Jacob van Heemskerck class frigate (1983)

Koninklijke Marine: HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck, Witte de With 1986-2005. To Chile, active until 2019.

HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck (F 812) of NY city.

The Jacob van Heemskerck-class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy were designed as an Air Defence version of the Kortenaer class, with their helicopter replaced by a Standard medium range SAM system and associated radars essentially. They replaced the Tromp class. They otherwise shared practically everything else with NATO’s “standard frigate” design. The two ships, internally called the “L type” were built at Royal Schelde Shipyard between 1981 and 1986 and served until 2005 after a full modernization.

In 2005 they were sold to the Chilean Navy and became Almirante Latorre and Prat, active until 2019. They were last Netherlands Navy SAM cold war frigates. The Karel Doorman class (1988) were more general purpose. The last was Van Speijk (F828) completed in 1995. The next new design, the De Zeven Provinciën class, was started right after in 1995, close to the Sachsen-class frigates in general design and concept.

Development

In 1979, the Tromp class (photo) Anti-Aircraft Frigates had been really at the top of their game when built in 1971. They were themselves a replacement for the much larger and old school Zeven Provinciën-class cruisers that escorted the Dutch carrier Karel Doorman, and were intended also to act as squadron flagships, so given extensive command facilities as well. They were in part designed with the British Royal navy, highly automated for their time, but they were also scheduled for decommission somewhere in the late 1990s. So the Dutch Admiralty planned a replacement, and also at restricted naval budgets at the tail end of the cold war. So creating this new design out of the already existing Kortenaer class (also called NATO standard Frigates) made sense as it would spare a lot of R&D and technical design.

HNLMS Witte de With, MoD official photo as completed.

In Short

In the early 1970s, the Royal Netherlands Navy started to take advantage of its ‘Standard’ frigate, and decline an AAW or anti-aircraft version of it. Common machinery, electronics and sensors were planned, and in total, 12 ASW vessels planned to operate in the Atlantic, with a single AAW version acting as flagship for the third task group (to replace the former Van Speijk-class frigates), covering the English Channel and North Sea. In 1981, however, decision was built only two the AAW ‘Standard’ class as replacement, a 13th abandoned. Like the previous ships, they had a flush-decked hull, and identical COGAG machinery rated for 19,200 kilowatts (25,800 shp). Of course the main difference would be in the armament, with a SM-1 medium range Mk 13 missile launcher aft with a 40-missile magazine; instead of the aft helicopter hangar and deck.

It was complemented with an octuple launcher Mk 29 NATO Sea Sparrow for short range forward (24 missiles carried) and from the start, a single Goalkeeper CIWS mounted aft, but no forward OTO Melara 76 mm gun. However the same canisters for eight Harpoon SSMs were kept at the same place as well as four tubes for Mark 46 torpedoes. They had the same overall appearance for superstrctures but carried a Signaal LW-08 long-range air search radar, DA-05 target tracking radar, while the SM-1 SAMs were served by two STIR-240 director radars and the STIR-180 for the Sea Sparrow missiles forward. The ships were also equipped with a PHS-36 hull sonar. Laid down in 1981, they were completed in 1986. In the 1990s they received the new SMART-3 3D tracking radar indended for the Tromp class ships. Both were in service until 2005, resold to Chile. They were expected to be replaced by the new 2023 type Frigates.

Detailed Design Origin

HNLMS Kortenaer (F 807) in the 1980s

Indeed the planned “Standard” frigate combining ASW and AA versions using common hull designs, machinery, electronics and sensors were part of a 12-frigate plan, with ASW variants (Kortenaer class), to equip two task groups, each led by a Tromp-class guided-missile frigate for the Atlantic. A third task group was imagined, led by a single anti-aircraft version acting as flagship with the older Van Speijk-class frigates for the more restricted theaters of the English Channel and North Sea. In 1981 however this changed when two Kortenaers were sold to Greece so they needed a replacement, that became quick derivatived of the ‘Standard’ class and the 13th ‘Standard’-class was abandoned instead.

