In the early 1970s, the Koninklijke Marine (Royal Netherlands Navy) developed what became known as the 'Standard' frigate, with anti-submarine and anti-aircraft versions using common hull designs and machinery and as far as practicable, common electronics and sensors.^[2] It was planned to order 12 anti-submarine variants (the Kortenaer class), enough to equip two task groups (each led by a Tromp-class guided-missile frigate) to operate in the Atlantic, while a single anti-aircraft version would act as flagship for a third task group, consisting of the older Van Speijk-class frigates to operate in the English Channel and North Sea.^[3] In 1981, however, two Kortenaers were sold to Greece while building, and it was decided to build two anti-aircraft versions of the 'Standard' class (the 'L' class) as replacements, with the planned thirteenth 'Standard'-class frigate being abandoned.^[4][5]

The design's flush-decked hull, with an overall length of 130.20 metres (427.2 ft), a beam of 14.40 metres (47.2 ft) and draught of 4.23 metres (13.9 ft), is the same as used in the Kortenaers, as was the Combined gas and gas (COGAG) machinery, with two Rolls-Royce Tyne RM-1C cruise engines (3,700 kilowatts (4,900 shp)) and two Rolls-Royce Olympus TM-3 boost engines (19,200 kilowatts (25,800 shp)) drive the ship to a speed of 30 knots (35 mph; 56 km/h).^[2][5]

A Mk 13 missile launcher for the American Standard SM-1 medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) (with a 40-missile magazine) replaced the helicopter hangar and deck of the Kortenaers. This was supplemented by an eight round Mk 29 NATO Sea Sparrow short range SAM launcher forward, with 24 missiles carried. A Goalkeeper close-in weapon system was mounted aft, while the forward-mounted OTO Melara 76 mm gun of the Kortenaers was omitted. Launchers for eight Harpoon anti-ship missiles were positioned amidships, while anti-submarine armament consisted of four tubes for Mark 46 torpedoes.^[5]

As built, the ships were fitted with a Signaal LW-08 long-range air search radar, a DA-05 target tracking radar. Two STIR-240 director radars provided guidance for the Standard missiles, while a STIR-180 radar directed the Sea Sparrow missiles. A PHS-36 hull sonar was also fitted.^[6] In the nineties the DA-05 radar was replaced by the new SMART tracking radar.

Two ships were built by Royal Schelde dockyard. The ships were named after Admirals (Jacob van Heemskerk and Witte Corneliszoon de With) as is usual practice in the Royal Netherlands Navy.

•  
  Jacob van Heemskerck (F812) in New York, 2004
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  Capitan Prat on the North Sea
•  
  Almirante Latorre (FFG 14), 2007

• List of naval ship classes in service
• Kortenaer-class frigates - The Jacob van Heemskerck-class is based on this design, with only slight modifications.

Citations edit

Sources edit

• 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.
• Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen (1995). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
• Saunders, Stephen (2002). Jane's Fighting Ships 2002–2003. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-24328.
• W.H.E., van Amstel (1991). De schepen van de Koninklijke Marine vanaf 1945. Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN 9060139976.

• Jacob van Heemskerck - class Guided Missile Frigate (L-Frigate)
• Jacob van Heemskerck air defence frigates