HNLMS Amsterdam and HNLMS Zuiderkruis AOR
Navy ships have to be able to remain at sea continuously for long periods of time. That is only possible if they are resupplied regularly. For that purpose, the navy has 2 supply ships: HNLMS Amsterdam and HNLMS Zuiderkruis. Those ships supply at sea all of the goods that other ships require, such as fuel, clothing, feed and ammunition.
The task of a supply ship is primarily resupplying Dutch or Allied fleets at sea. Supply ships are, first and foremost, tankers and can therefore transport diesel oil and aviation fuel. All kinds of food can also be stored in the ship. One supply ship can service 3 other ships at the same time. The helicopters from the supply ships can also be used for vertical replenishment, in addition to search-and-rescue operations and anti-submarine warfare.
Without support vessels, the Royal Netherlands Navy would be no more than a mediocre, brown-water navy. For this reason, the RNLN operates two 17,000 ton AORs that provide it with the ability to project the policies of the Dutch Government around the globe for extended periods of time. Although neither glamorous nor independently dangerous, these ships secure the RNLN's place as the best non-carrier navy in Europe.
The ships have a helicopter deck and a hangar for several helicopters. The cargo capacity is 10,300 tonnes, including 9,000 tonnes of fuel. Resupply at sea is done by shooting a line from the supply ship to the client ship. When the supply ship is hooked up to the frigate by the line, supplies can be hoisted from one ship to the other, or a fuel line can be run.
Defense was hard hit by the austerity measures that Minister Hans Hillen published 08 April 2011. One of the two supply vessels will be divested. Hr. Ms. Zuiderkruis would be taken out of service in late 2011 after the planned deployment in the EU operation Atalanta. Hr. Ms. Amsterdam remained in service until 2014, then to be replaced by the Joint Support Ship.
HNLMS Zuiderkruis
The 2 supply ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy are not identical. HNLMS Zuiderkruis, an improved Poolster-class underway replenishment ship [AOR], was built in Rotterdam by Verolme Scheepswerven and went into service in 1975. Along with Hr. Ms. Amsterdam, Zuiderkruis provides the RNLN with supplies and support during overseas deployments. As her age suggests, Hr. Ms. Zuiderkruis is approaching the end of her life in the Dutch Navy. She entered service in 1975 as the second ship of the Poolster Class. When Hr. Ms. Amsterdam entered service in 1995, Hr. Ms. Poolster was sold to Pakistan.
The Zuiderkruis class was designed as a multi-function support ship for amphibious operations. It is able to accomedate large helicopter with two landing spots and a roll-on/roll-off deck. Near the end of 2006, the Auxiliary Oil Replenishment Ship HNLMS Zuiderkruis was preparing to depart for a long tour of duty in the West Indies. The Commanding Officer had been CO of the supply ship deployed in the Arabian operation. "He had felt so good having the 24/7 leased line, he requested it again and obtained permission from our admiral," says Lt Cdr de Nijs. "He also received some new equipment-very clever multiplexers that Stratos recommended-which made it possible to have four permanent telephone lines onboard the ship as well as access to two networks: the Internet and the Navy's intranet."
Previously, with dial-up connections paid by the minute, the Navy had not allowed crew welfare calls at sea except in emergency situations. Not only was it costly, but also with one phone onboard it was impossible for official military calls to get through when crewmembers were making personal calls. Hence they could call only while in port - a frustrating limitation. "When you're away from home for six months, making a phone call every now and then can relieve some of the stress and discomfort," says Lt Cdr de Nijs. "With the leased line and multiplexing, it was no longer a problem to use some of those extra lines for crew welfare. That was a big plus for them."
HNLMS Amsterdam
HNLMS Amsterdam is a ship of a more recent date. It was built by the Schelde Group in Flushing, and went into service in 1995. Hr. Ms. Amsterdam is the Royal Netherlands Navy's newest auxiliary ship. It is tasked, along with Hr. Ms. Zuiderkruis (A832) , with the supply and support of the RNLN in overseas deployments. Amsterdam is the product of a joint Spanish/Netherlands project (SPS Patino being its Spanish sister ship). The Amsterdam was built to merchant ship standards, but it has been equiped with NBC damage control.
On 18 November 2010, the Dutch warship HNLMS AMSTERDAM conducted her last day of operations as an EU NAVFOR vessel, after 2 months and 9 days of counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin. On the occasion of her departure, EU NAVFOR Force Commander, Rear-Admiral Philippe Coindreau, expressed his deep satisfaction and thanks to the warship and its crew. He highlighted the significant contribution she had made to the EU NAVFOR mission and for the valuable work of the crew and their accomplishments. HNLMS AMSTERDAM is a Fast Combat Support ship that was not only used as a tanker but also to conduct counter-piracy operations. The HNLMS AMSTERDAM conducted 12 replenishments at sea for EU NAVFOR units. She disrupted one Pirate Action Group, comprising of 9 suspected pirates and escorted a vessel chartered by the World Food Program (WFP) helping in the delivery of 7,000 tons of food to Somalia.
On 26 December 2014 in the morning, the HNLMS Amsterdam (ARL-158), logistics unit, acquired from the Kingdom of the Netherlands fleet, made its entry into the Peruvian national waters. The HNLMS Amsterdam joined Peru's Nava Force Pacific at a ceremony held on 29 December 2014 at the Callao Naval Base.
It has been reported that the Dutch Government planned to order a second Amsterdam/Patino class AOR to replace Hr. Ms. Zuiderkruis (A832), which was over 25 years old. In the late 1990s a second Amsterdam was supposed to have been built to replace Hr. Ms. Zuiderkruis. Unfortunately, by 2001 funds for such an order had not been forthcoming, and Hr. Ms. Zuiderkruis seemed fated to to sail on indefinitely. Subsequently, the Zuiderkruis was scheduled to be replaced by a Joint Support Ship in approximately 2014.
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