Indeed, the 1974 Defense White Paper included plans for the construction of a modified standard frigate already to serve as the flagship for a third escort group, with a third Guided Missile Frigate been abandoned due to high costs. This modified standard frigate was limuted to have an additional air defense system, the very capable, trusted, medium range Standard Missiles, and would be built in conjunction with the 12 standard (Kortenaer) frigates but larger for this additional weapons system, sacrificing its two helicopters. However no funds were initially reserved for this new ship. This change in 1981, when Greece purchased two standard frigates directly from the construction line, wheeras they had been already ordered for the navy, the it was decided to had the last build according to the modified design.

HrMs. Jacob van Heemskerck stern view

Called the “L-class” they were based on the Kortenaer, same size and smaller than the original 1974 design for a modified standard frigate with command facilities, and to accommodate the Standard Missile system, the helicopter deck and hangar were removed, as well as the 76 mm forecastle gun. The origin was that the Greeks preferred their ships equipped with a second gun in the hangar and the Dutch ships carried a Goalkeeper instead. Tto save costs no order for main guns were made. The saved weight at the bow could be used to increase the number of Sea Sparrow missiles to 16 total instead of 8 (single reload), increading the short range AA defence by 8 missiles, up to 32. The L-class frigates deckhouse forward was also modified and the bow accomodations optimized to use the space freed by the gun base and barillet storage. Otherwise, the remainder of the design was pretty much a copy-paste of he Kortenaer design, allowing to save considerable time in R&D and built the extra twi modified frigate the same year.

Both Frigates, already named HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck (F812) and HNLMS Witte de With (F813) were indeed ordered at Koninklijke Schelde Groep (Now Damen) in 1981 as soon as the Greek order was confirmed, the first laid down on21 January 1981 and the second in 15 December, both launched after modifications were made to the design ((mostly concerned the upper part, no changes to the lower hull), on 5 November 1983 and 25 August 1984 respectively and commissioned after completion in January and September 1983.

Design of the class

Jakob van Heemskerck in spain

Hull & General Layout

These Frigates were essentially sharing the exact same hull, flush-decked with an overall length of 130.20 metres (427.2 ft), beam of 14.40 metres (47.2 ft) draught of 4.23 metres (13.9 ft) as well as the same machinery, a Combined gas and gas (COGAG) with Rolls-Royce cruise and boost engines. Automation was the same as for the Kortenaer and they shared the same SEWACO Central Command and Combat System, modified to remove the main gun and add instead the Standard SAM. The ships were noit given the full oriignal command facilities, apart the SEWACO system, but still could operate as command ships in a reduce way, reflected in their crew, 197 officers and men in standard operations and a 20 flag staff.

Powerplant

The class relied on a Combined gas or gas (COGOG) system, in which four sets of gas turbines were installed of various type and power to swap between low revolition, economical cruise or full power, performance. They could also be coupled together for extra power. They also existed alongside diesels used as backup to power electrical systems on board. This powerplant consisted in the following:
-Two Rolls-Royce Tyne RM1C gas turbines, 4,900 shp (3,700 kW) each
-Two Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbines, 25,700 shp (19,200 kW) each (boost)
This made for a total of 9,800 shp for cruising at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph), and 51,400 shp for top speed and 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) maximum, combined 61,200 shp.

They fuel oil bunkerage is unknow, but their nominal range was declared in most sources as being 4,700 nautical miles (8,700 km) at 16 knots, probebly down to 4,000 at 20 knots. They likely had also at least two auxiliary diesels (werkspoor or MTU) to power the ship when the gas turbines were cold.

