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HNLMS Karel Doorman (A833)

Multi-function support ship

HNLMS Karel Doorman (A833)
Summary

Multi-function support ship

FieldValue
section1{{Infobox ship/image
imageHNLMS Karel Doorman, Starboard Bow, 04.09.2017.jpg
image_captionKarel Doorman at Rotterdam in September 2017
section2{{Infobox ship/class overview
nameKarel Doorman class
operators
class_before,
cost363 million euro (480 million USD)
built_range2011–2014
total_ships_completed1
section3{{Infobox ship/career
countryNetherlands
flag
nameKarel Doorman
namesakeKarel Doorman
motto"All Ships Follow Me"
builder*Galați shipyard, Romania
laid_down7 June 2011
launched17 October 2012
commissioned24 April 2015
homeportDen Helder
identification*
statusActive
section4{{Infobox ship/characteristics
typeJoint support ship
displacement27800 t full load
length204.7 m
beam30.4 m
draught7.8 m
propulsion*Diesel-electric
speed18 kn
range9800 nmi at 12 kn
sensors*Thales Nederland integrated mast
armament* 2 × Goalkeeper CIWS
aircraft* Up to 6 × NH90 NFH or H215M Cougar with blades folded or 2 × CH-47F Chinook with blades spread.
aircraft_facilitiesTwo-spot helideck and hangar for up to 6 medium helicopters
complement150 crew, 150 non-enlisted persons (Helicopter crews, medical teams)

  • Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding, Netherlands (fitting out)

  • Callsign: PADA

  • Deck code: KD

  • 4 × Rolls-Royce Bergen V12A diesel generators 5.5 MW

  • 1 × Rolls-Royce Bergen L6A diesel generator 2.8 MW

  • 2 × Converteam/GE electric motors 8.9 MW

  • 2 × Rolls-Royce CPP propellers

  • 2 × Wärtsilä Bow thruster, 1.25 MW

  • 1 × Wärtsilä Stern thruster, 0.75 MW

  • Thales SeaMaster 400 SMILE air warning radar

  • Thales SeaWatcher 100 SeaStar surface detection radar

  • Thales Gatekeeper electro-optical surveillance system

  • Thales SCOUT Mk 3 low probability of intercept shipborne surveillance radar

  • 2 × 30 mm Marlin WS rapid fire gun

  • 4 × 12.7 mm Hitrole NT machine gun

  • 6–8 x 7.62 mm FN MAG machine gun

  • 2 × Landing craft vehicle personnel

  • 2 × RHIB

  • Landing beach for Landing craft utility

'*HNLMS *Karel Doorman''''' () is a multi-function support ship for amphibious operations of the Royal Netherlands Navy, which is also used by the German Navy. The ship replaced both of the navy's replenishment oilers: (scrapped in February 2014) and (sold to Peru in December 2014). At 204.7 m she is the largest ship in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy.

She was built at the Damen yard in Galați, Romania, being the largest warship ever built in Romania. On 16 August 2013 the ship arrived in Vlissingen, the Netherlands, where final outfitting and installation of the weapon systems took place. In September 2013, it was announced that as part of a series of Dutch defense budget cuts, the vessel would not enter military service, but this decision was reversed by the Dutch government. The vessel cost €400 million.

On 4 February 2016, German minister Ursula von der Leyen, and Dutch minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert signed a Letter of Intent to share Karel Doorman.

The ship is named after Dutch naval officer Karel Doorman who was killed in action in World War II during the Battle of the Java Sea.

Characteristics

Last section being placed
Construction of bow
Construction of stern

For maritime support the ship will have two replenishment-at-sea masts, the holding capacity of approx. 8000 m3 of fuel, more than 1000 m3 of helicopter fuel, approximately 450 m3 of potable water, and approximately 400 tons of ammunition and other supplies.

The JLSS has 2,000 lane meters for transport of material such as tracked and wheeled vehicles or containers. She has an elevator and crane for up to 40 tons, a roll on/roll off facility for vehicles, and a steel beach stern construction for accommodating cargo transfer via landing craft. The ship is equipped with two landing craft vehicle personnel.

For sea-basing operations she has a large helicopter deck with landing spots for operating two CH-47F Chinooks simultaneously, and a hangar with a storage capacity of up to six medium-sized helicopters, including NH90 NFHs.

