HNLMS Karel Doorman (F827)

History

Between 1985 and 1995, Damen Scheide Naval Shipbuilding in the Netherlands constructed eight Karel Doorman class frigate battleships. Commissioned from 1991 to 1995, these vessels served in the navies of the Netherlands, Belgium, Chile, and Portugal. While only two remain active with the Dutch Navy, others have been sold to allied nations.

The Karel Doorman class, born out of the 1980s project to replace the aging Roofdier-class frigates, is a versatile platform equipped for various maritime missions. It features capabilities for surface-to-air, surface-to-surface, and anti-submarine warfare. Lead ship HNLMS Karel Doorman (F827) showcases a traditional 1980s design, including a stepped superstructure, handrails, protrusions, a single-deck gun, turret, and a helipad for rotary wing support. Currently, the ship Leopold I (F930) in the Belgian Navy, it continues its ocean-going career since 2005.

Rear Admiral Karel Willem Frederik Marie Doorman, born on April 23, 1889, and perishing on February 28, 1942, was a Dutch Rear Admiral during World War II. Rising quickly through the ranks, he commanded the combined ABDA fleet in the Dutch East Indies. Doorman became a naval hero for his leadership during the Battle of the Java Sea, where he went down with his flagship, De Ruyter, after it was struck by a Japanese torpedo, honoring the tradition of staying with the ship he commanded.

Specification

BASIC

Year of Service: 1991

Origins: Netherlands

Crew: 154

Operator: Belgium (Leopold I since 2005); Netherlands

Characters

Sea Bombing

Maritime bombardment/attack of surface targets/areas primarily through ship-based ballistic weapons.

Land Assault

Littoral attacks against surface targets primarily through ship-based missiles/missile weapons.

Sea Patrol

Active patrolling of critical waterways and sea areas; also serves as a local deterrent against air and maritime threats.

Airspace Denial/Deterrence

Neutralization or deterrence of flying elements by airborne missile weapon ballistics.

Fleet Support

Provide support (fire or materiel) to major surface fleets in blue water environments.

Dimensions and Weight

Length: 401.0 feet (122.22 m)

Ray: 47.0 feet (14.33 m)

Draft: 20.0 feet (6.10 m)

Shift: 3,350 t

Power and Performance

Installed Power: 2 16,700 hp Rolls-Royce Spey 1A gas turbines and 2 4,895 hp Stork-Werkspoor marine diesel engines on 2 shafts under the stern.

Surface Velocity: 30.0 nodes (34.5 km/h)

Area: 5,040nm (5,800 miles | 9,334 kilometers)

ARMAMENT

1 x 76mm OTO Melara turreted deck gun.

16 x RIM-7 "Sea sparrow" surface-to-air missiles in Vertical Launch System (VLS).

8 x "Harpoon" anti-ship missiles in two quadruple launchers at midships.

1 x "Goalkeeper" Close-In Weapon System (CIWS).

2 x Mark 46 twin torpedo tubes.

2 to 6 x 7. 62mm medium machine guns.

AIRCRAFT

1 x Westland Lynx (or similar) medium-lift navy helicopter supported through hangar/helipad combination section over the stern.