Armament

RIM-66 Standard

In place of the aft helideck was hangar were installed the RIM-66 Standard SAM, with a Mk13 Guided Missile Launch System with 40 missiles total in reserv below. The guiding radar was installed where the hangar should have been on a two-tiered struture. This was the medium range (70 km+) bubble of the ship. In 1983 this was unlikely the SM-2 Medium Range Block II as it was optimized for the Aegis combat system and Mk26 missile launcher. Instead this was more likely the Standard Missile 1, which was first produced in 1967 but constantly upgraded.

⚙ specifications RIM-66 Standard 1

Mass: c1,200 lb (6c00 kg), 15 ft 6 in x 13.5 in x 3 ft 6 in (4.72 m x 34.3 cm x 1.07 m)
Warhead: Blast fragmentation warhead, Radar and contact fuze.
Engine: Dual thrust, solid-fuel rocket 40+ nmi (74 km+) cailing 25,000 m (82,000 ft)
Speed: Mach 3.5 (4,290 km/h; 2,660 mph; 1.19 km/s) max.
Guidance: Illumination and Inertial, semi-active radar homing terminal phase.

RIM-7 Sea Sparrow

Prow view of the Sea Sparrow launcher with the bulky reloading system behind.

The RIM-7 NATO Sea Sparrow SAM was fired from an octuple Mk29 Guided Missile Launch System with 8 missile in the launcher and 16 in the magazine, installed forward on a superfiring structure as was installed on the Kortenaer class. They represented the short range AA bubble (19 km). The Mark 29 octuple launcher came out indeed with 24 missiles in reserve, rloaded vertically so 32 total, similar to a modern, large VLS. The Sea Sparrow had a range of 8 nmi (15 km; 9.2 mi), Mach 2.5 with a 30 kg (66 lb) warhead. This was a short range AA defence system. It was controlled by a small radar under radome right behind on the superfiring position. The sea sparrow were just entering US service at the time the class was launched, in 1976. It had been developed by Raytheon and General Dynamics. Delivered in two-arm four canister launcher it could deliver all these in a minute and incoming threats, flying to their targets at Mach 4. Shorter range meant shorter delays.

⚙ specifications RIM-7 Sea Sparrow

Weight 510 lb (230 kg)
Dimensions: 12 ft x 8 in (3.7 m x 20 cm) wp 3 ft 4 in (1.02 m)
Propulsion: Hercules MK-58 solid-propellant rocket motor
Speed: 4,256 km/h (2,645 mph)
Range/Ceiling: 10 nmi (19 km)
Payload Annular: blast fragmentation warhead, 90 lb (41 kg)*
*Proximity fuzed, expanding rod, with a 27 ft (8.2 m) kill radius

RGM 84 Harpoon

No to sacrifice the optional A/S capability, there were also two quad canisters for the trusted RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile. The two quad mounts were unarmoured and installed just behind the mainmast forward amidship, facing at an angle port and starboard. They formed the primary line of defence against ships, with the longest reach of all three weapons systems, 140 km. This was also a brand new weapons system, in service by 1977 and installed in their early years. Block I of course. Each missile was capable of travelling 70 nmi (130 km; 81 mi) at Mach 0.9 carrying a 227 kg (500 lb) warhead.

⚙ specifications RGM-84 Harpoon Block I

Weight: 1,523 lb (691 kg) including booster
Dimensions: 15 ft x 13.5 in (4.6 m x 34 cm), wp 3 ft (0.91 m)
Propulsion: Teledyne CAE J402 turbojet/solid propellant booster, 600 lbf (2,700 N) thrust
Speed: 537 mph (864 km/h; 240 m/s; Mach 0.71)
Range: 75 nmi (139 km)
Guidance: Radar altimeter, active radar terminal homing
Ceiling: Sea Skimming
Payload: HE warhead

Goalkeeper 30 mm CIWS

The short range AA (2 km) but more of a defensive, anti-missile armament found as standard on other Dutch Frigates. The seven-barreled SGE-30 Goalkeeper 30 mm (1.2 in) close-in weapons system (CIWS) capable of a 2 km (1.2 mi) range, usable mostly against incoming missiles. Specs already on the Tromp class frigates.

