Walrus-class_submarine_(1953)

<i>Walrus</i>-class submarine (1953)

Walrus-class submarine (1953)

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The Walrus class was a class of two submarines that served between 1953 and 1971 in the Royal Netherlands Navy.[3][4] They were former Balao class submarines that were loaned to the Netherlands by the United States under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program (MDAP).[5]

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Background

After the Second World War the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNN) was left with several old and obsolete submarines.[6][7] While the RNN made several plans to modernize the submarine fleet, it took many years till these plans resulted in the construction and commissioning of new submarines.[8] In the meanwhile the RNN tried to loan some of the surplus submarines that allies such as the United Kingdom and United States (US) had.[9][10] In the early 1950s this led to the US loaning two submarines to the Netherlands under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program (MDAP), which together would later form the Walrus class.[11][3] Initially the US agreed to loan the two submarines for a duration of five years, however, this was extended twice with five years.[8]

Design and construction

The two submarines of the Walrus class were built in the US by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company.[1] They were originally Balao class submarines that had served in the United States Navy (USN).[12] Before both submarines were transferred from the USN to the RNN they had undergone an extensive modernization known as Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program (GUPPY).[8][9]

Propulsion

Both Walrus class submarines were equipped with four 16 cylinder two-stroke GMC diesel engines that were capable of delivering around 6500 hp when surfaced and 2700 hp when submerged.[13][1][2] This allowed the two submarines to reach a speed of 19 kn when surfaced and 12 kn when submerged.[13] Furthermore, they each had two propellers and two 126 cells batteries.[2] The batteries had a capacity of 10.500 Ah and allowed the Walrus class submarines to operate solely on electric power for 5 hours.[13]

Armaments

When it came to armaments both submarines were equipped with a total of ten 53.3 cm torpedo tubes of which six were located at the front and four at the rear.[1] In addition, there was enough room to store 24 torpedoes inside the submarines.[13]

Service history

In the early 1960s the Walrus class submarines patrolled the waters in Dutch New Guinea and were stationed at Manokwari and Biak.[14][15][16]

Ships in class

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Notes

Citations

  1. [1]
    van Amstel (1991), p. 56.
  2. [2]
    Jalhay (1982), p. 127.
  3. [3]
    Raven (1988), p. 179.
  4. [4]
    Schoonoord (2012), p. 318.
  5. [5]
    Nooteboom (2001), pp. 36–38.
  6. [6]
    de Bles, Boven and Homburg (2006), p. 101
  7. [7]
    Nooteboom (2001), pp. 13–14.
  8. [8]
    Jalhay (1982), p. 63.
  9. [9]
    de Bles, Boven and Homburg (2006), p. 102.
  10. [10]
    Nooteboom (2001), p. 38.
  11. [11]
    Jalhay (1982), p. 124.
  12. [12]
    Nooteboom (2001), p. 67.
  13. [13]
    Bosscher and Bussemaker (2007), pp. 86–87.
  14. [14]
    de Bles, Boven and Homburg (2006), p. 103.
  15. [15]
    Schoonoord (2012), pp. 130–131.
  16. [16]
    Jalhay (1982), pp. 125–126.
  17. [17]
    Jalhay (1982), p. 125.
  18. [18]
    Jalhay (1982), p. 126.

References

  • 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.
  • Bosscher, Ph.M.; Bussemaker, H.O. (2007). Gelouterd door strijd: De Nederlandse Onderzeedienst tot de val van Java, 1942 (in Dutch). Amsterdam: De Bataafsche Leeuw. ISBN 978-90-6707-614-2.
  • Nooteboom, S.G. (2001). Deugdelijke schepen: marinescheepsbouw 1945-1995 (in Dutch). Zaltbommel: Europese Bibliotheek. ISBN 90-288-2637-8.
  • de Bles, Harry; Boven, Graddy; Homburg, Leon (2006). Onderzeeboten! (in Dutch). Zaltbommel: Aprilis. ISBN 978-90-5994-130-4.
  • Jalhay, P.C. (1982). Nederlandse Onderzeedienst 75 jaar (in Dutch). Bussum: De Boer Maritiem. ISBN 90-228-1864-0.
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