HNLMS Dolfijn (1990)

HNLMS Dolfijn (S808) is a Walrus-class submarine of the Royal Netherlands Navy. She entered service in 1993 as the third submarine of the Walrus class, after HNLMS Walrus and HNLMS Zeeleeuw.[1] Dolfijn has been deployed both for naval exercises and in combat operations around the world. Furthermore, the submarine plays an important role by performing intelligence operations.[2]

For other ships with the same name, see HNLMS Dolfijn.
Dolfijn in 1996
History
Netherlands
NameDolfijn
NamesakeDolphin
Operator Royal Netherlands Navy
BuilderRotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij
Yard number352
Laid down12 June 1986
Launched25 April 1990
Commissioned29 June 1993
IdentificationS808
Motto
  • Ik zal voor gaan
  • Dutch: I shall go first
StatusIn active service as of 2022
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeWalrus-class submarine
Displacement
  • 2,350 t surfaced,
  • 2,650 t submerged,
  • 1,900 t standard
Length68 m (223 ft 1 in)
Beam8.5 m (27 ft 11 in)
Draught7.5 m (24 ft 7 in)
PropulsionDiesel-electric (3,132 kW)
Speed
  • 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) surfaced
  • 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) submerged
Test depth300 m (980 ft)
Complement60
ArmamentMark 48 torpedoes and Harpoon missiles

Activities
HNLMS Dolfijn on 15 June 2013, in the Baltic Sea during Baltic Operations (BALTOPS).

HNLMS Dolfijn has taken part in several operations, a few examples are:

  • During NATO operation Allied Force, Dolfijn upheld a trade embargo off the coast of former Yugoslavia.[3] She also eavesdropped enemy communication and forwarded the obtained information to the military forces of the NATO. At the same time she also forwarded enemy ship movements to the Western European Union.[4]
  • In 2012 Dolfijn took part in anti-piracy operation Ocean Shield that took place off the coast of Somalia.[5]
  • At the beginning of 2013 the Netherlands Maritime Special Operations Forces (NLMARSOF) trained with the Dolfijn in the Caribbean Sea. This is important because in the area there is a lot of illegal drug trade and the Netherlands tries to stop this with other countries.[6]

Maintenance and upgrade

In 2016 Dolfijn was taken out of service after being active for years by the Royal Netherlands Navy to perform maintenance and modernize its systems.[7] For example, the ageing GIPSY combat system will be replaced with the more modern Guardion combat system.[8] Besides changing the software suit, hardware components were also either replaced or upgraded with newer versions.[9] The Medium Range Sonar (MRS) and Long Range Sonar (LRS) will get replaced by new ones. In addition a new sonar was added, which is called the Mine and Obstacle Avoidance Sonar (MOAS). The Consoles and screens in the command room also will get an upgrade to more modern versions, while the navigation and attack periscopes will go from being depended on analog sensors to digital sensors. This will be done by replacing several masts. The holes have already been drilled for this upgrade. Lastly, the Mark 48 torpedoes were upgraded from Mod 4 to the more recent Mod 7.[7]

COVID-19 pandemic
Main article: COVID-19 pandemic on naval ships

On 30 March 2020, the Ministry of Defence reported that eight crew members of Dolfijn had tested positive.[10] Out of 58 crew members, 15 sailors with mild symptoms were tested.[10] The submarine changed course near Scotland to return to the Netherlands two weeks early, arriving in Den Helder on 3 April.[10][11]

Dolfijn made a routine port visit to the United States at Naval Station Mayport, Florida in May 2022.[12]

See also

References
  1. Defensie, Ministerie van. "Zr. Ms. Dolfijn". www.defensie.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  2. Defensie, Ministerie van (30 November 2015). "Onderzeeboten". www.defensie.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  3. "Onderzeeboten". www.sail.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 30 March 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  4. de Bles, Boven and Homburg, pp. 104
  5. Karremann, Jaime. "Operationele inzet". www.marineschepen.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  6. "Mariniers ontsnappen uit onderzeeboot". www.defensie.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  7. Twigt, André. "Opknapbeurt voegt dimensie toe". www.magazines.defensie.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  8. Karremann, Jaime. "Instandhoudingsprogramma Walrusklasse (IP-W)". www.marineschepen.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  9. Kesseler, André (13 May 2013). "Upgrade Nederlandse onderzeeboten van start" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  10. Defensie, Ministerie van (30 March 2020). "Zr.Ms. Dolfijn breekt reis af vanwege corona – Nieuwsbericht – Defensie.nl". defensie.nl.
  12. "Dutch Navy Walrus-class submarine HNLMS Dolfijn visits US". navyrecognition.com. 5 May 2022.

Sources
  • de Bles, Harry; Boven, Graddy; Homburg, Leon (2006). Onderzeeboten!. Zaltbommel/Den Helder: Aprilis/Marinemuseum. ISBN 978-9059941304.
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