HNLMS Walrus (1985)

HNLMS Walrus (S802) was a Walrus-class submarine of the Royal Netherlands Navy. After a long delay following a serious fire during construction, the submarine entered service in 1992. Walrus was deployed both for naval exercises and in combat operations around the world. She was decommissioned in October 2023.

For other ships with the same name, see HNLMS Walrus.
HNLMS Walrus (S802) in 1996
History
Netherlands
NameWalrus
NamesakeWalrus
BuilderRotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij, Rotterdam
Yard number348
Laid down11 October 1979
Launched28 October 1985
Completed13 September 1989
Commissioned25 March 1992
Out of service12 October 2023
IdentificationS802
Motto
  • Tand om tand
  • Dutch: A tooth for a tooth
StatusDecommissioned
Badge
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeWalrus-class submarine
Displacement
  • 2,450 t (2,411 long tons; 2,701 short tons) surfaced
  • 2,800 t (2,756 long tons; 3,086 short tons) submerged
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)
Complement55
ArmamentMark 48 torpedoes Harpoon missiles

Ship history
Walrus in 1987 after her repairs following an electrical fire.

Walrus was laid down on 11 October 1979 at the Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij ("Rotterdam Dry Dock Company") yard in Rotterdam. She was launched on 28 October 1985, but on 14 August 1986 an electrical fire broke out on board causing damage costing ƒ225 million(€100 million) to repair. Her completion was delayed until 13 September 1989. Sea trials were carried out in 1990 and 1991, and the submarine was commissioned on 25 March 1992.[2]

As part of the Netherlands contribution to NATO, Walrus took part in various joint exercises, including Submarine Rescue Exercise "Sorbet Royal 96" and "Northern Light 99". During the multi-national "Joint Task Force Exercise/Theatre Missile Defence Initiative 1999" (JTFEX/TMDI99) Walrus successfully penetrated the U.S. Navy screen and "sank" several ships, including the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt before escaping.[2][3]

In 2000 she participated in a British Flag Officer Sea Training exercise, and in "Linked Seas 2000", a naval control of shipping exercise in the North Atlantic. In September 2000 all four Walrus-class boats were withdrawn from service after micro-fractures and corrosion was detected in the diesel engine exhaust valves. After replacement valves were fitted Walrus returned to active service in early 2001. From September to December 2002 Walrus took part in "Operation Enduring Freedom", acting as an COMINT intelligence gathering post in the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf.[2][3]

In 2007 she took part in exercises in the Caribbean Sea with special forces of the Netherlands Marine Corps.[4]

In 2008 it was announced the Netherlands will spend up to 100 million euros ($155 million) on a programme to upgrade all four Walrus-class submarines. These improvements will keep them operational until at least 2025.[5]

On 13 May 2013 Dutch Ministerie van Defensie signed a contract worth EUR94 million (USD120.3 million) with Imtech Marine Netherlands to begin the life-extension programme for the four Walrus-class boats. Walrus was to be the last of the class to undergo refit and upgrade and was scheduled to return to operational service in 2019.[6]

In October 2023 Walrus was withdrawn from service, and is to be used for parts. [7]

References
  1. "Submarines". Netherlands Ministry of Defence. 2014. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  2. "Walrus (2)". Submarines of the Royal Netherlands Navy. 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  3. de Bles, Boven and Homburg, pp. 104
  4. "Hr. Ms. Walrus terug uit Cariben". Dutch Ministry of Defence. 15 December 2007. Archived from the original on 2018-07-23. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  5. Janssen, Joris (16 June 2008). "Dutch Announce Walrus-Class Submarine Life Extension". Aviation Week. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  6. "Dutch MoD issues contract for Walrus-class submarine life extension". Sonistics. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  7. Defensie, Ministerie van (12 October 2023). "Zr.Ms. Walrus na 31 operationele jaren uit dienst gesteld - Nieuwsbericht - Defensie.nl". www.defensie.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 October 2023.

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