Cold War, the subs have been tasked for many highly confidential intelligence gathering operations (still classified) in the Yugoslavian region, Iran, Iraq and the Caribbean often on request of Allies, including the United States.

In June 2010, the Netherlands agreed to deploy one submarine to help combat piracy in the waters off Somalia.

In November 2016, the Russian Navy claimed to have chased off a Walrus-class vessel from a battle group that included the Admiral Kuznetsov.[1]

Upgrade program

In 2007, the Dutch cabinet approved an upgrade of the four operational vessels and recruitment of additional crew to improve overall operational availability. The upgrades are focused on near-shore operations and integration with new weapons. These include:

In November 2014 the Dutch Minister of Defence announced plans to replace the Walrus-class submarines[2] in 2025.

Boats

All boats were built by the Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij.

Ship Laid down Launched Commissioned Fate
Walrus 11 October 1979 28 October 1985
13 September 1989 (re-launched)		 25 March 1992 In service
Zeeleeuw 24 September 1981 20 June 1987 25 April 1990 In service
Dolfijn 12 June 1986 25 April 1990 29 January 1993 In service
Bruinvis 14 April 1988 25 April/May 1992 5 July 1994 In service

General characteristics

Images

References

  1. ↑ "Russia ships 'chase away' Dutch submarine in Mediterranean". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  2. ↑ Tomkins, Richard (22 January 2015). "Swedes, Dutch partner for future submarine work". UPI.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
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