HNLMS Van Speijk (F828)

History
Name:	HNLMS Van Speijk
Namesake:	Jan van Speyk
Laid down:	1 October 1991
Launched:	26 March 1994
Commissioned:	7 September 1995
Status:	in active service
General characteristics [1]
Class and type:	Karel Doorman-class frigate
Displacement:	2,800 long tons (2,845 t) standard 3,320 long tons (3,373 t) full load
Length:	122.25 m (401 ft 1 in) oa 114.40 m (375 ft 4 in) pp
Beam:	14.37 m (47 ft 2 in)
Draught:	6.05 m (19 ft 10 in)
Propulsion:	2 × Rolls-Royce Spey 1A gas turbines, 48,256 shp (35,984 kW) total 2 × Stork-Werkspoor diesel engines, 4,225 hp (3.151 MW) each
Speed:	29 kn (54 km/h) (gas turbines) 21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph) (diesels)
Range:	5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Endurance:	30 days
Complement:	154
Sensors and processing systems:	Thales Nederland LW-08 early warning radar Thales Nederland SMART-S 3-D air-search SeaWatcher 100 active phased array surface detection and tracking radar Thales Gatekeeper Staring Electro-Optic Ship Security System Thales Scout surface search radar 2× Thales STIR-18 fire control radar Decca 1609/9 navigation radar PHS-36 active bow sonar
Electronic warfare & decoys:	Thales Vigile APX Radar Electronic Support Measures
Armament:	1× Oto Melara 76 mm anti-air/anti-surface gun 16-cell Mark 48 Vertical Launch System (VLS) - 16 Sea Sparrow missile 8 × Harpoon anti-ship missiles 1 ×Goalkeeper CIWS (point defence gun) 4× Mk 32 324 mm torpedo tubes, Mark 46 torpedoes
Aircraft carried:	NH90 (as of 2013) helicopter

HNLMS Van Speijk (F828) is the eighth and last ship in the Karel Doorman-class of multi-purpose frigates.

Van Speijk was laid down at Schelde Naval Shipbuilding, Vlissingen on 1 October 1991, launched 26 March 1994, and commissioned 7 September 1995.^[2]

Starting in 2010 this ship underwent an upgrade program (called 'IPM') and was fitted with new mast section with new sensors like: Seastar (small target radar system) and Gatekeeper, a new combat computer system (Linux based), new computer networks, communication equipment, enlarged helicopter deck to allow the NH90 helicopter to land and many other changes. The biggest visual change is the new, bigger mast custom built by the Navy's maintenance establishment the 'Marinebedrijf'. HNLMS Van Speijk was the first of four ships to get this update, from both Belgian and Dutch Navy. A new towed sonar will be fitted next few years in a new large maintenance period, to replace the older TACTAS towed array system .

She is the seventh ship in the Royal Netherlands Navy to be named after Jan van Speijk, who, during the Belgian Revolution, blew up his ship rather than let it fall into Belgian hands. To honor him the Dutch king decided the Royal Netherlands Navy will always have a ship named after him.

References

• Baker, A. D (1998). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1998–1999. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-111-4. 
• "Koninklijke Marine - "Zr. Ms. Van Speijk"" (in Dutch). Retrieved 2006-08-24. 

External links

• homepage of Zr. Ms. Van Speijk (in Dutch)