MBT Standard frigates "Kortenaer" class (1978/83) - Construction drawing Scale 1 : 100 (10.11.027)

The Kortenaer class (also known as the Standard Frigate ) was a series of modern frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy, built between 1978 and 1983. This class represented a major step forward compared to the older Van Speijk class and formed an important part of the Dutch fleet during the Cold War.

General Information

Name: Kortenaer class (Standard Frigates)

Number of ships: 10 built for the Netherlands (2 additional for Greece)

Construction period: 1974–1983

In service: 1978–2001 (Netherlands); some still in service abroad

Named after: Dutch naval heroes

Technical Specifications

Type: Frigate (multi-role; primarily anti-submarine)

Displacement: approx. 3,600 tonnes (fully loaded)

Length: 130 metres

Beam: 14.6 metres

Draught: 4.4 metres

Propulsion: COGOG (two Rolls-Royce Olympus and two Tyne gas turbines)

Speed: 30+ knots

Crew: ~176

Armament (standard configuration)

1x OTO Melara 76 mm rapid-fire gun

1x RIM-66 Standard (SM-1) anti-aircraft missile system (Mk 13 launcher)

1x Goalkeeper CIWS (Close-In Weapon System)

2x Harpoon anti-ship missiles (later 4)

Torpedo tubes for anti-submarine warfare

Helicopter: 1x Westland Lynx (later NH90 on successor vessels)

Sensors & Electronics

SMART-1 radar (air warning)

WM-25 fire control radar

Sonar: active/passive hull-mounted (PHS-36)

Bridge and CIC equipped with modern command systems (SEWACO)

"Standard Frigate" Concept

The design of the Kortenaer class was modular:

Air defence variant: HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck and Witte de With were not fitted with torpedo tubes or a helicopter deck, but were equipped with extensive air defence armament (SM-1, dual fire control radar).

ASW variant (anti-submarine warfare): most ships were equipped with sonar, a helicopter and torpedoes.

This modular design was later continued in the Karel Doorman class.

Transfer to Greece

After their service with the Dutch Navy, eight ships were sold to the Hellenic Navy (Greece), where they remained in service until the 2020s.

Ships of the Class (Netherlands)

1. Hr.Ms. Kortenaer (F807)

2. HNLMS Callenburgh (F808)

3. HNLMS Banckert (F809)

4. HMS Piet Hein (F811)

5. HNLMS Philips van Almonde (F823)

6. HMS Tjerk Hiddes (F810)

7. HNLMS Van Kinsbergen (F809)

8. HMS Van Nes (F833)

9. HMS Witte de With (F813) – AAW variant

10. HMS Jacob van Heemskerck (F812) – AAW variant

Specifications: