Beemster-class minesweeper

Class overview
NameBeemster class
Operators Royal Netherlands Navy
Built1951-1954
In commission1953-1976
Planned14
Completed14
General characteristics [1]
TypeMinesweeper
Displacement384 t (378 long tons)
Length43.94 m (144 ft 2 in)
Beam8.5 m (27 ft 11 in)
Draft2.28 metres (7 ft 6 in)
Propulsion
Speed13.6 knots (25.2 km/h; 15.7 mph)
Crew37
Armament1 x double 20 mm machine guns

The Beemster-class was a class of fourteen minesweepers that were built at different shipyards in the United States for the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNN).[3] The minesweepers were based on the AMS-60 design and paid for by the United States under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program (MDAP).[4] The minesweepers served in the RNN between 1953 and 1976.[5][6]

Design and construction

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The fourteen Beemster-class minesweepers were ordered in 1951 in the United States.[7] They were based on the AMS-60 design.[4] The first ships were taken into service of the Royal Netherlands Navy in 1953 and the last in 1954.[5]

As built the ships were equipped with a W Mk 3 mod 1 mechanical sweep and either a A X Mk 6B or A X Mk 4V acoustic sweeper.[2] Furthermore, it had a double machine gun of 20 mm.[1] Later, in the 1960s and 1970s, the ships got equipped with a MB 5 magnetic sweeper.[2]

Ships in class

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The ships were named after the smaller Dutch municipalities that started with the letter B.[2]

Beemster-class construction data[3][5]
Ship Pennant No. Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned
Beemster M845 30 November 1951 24 September 1952 17 July 1953 14 August 1974
Bolsward M846 8 October 1951 5 November 1952 5 November 1953 18 September 1972
Bedum M847 14 December 1951 29 October 1952 28 August 1953 1 July 1976
Beilen M848 29 October 1951 14 February 1953 26 April 1954 13 August 1975
Borculo M849 29 December 1951 26 November 1952 20 October 1953 14 August 1974
Borne M850 29 January 1952 7 January 1953 3 December 1953 13 August 1975
Brummen M851 29 February 1952 31 December 1952 23 February 1954 14 August 1976
Breukelen M852 29 February 1952 12 March 1953 15 February 1954 18 September 1972
Blaricum M853 29 September 1952 31 October 1953 26 May 1954 1 July 1976
Brielle M854 11 December 1952 17 October 1953 29 December 1954 13 August 1975
Breskens M855 29 April 1952 11 April 1953 21 April 1954 1 July 1976
Bruinisse M856 29 February 1952 31 December 1952 21 January 1954 18 September 1972
Boxtel M857 1 May 1952 12 September 1953 28 July 1954 1 July 1976
Brouwershaven M858 7 May 1952 19 April 1954 3 November 1954 2 July 1973

Notes

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b van Amstel, p. 69.
  2. ^ a b c d Roetering, p. 104.
  3. ^ a b van Amstel, pp. 69-73.
  4. ^ a b Schoonoord, pp. 57-58.
  5. ^ a b c Raven, p. 184.
  6. ^ Schoonoord, p. 319.
  7. ^ van Amstel, p. 10.

References

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  • 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.
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