The Dokkum class was a ship class of eighteen minesweepers that were built in the Netherlands for the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN).van Amstel (1991), pp. 74–76.Raven (1988), p. 184. They were paid for by the United States under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program (MDAP). The ships of the Dokkum class were the last dedicated minesweepers that served in the RNLN.

Design The minesweepers of the Dokkum class were designed by the Dutch engineer Scheltema de Heere and based on the standard requirements laid down by the Western Union (WU), later known as Western European Union (WEU).Schoonoord (2012), p. 36. Since the minesweepers of both the Dokkum and are based on WU requirements, they are sometimes referred to in Dutch as WU-class minesweepers or minesweepers of the Western Union type.Schoonoord (2012), p. 58.

The ships of the Dokkum class were made mostly from wood, only the frame and superstructure was made from aluminium. It also had a double hull, with the inner hull made out of mahogany and the outer hull of teak. Furthermore, they were equipped with reversible propellers.

While the minesweepers of the Dokkum and Wildervank class are almost identical, they do differ when it comes to the engines. The Dokkum class was equipped with two MAN diesel engines and the Wildervank class with two Werkspoor engines. As a result the minesweepers of the Dokkum class were more durable than those of the Wildervank class.

When it came to sweeping mines the ships of the Dokkum class were equipped with several different sweepers. As mechanic sweeper it had the Wire Mk 3 mod 2, the magnetic sweeper consisted of the ML Mk 4 and later the Mb 5, and the acoustic sweepers consisted of the AX Mk 4v, AXx Mk 6B and AX Mk 3. Furthermore, the ships were equipped with two 40 mm guns.

Conversion to minehunter To keep in line with NATO requirements it was decided in 1962 to rebuild four Dokkum-class minesweepers (Dokkum, Drunen, Staphorst and Veere) into minehunters.Woudstra (1982), p. 154.Schoonoord (2012), pp. 127–128. During the rebuilding the ships were equipped with a Plessey 193 minehunting system, the bridge was modified to better suit mine hunting operations, an automatic track and trace system and autopilot were installed and several other modifications were implemented.Roetering (1997), p. 109. The four minehunters of the Dokkum class entered service of the Royal Netherlands Navy between 1968 and 1969.

Ships in class The ships were named after the smaller Dutch municipalities.Woudstra (1982), p. 153.

+ Dokkum-class construction datavan Amstel (1991), pp. 82-83. Hull number Name Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned Fate Notes M801 ¹ Wilton-Fijenoord 15 June 1953 12 October 1954 26 July 1955 15 April 1983 M802 Gusto Shipyard 17 July 1953 22 March 1955 7 November 1955 15 September 1993 Sold for scrap to R. Zorn M806 ² Wilton-Fijenoord 19 September 1953 13 August 1955 29 December 1955 16 April 1987 In use by Lemmer M809 De Noord Shipyard 2 November 1953 1 February 1955 8 December 1955 28 January 1994 In use by scouting Haarlem M810 Gusto Shipyard 10 November 1953 2 September 1955 18 May 1956 5 November 1993 Sold to the Peruvian Navy, now named M812 Niestern Scheepsbouw Unie 29 December 1953 24 March 1955 27 January 1956 3 September 1994 M813 J. & K. Smit 22 December 1953 5 April 1955 19 April 1956 23 July 1994 M815 L. Smit en Zoon 22 December 1953 30 March 1955 29 March 1956 15 September 1993 Sold for scrap to R. Zorn M817 Arnhemse Scheepsbouw Maatschappij 10 February 1954 21 May 1955 26 April 1956 15 September 1993 Sold for scrap to R. Zorn M818 ¹ Gusto Shipyard 8 January 1955 24 March 1956 30 August 1956 19 April 1984 Sold for scrap to Fa. Westmetaal Amsterdam M820 ² Haarlemse Scheepsbouw Maatschappij 10 August 1954 28 November 1956 24 April 1957 September 1985 M823 Wilton-Fijenoord 28 October 1954 27 January 1956 18 May 1956 1999 In use by Delfzijl M827 De Noord Shipyard 1 February 1955 8 May 1956 2 November 1956 1999 Museum ship in Den Helder M828 ¹ Gusto Shipyard 2 May 1955 21 July 1956 23 January 1957 20 January 1984 Sold for scrap to Fa. Westmetaal Amsterdam M830 Niestern Scheepsbouw Unie 24 March 1955 26 April 1956 19 December 1956 1999 In use by Harlingen M841 J. & K. Smit 5 April 1995 13 March 1956 7 September 1956 15 September 1993 Sold for scrap to R. Zorn M842 ¹ L. Smit en Zoon 30 March 1955 9 February 1956 27 September 1956 19 October 1984 Sold for scrap to Fa. Westmetaal Amsterdam M844 ² Arnhemse Scheepsbouw Maatschappij 18 April 1955 31 May 1956 7 December 1956 1 January 1984 Sold for scrap to Fa. Holland en Zn. ¹ = later rebuilt as minehunter ² = later rebuilt as diving support vessel

Export In 1994 the Abcoude was sold for 450.000 Dutch guilders to Peru. In addition, the reserve parts of the ship were sold for 160.000 Dutch guilders.

See also List of minesweepers of the Royal Netherlands Navy

Equivalent minesweepers of the same era

Notes Citations

References