Beemster-class minesweeper


The Beemster class was a class of fourteen minesweepers that were built at different shipyards in the United States for the Royal Netherlands Navy. The minesweepers were based on the AMS-60 design and paid for by the United States under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program. The minesweepers served in the RNLN between 1953 and 1976.

Design and construction

The fourteen Beemster-class minesweepers were ordered in 1951 in the United States. They were based on the AMS-60 design. The first ships were taken into service of the Royal Netherlands Navy in 1953 and the last in 1954.
As built the ships were equipped with a W Mk 3 mod 1 mechanical sweep and either a A X Mk 6B or A X Mk 4V acoustic sweeper. Furthermore, it had a double machine gun of 20 mm. Later, in the 1960s and 1970s, the ships got equipped with a MB 5 magnetic sweeper.

Ships in class

The ships were named after the smaller Dutch municipalities that started with the letter B.
ShipPennant No.Laid downLaunchedCommissionedDecommissioned
M84530 November 195124 September 195217 July 195314 August 1974
M8468 October 19515 November 19525 November 195318 September 1972
M84714 December 195129 October 195228 August 19531 July 1976
M84829 October 195114 February 195326 April 195413 August 1975
M84929 December 195126 November 195220 October 195314 August 1974
M85029 January 19527 January 19533 December 195313 August 1975
M85129 February 195231 December 195223 February 195414 August 1976
M85229 February 195212 March 195315 February 195418 September 1972
M85329 September 195231 October 195326 May 19541 July 1976
M85411 December 195217 October 195329 December 195413 August 1975
M85529 April 195211 April 195321 April 19541 July 1976
M85629 February 195231 December 195221 January 195418 September 1972
M8571 May 195212 September 195328 July 19541 July 1976
M8587 May 195219 April 19543 November 19542 July 1973