Keeten-class minesweeper

The Keeten class was a ship class of three minesweepers that served in the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNN) between 1946 and 1964.^[3][4] They were former Royal Navy harbour defence motor launches sold to the RNN in 1946.

Keeten
Class overview
Name	Keeten class
Builders	Frederick Nichol, Durban, South Africa Berthon Boat, Lymington, United Kingdom
Operators	Royal Netherlands Navy
Built	1942–1942
In service	1946–1964
Planned	3
General characteristics [1][2]
Type	Minesweeper
Displacement	46 t (45 long tons) full load
Length	21.95 m (72 ft 0 in)
Beam	4.87 m (16 ft 0 in)
Draught	1.54 m (5 ft 1 in)
Installed power	152 bhp (113 kW) each engine
Propulsion	Twin handed Gardner 8L3 marine diesel engines 2 propellers
Speed	11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Range	2,000 mi (1,700 nmi; 3,200 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)(1,650 gallons)
Crew	12

History

The ships were used as patrol boats in the Dutch East Indies and in this role were equipped with a single 20 mm gun and a single machine gun.^[2] They were known as RP104, RP105 and RP106.

In 1949 the ships were reclassified as shallow-water minesweepers, with their hull numbers changing to MV31, MV32 and MV33 respectfully.

Keeten being unloaded in the Port of Rotterdam after transport

The three ships were decommissioned on 15 August 1951 and put on transport to The Netherlands on 2 September 1951. In February 1953 they were recommissioned as HNLMS Keeten (M881), HNLMS Mastgat (M882) and HNLMS Zijpe (M883).

In January 1956 they left service as minesweepers and entered a refit period to become diving support vessels.^[4] When the entered service as diving support vessels, there hull numbers changed once more to Y8128, Y8129 and Y8130 respectfully.^[3]

Mastgat was and Zijpe were both decommissioned in 1962.^[4] Keeten was the last to be decommissioned in 1964.^[2]

Ships in class

Hull number	Name	Builder	Comm./Recomm.	Decomm.	Fate	Notes	Source
RP104 / MV31 / M881 / Y8128	Jakhals [a]	Frederick Nichol, Durban	20 April 1946	15 August 1951		Ex-HMS HDML 1337	[5]
	Keeten [b]		February 1953	1964
RP105 / MV32 / M882 / Y8129	Panter [c]	Frederick Nichol, Durban	10 July 1946	15 August 1951	Sold to Wijsmuller bv.	Ex-HMS HDML 1400	[6]
	Mastgat [d]		February 1953	20 December 1962
RP106 / MV33 / M883 / Y8130	Hermelijn [e]	The Berthon Boat Company, Lymington	10 July 1946	15 August 1951	Sold to Hoekman bv.	Ex-HMS HDML 1483	[7]
	Zijpe [f]		February 1953	October 1962

1. Jakhals was the unofficial name until 1953.
2. Keeten was the official name from 1953 onwards.
3. Panter was the unofficial name until 1953.
4. Mastgat was the official name from 1953 onwards.
5. Hermelijn was the unofficial name until 1953.
6. Zijpe was the official name from 1953 onwards.