⚙ specifications Goalkeeper CIWS

Weight: 9,902 kg (21,830 lb) total, 6,372 kg (14,048 lb) gun alone.
Barrel lenght: 3.71 m above deck, total 6.2 m over and under deck.
Elevation/Traverse: +85 to −25° (80 degree/s
Loading system: Automated 7-barrel feed, 1,190 rds of ammunition above deck
Muzzle velocity: 1,109 m/s (MPDS round)
Range: 350-1,500/2,000 metres dependent on ammunition
Guidance: Radar guided, full auto tracking
Crew: Automated, with human oversight
Round*: 1.2 in or 30×173mm TP, HEI, MPDS, or FMPDS
Rate of Fire: 7-barrel rotary cannon GAU-8/A Avenger, 70 rps/4,200 rpm

Mk 32 324 mm (13 in torpedo tubes

This was the baseline ASW armament, well served by the hull sonar for short range defence. The two twin tubes (the standard was three traversing deck mounts) were installed in a fixed position aft amidship in the lower structure above deck, facing port and starboard. They fired the Mk 46 Mod 5 acoustic torpedoes for close range (5.9 nmi; 10.9 km; 6.8 mi) ASW defence, at 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) with a 44 kg (97 lb) warhead.

20 mm Guns

These were manned mounts (possibly Oerlikon) for asymetric warfare.

Active Protection

Sphinx ECM

No data for now.

Ramses ECM

In NATO book, AN/SLQ-503. The acronym means “Reprogrammable advanced multi-mode shipborne” ECM system. This is an active electronic countermeasures system operating against target indication radars and missile-borne active radar seekers. It was integrated into the ESM/EW management system Sphinx. It used Noise jamming against target indication radars not locking on to their targets as well Deception jamming for the final approach of the missile.

Mk 36 SRBOC

Standard US decoy system. In Mark 36, 6 barrel launchers set at 60° angle. The rockets are 5-inches or 127 mm in diameter and can be interfaced with the AN/SLQ-503 electronic warfare suite. hey could detonate and sent flares and/or chaff to seduce an incoming missile.

SLQ-25 Nixie

Standard ASW anti-torpedo decoy system. Operated from the poop, it uses the TB-14A towed decoy, cooridnated with the AN/SLQ-25A/C “Nixie” system, making the same propeller frequency as the targeted ships to seduce the torpedo. Uses a fiber optic tow cable (FOTC) and a 10-horsepower (7.5 kW) RL-272C double drum winch.

Sensors

Decca 1226

ZW-06

Same as for the Kortenaer: Surface search and navigation radar, X-band, 8,600-9,500 MHz, 24 rpm, instrumented range 22 km.

DA-08

This Dutch fire control radar, ‘Doels Aanwijzing'(“target indication”) is operating in the F band 2D naval medium to long-range air and surface surveillance for the Standard SAM system and Sea Sparrow. This couls have been the Moving Target Indicator (MTI) version of Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) version for medium-range operations. Single or dual antenna feed (S/LS suffix). Mounted on a lightweight stabilized platform aft. Pulse-to-pulse coherent radar with high mean-power Traveling Wave Tube (TWT) transmitter. Compressions rate 57 (34 µs pulse) or 115 (68 µs pulse). Replaced by the Smart-L. Specs: PRF 500-1000 Hz, pulsewidth 1-34 or 68 µs, PP 145 kW, 5 kW avg. Range 104 nm or 193 km in the MTO version accuracy 90 m.
beamwidth: 1.55°, rotation 10-20 min⁻¹ 15 min⁻¹.

LW-08

High-power, coherent, D-band air warning and surface search radar for medium/long range surveillance.

STIR-18 FCR

STIR (Signal Tracking and Illumination Radar) medium/long range fire-control radar from Thales. tracking/missile illumination for the sea sparrow.

