| Article number: | 10.11.031 |
The HNLMS ‘Van Straelen’-class shallow-water minesweepers were a series of smaller minesweepers of the Royal Netherlands Navy, specially designed for operations in shallow waters such as rivers, estuaries and coastal areas. They entered service in the early 1960s, during the Cold War, when mine countermeasures remained a crucial part of maritime defence.
| Characteristics | Information |
|---|---|
| Ship class | Van Straelen class |
| Type | Shallow Water Minesweeper |
| Number built | 10 |
| In service | 1960–1962 |
| Shipyards | Various Dutch shipyards, including De Groot & Van Vliet (Slikkerveer) and Scheepswerf Westhaven (Zaandam) |
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Displacement | ± 109 tonnes (standard), ± 120 tonnes (loaded) |
| Length | 32 metres |
| Width | 6.4 metres |
| Draught | 1.45 metres |
| Propulsion | 2 diesel engines, approx. 850 hp in total |
| Speed | ~10 knots |
| Crew | 15–18 |
| Construction | Wooden hull, non-magnetic (to protect against magnetic mines) |
Mine-sweeping equipment:
Mechanical (such as contact mines)
Acoustic (sound mines)
Magnetic (electromagnetic mines)
Often unarmed (or only lightly armed with small-calibre weapons)
Operating area: deltas, harbours, the Wadden Sea, Zeeland, the IJsselmeer, estuaries
All ships were named after fallen Dutch minesweepers or naval officers. Here are a few:
| Number | Name |
|---|---|
| M801 | Hr.Ms. Van Straelen |
| M802 | HNLMS Van Hamel |
| M803 | HNLMS Van der Wel |
| M804 | HMS Van der Knaap |
| M805 | HMS Van Versendaal |
| M806 | HMS Van der Poel |
| M807 | HNLMS Van Mierlo |
| M808 | HNLMS Van der Zande |
| M809 | HNLMS Van Houwelingen |
| M810 | HNLMS Van Beek |
Decommissioned: Late 1970s to mid-1980s
Some were sold on to allies or used for civilian purposes
Replaced by more modern mine countermeasure systems and more flexible platforms
Mainly active in Dutch coastal waters and NATO exercises
Deployed for training, mine clearance and patrols in shallow waters
Played an important role in mobilisation plans during the Cold War
Specifications:
|
Drawing number |
10.11.031 |
|
Author |
J.TH.M. Buter |
|
Description |
HrMs "van Straelen" class shallow-water minesweepers (1960/62) |
|
Quality |
frames; side view; deck plan; details |
|
Scale |
1 : 25 |
|
Number of A00 sheets |
0 |
|
Number of A0 sheets |
2 |
|
Number of A1 sheets |
0 |
|
Number of A2 sheets |
0 |
|
Number of A3 sheets |
0 |
|
Number of A4 sheets |
0 |
|
Total number of drawing sheets |
2 |
|
Number of A4 text pages |
0 |
|
Weight in grams |
185 |
|
Details |
total length 132 cm |
|
Comments |