The ship can accommodate up to 300 personnel, of which 159 are the ship's crew. She also has command rooms for war staffs and a large hospital facility with 20 treatment areas, and two surgery rooms. Modular flexibility allows configuration of temporary areas for evacuees or prisoners.

Positioned off shore, the ship is designed to act as a Sea Based Operations Platform supporting (amphibious) land forces with logistic support providing supplies and helicopter support (transport and attack).

Armament

The armament of the JLSS is heavier than that of landing platform docks and replenishment ships, but is still primarily for self defence. In high-risk operations the ship will require additional protection from frigates or destroyers.

Two Goalkeeper CIWS systems protect the ship against incoming missiles and aircraft at short range, while two Oto Melara Marlin WS 30 mm rapid cannons provide force-protection against small surface targets such as high speed boats. The ship is also equipped with four Oto Melara Hitrole NT 12.7 mm guns. The same weaponry has been chosen for the s. All weapon systems of the JLSS are remote-controlled from the operations and command room.

Sensor suite

Karel Doorman has the same sensor suite as the Holland class. All sensor systems are housed in an integrated mast, provided by Thales Nederland, called the I-Mast 400, comprising a SeaMaster 400 SMILE air warning radar, a SeaWatcher 100 active phased-array surface detection and tracking radar and the GateKeeper infra-red/electro-optical (EO) warning system. With these systems the ship is able to monitor 140 nm using an Integrated Sensor and Communication Systems (ISCS), also by Thales Nederland.

Mid-life upgrade

Karel Doorman is planned to undergoing progressive updates to extend its service life from 2025 onwards. Major changes that are expected include the replacement of the Goalkeeper CIWS with RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile and 76 mm Sovraponte gun from Leonardo OTO.

Ships in class

Pennant numberShipLaid downLaunchedCommissioned
A833Karel Doorman7 June 201117 October 201229 April 2015

Service history

From May 2014 onward the Karel Doorman performed several sea trials and tests, which included testing the rescue system. In September that same year the ship had already successfully passed some sea trials.

Even though Karel Doorman had just finished sea trials and had not yet been commissioned, on 6 November she was sent on a three-month deployment to West Africa to deliver aid to Ebola-struck countries. She was loaded with different goods in more than 50 containers and 100 vehicles. On 18 November the ship arrived in Freetown, Sierra Leone for her first offload. After her third offload in Liberia and the replenishment of the ship returned to the Netherlands to resupply.

On 24 April 2015 Karel Doorman was formally commissioned and hence forward used the prefix HNLMS and given the pennant A833. On 17 June 2015, she docked at Phillipsburg in Sint Maarten. On 19 June she docked at Oranjestad, Aruba.

On 3 February 2016, Karel Doorman docked at Amsterdam in the Netherlands. In February it was decided that the Royal Netherlands Navy would incidentally share the use of Karel Doorman with the German Navy.

In late 2017 Karel Doorman was sent to the Caribbean Sea for humanitarian aid after the region was struck by Hurricane Irma. Karel Doorman participated in the NATO military exercise Trident Juncture in 2018.

In 2020 Karel Doorman was sent to the Dutch Caribbean to provide support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides providing support, the ship also performed maritime border surveillance in the Caribbean Sea together with HNLMS Zeeland.

SAIL Amsterdam 2025

On 7 May 2022, Karel Doorman was tasked as flagship of NATO's Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 in the North and Baltic seas. She took on board the German Seebataillon as boarding team. The overall task was to grow in cooperation with NATO allies and perform missions for NATO command.

On 21 April 2024, Karel Doorman departed the Netherlands to take part in Operation Aspides and provide associated support for Operation Prosperity Guardian in the Red Sea, embarking a H215M Cougar and a Swedish surgical team. The tasking was delayed in early May as issues arose with the Goalkeeper CIWS, causing the ship to return to Crete Naval Base for repairs until setting sail for the area of operations on 10 May. On 13 June, an air medical evacuation of a heavily wounded crewmember was conducted from the ship MV Verbena to Karel Doorman after Verbena was hit by two Houthi anti-ship missiles.

Karel Doorman took part in SAIL Amsterdam from 20 to 24 August 2025.

