Kortenaer-class

Summary

Description

The Kortenaer class, consisting of anti-submarine frigates, was built as part of the Royal Netherlands Navy's fleet. Named after Dutch naval heroes, these ships were constructed between 1978 and 1982 by De Schelde and Wilton-Fijenoord in efforts to replace aging Holland and Friesland class ASW frigates. The Kortenaer class was designed to comply with NATO standards and aimed to standardize platforms for ASW and AAW capabilities. The initial order comprised fourteen vessels, however, only ten served the Royal Netherlands Navy. Two of the ships were sold to the Hellenic Navy in Greece during construction and were later classified under the Elli class by Greece. These sales led to the Royal Netherlands Navy supplementing the class with two Jacob van Heemskerck-class air-defense frigates.

In terms of design, the Kortenaer class utilized a modern French-inspired hull with increased automation to minimize crew size. They operated with fifteen watertight bulkheads and had a COGOG propulsion system featuring Rolls-Royce turbines that powered two controllable pitch propellers. This system allowed a top speed of 30 knots and a cruising speed of 20 knots. The ships' operational range reached 4,700 nautical miles at a 16-knot cruising speed using a single gas turbine. Backup boilers and evaporators increased resiliency, and Denny–Brown fin stabilizers enhanced stability.

Armament included OTO Melara and Bofors guns, a SGE-30 Goalkeeper CIWS, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missiles, and Mk 46 torpedoes. Other defensive measures included a chaff system for missile evasion and advanced radar and sonar systems for threat detection and engagement. The ships supported ASW operations with onboard sonar equipment and one or two Westland SH-14B Lynx helicopters during peacetime.

The Kortenaer class ships underwent various deployments, such as patrolling the Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, and the Strait of Hormuz. They were actively involved in NATO-led operations, including the blockade during the Yugoslav Wars and missions in the Persian Gulf during the Gulf War. One of its vessels operated in the Caribbean Sea enforcing a UN blockade of Haiti in 1993.

As budgets were tightened, the Netherlands began the process of decommissioning and selling the vessels. Eight were sold to Greece in 1992, enhancing their existing fleet with Elli-class frigates, which received electronics refits from 2003 to 2006. The United Arab Emirates acquired the last two frigates, which served as Abu Dhabi and Al Emirat, both outfitted with adjustments suitable for their operating conditions. The latter was converted into the luxury super yacht Yas in 2015. Two frigates were initially intended for Greece and replaced in the Dutch navy by Jacob van Heemskerck-class frigates.

Technical specifications