STIR-24 FCR

Same but the -24 HP has a Cassegrain 2.4 m radar working in I-band with BW/Infrared EO, with a trabsmitter at 125kW TWT. Made by Thales it is used for illumination for the sea sparrow and standard, installed aft.

Goalkeeper radar

SQS-509 (PHS-36) sonar

This dish-like antenna is solidary to the mount, a 2D I band search radar that can handle up to 18 targets at once and generates a threat picture uses to identify and prioritize threats, hence the “goalkeeper” name. This system is installed on a blockhouse on the poop deck. It has an IFF functionality, operates in both I band and K band for quick acquisition on threat bearing. Data return signals indicate target range and could counter missile own’s ECM. This reduces the effect of clutter at low altitude as well and is coupled as a backup with a camera system on the assembly.

PHS-36 sonar

Lower-frequency version of the AN/SQS-505, power output is also increased.

SEWACO II CCS

Combat Control System. SEWACO-FD is a building concept for naval combat systems developed by Thales Nederland. The core element of the concept is the combat management system TACTICOS. More

Conway profile of the Hermskerck in 1989.

⚙ L type specifications
Displacement	3,000 tons standard, 3,750 tons full load
Dimensions	130 x 14.5 x 4.4 m (426 ft 6 in x 47 ft 7 in x 14 ft 5 in)
Propulsion	2x COGOG RR Tyne RM1C gas turbines 4,900 shp, 2 RR Olympus TM3B 25,700 shp
Speed	30 knots max, 20 knots cruising
Range	4,700 nmi (8,700 km; 5,400 mi) at 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Armament	RIM-66 SAM (40), 8× RIM-7 SAM (16), 2×4 RGM-84 Harpoon, 2×2 Mk46 TTs, Goalkeeper CIWS, 2× 20 mm
Active protection	Sphinx, Ramses ECM suites, 2x Mk 36 SRBOC decoy RL, SLQ-25 Nixie torpedo decoy
Sensors	LW-08, SMART-S Mk1, 2 x STIR-240, STIR-180, ZW-06, PHS-36
Crew	197

HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck (1983)

Jacob van Heemskerck was ordered to KM de Schelde in Vlissingen. The keel was laid down on 21 January 1981 and she was launched on 5 November 1983, the commissioned on 15 January 1986. Her radio call sign was “PAVO”. No Detailed logs. In the early 90s she took part in Operation Desert Storm. In 1996 she made she made a cruise to Norway with the frigates Bloys van Treslong, Willem van der Zaan, Tromp and the replenishment ship Amsterdam. After the September 11 attacks she entered the Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT) but sent to eastern Mediterranean Sea to take part in operation Direct Endeavour. In 2003 she was for five months the flagship of Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED). Then she became STANAVFORLANT in 2004 for six months. On 2 December 2004 she was decommissioned was and sold to the Chilean Navy. She became Almirante Latorre when commissioned on 16 December 2005 radio call sign “CCLT”. In 2025 she was reported sunk as a target after an official decommission in 2019.

Akmirante Latorre, side view

HNLMS Witte de With (1984)

HNLMS Witte de With was the second Jacob van Heemskerck-class frigate, ordered from KM de Schelde in Vlissingen, her keel laid on 15 December 1981, launched on 25 August 1984 and commissioned on 17 September 1986, radio call sign was “PAVP”. In 1988 Witte de With and the frigates Jan van Brakel and Kortenaer departed for a training cruise to Egypt with the RFA Zuiderkruis, tranisrted Suze to the Indian Ocean, visited India, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand to show the flag and having joined exercises in local navies. Like her sister, she was later deployed in the middle east for Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm from September to December 1990. She then took part in Operation Sharp Guard in July 1993. On 12 May 2006, she was decommissioned and sold to the Chilean Navy. Recommissioned on 17 July 2006 she was renamed Capitán Prat, radio call sign was “CCPT”. She was decommissioned in 2019 and likely sunk as target in 2025.

Capitan Prat in rough weather, 2007