Export

In January 2023 it was announced that the Irish Naval Service is evaluating the possible acquisition of a down-sized version of Karel Doorman for their Multi-role vessel program. Another contender is a version of the design from New Zealand.

References

References

  1. (5 February 2016). "Germany and the Netherlands sign Joint Support Ship LOI". Naval Today.
  2. (September 2013). "The Netherlands abandons its Joint Logistics Support Ship Project". [[Canadian American Strategic Review]].
  3. (4 November 2009). "Parlement geïnformeerd over verwerving ondersteuningsschip | Ministerie van Defensie". [[Ministry of Defence (Netherlands)]].
  4. (February 2013). "Projectleider KTZ Paul de Leeuw over het Joint Logistic Support Ship ‘Karel Doorman’: ‘Indrukwekkende maritieme logistiekecapaciteit voor de hele krijgsmacht’".
  5. Ingmar Kooman. (21 February 2014). "De maritieme reus ontwaakt". Defensie.nl.
  6. Vavasseur, Xavier. (22 June 2022). "Dutch LPD Karel Doorman to receive 76mm gun and RAM upgrade". Naval News.
  7. (24 March 2014). "Damen-built Joint Support Ship Karel Doorman commissioned for the Royal Netherlands Navy".
  8. (29 April 2014). "Joint Logistic Support Ship Karel Doorman Commissioned Into Royal Netherlands Navy".
  9. . (27 March 2014). ["Doop Doorman"](https://magazines.defensie.nl/materieelgezien/2014/02/artikel-doopkareldoorman). *Defensie.nl*.
  10. Evert Brouwer. (3 July 2014). "Vlot van de Karel Doorman". Defensie.nl.
  11. Leo de Rooij. (9 July 2015). "Minimaliseren mijnengevaar". Defensie.nl.
  12. . (16 September 2014). ["Een jaar eigenaar van grootste schip"](https://magazines.defensie.nl/materieelgezien/2014/06/karel-doorman). *Defensie.nl*.
  13. Ingmar Kooman. (15 April 2015). "Karel Doorman in overdrive". Defensie.nl.
  14. Vanessa Strijbosch. (19 November 2014). "DMO zet Karel Doorman in hoogste versnelling". Defensie.nl.
  15. "Cookies op AD.nl - AD.nl".
  16. (3 February 2016). "Nederlandse en Duitse marine gaan intensief samenwerken". NOS.
  17. Monique van Rijen. (6 October 2017). "Ruim 1 miljoen kilo hulpmiddelen op Sint Maarten". Defensie.nl.
  18. Karremann, Jaime. (26 February 2019). "Karel Doorman klasse JSS". marineschepen.nl.
  19. Jessica Bode. (10 April 2020). "Doorman naar Carib". Defensie.nl.
  20. Jessica Bode. (17 April 2020). "Focus verlegd in de Carib". Defensie.nl.
  21. Djenna Perreijn. (1 May 2020). "Aan de slag in de Carib". Defensie.nl.
  22. (7 May 2022). "Zr.Ms. Karel Doorman sluit aan bij NAVO-vlootverband". Netherlands Ministry of Defence.
  23. (5 April 2024). "Marineschip naar Rode Zee voor bevoorrading en medische zorg". Ministerie van Defensie.
  24. (5 April 2024). "Kabinet: ook Zr.Ms. Karel Doorman naar Rode Zee".
  25. (21 April 2024). "Marineschip Karel Doorman op weg naar EU-missie in Rode Zee".
  26. (8 May 2024). "Zr.Ms. Karel Doorman nog niet naar Rode Zee door problemen wapensysteem".
  27. (8 May 2024). "Technische problemen Zr.Ms. Karel Doorman onderweg naar Rode Zee".
  28. (10 May 2024). "Zr.Ms. Karel Doorman hervat reis naar Rode Zee".
  29. EUNAVFOR Aspides. (14 June 2024). "On June 13, an air medevac was conducted, from MV Verbena to HLMNS Karel Doorman".
  30. (14 June 2024). "Philippines to Review Seafarer Work Rules as Houthi Attacks Continue". The Maritime-Executive.
  31. Coen Heil. (29 August 2025). "Zr.Ms. Karel Doorman als wervingsmagneet". Defensie.nl.
  32. Karremann, Jaime. "Ierland geïnteresseerd in kleine versie Karel Doorman". Marineschepen.nl.
Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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