HNLMS Van Galen (F834)

HNLMS Van Galen (F834) (Dutch: Hr.Ms. Van Galen) is a ship of the Karel Doorman class of multi-purpose frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy. Built by the shipyard Koninklijke Schelde Groep in Vlissingen. The ship is named after captain and convoy commander Johan van Galen and served from 1994 to 2008 with the Dutch navy.[2] The radio call sign of the frigate was "PAMG".[3]

History
Netherlands
Name:	HNLMS Van Galen
Namesake:	Johan van Galen
Operator:	Royal Netherlands Navy
Builder:	Koninklijke Maatschappij De Schelde
Laid down:	7 June 1990
Launched:	21 November 1992
Commissioned:	1 December 1994
Decommissioned:	2009
Identification:	Callsign: PAMG
Fate:	sold to Portugal in 2009.
Portugal
Name:	Dom Francisco de Almeida
Namesake:	Francisco de Almeida
Owner:	Portuguese Navy
Acquired:	2009
Identification:	MMSI number: 999120433 Callsign: CTFN
Status:	in active service
General characteristics [1]
Class and type:	Karel Doorman-class frigate (Bartolomeu Dias-Class)
Displacement:	2,800 long tons (2,845 t) standard 3,320 long tons (3,373 t) full load
Length:	122.25 m (401 ft 1 in) oa 114.40 m (375 ft 4 in) pp
Beam:	14.37 m (47 ft 2 in)
Draught:	6.05 m (19 ft 10 in)
Propulsion:	2 × Rolls-Royce Spey 1A gas turbines, 48,256 shp (35,984 kW) total 2 × Stork-Werkspoor diesel engines, 4,225 hp (3.151 MW) each
Speed:	29 kn (54 km/h) (gas turbines) 21 kn (39 km/h; 24 mph) (diesels)
Range:	5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Endurance:	30 days
Complement:	154
Sensors and processing systems:	Thales Nederland LW-08 early warning radar Thales Nederland SMART-S 3-D air-search SeaWatcher 100 active phased array surface detection and tracking radar Thales Gatekeeper Staring Electro-Optic Ship Security System Thales Scout surface search radar 2× Thales STIR-18 fire control radar Decca 1609/9 navigation radar PHS-36 active bow sonar
Electronic warfare & decoys:	Thales Vigile APX Radar Electronic Support Measures
Armament:	1× Oto Melara 76 mm anti-air/anti-surface gun 16-cell Mark 48 Vertical Launch System (VLS) – 16 Sea Sparrow missile 8 × Harpoon anti-ship missiles 1 ×Goalkeeper CIWS (point defence gun) 4× Mk 32 324 mm torpedo tubes, Mark 46 torpedoes
Aircraft carried:	NH90 (2009) or Westland Lynx (pre-2009) for Royal Netherlands Navy and Super Lynx Mk.95 for Portuguese Navy

History

D. Francisco de Almeida moored in London in 2017

HNLMS Van Galen is one of eight Karel Doorman-class frigates and built at the Koninklijke Schelde Groep yard in Vlissingen. The keel laying took place on 7 June 1990 and the launching on 21 November 1992. The ship was put into service on 1 December 1994.[2]

The ship participated in the UNIFIL mission off the coast of Lebanon.[2]

In 2009 HNLMS Van Galen was sold Portugal.[4] The ship was transferred in 2010 to the Portuguese Navy, where the ship was put into service as the NRP Dom Francisco de Almeida (F334).[3][5]

References

1. Baker 1998, pp. 531–533.
2. "Karel Doormanklasse fregatten (M-fregatten)". www.marineschepen.nl. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
3. "Van Galen (F834)". www.navyinside.nl. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
4. "F 834 - HNLMS Van Galen". www.seaforces.org. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
5. "Van Galen F 834". www.onzevloot.weebly.com. Retrieved 28 May 2018.

Bibliography

• Joris Janssen Lok, 'The Netherlands: Dutch M frigates are ready for action,' Jane's Defence Weekly/Jane's Information Group, 14 October 1995
• "Multipurposefregat (M-fregat)" (in Dutch). Dutch Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on March 6, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
• Pasterkamp, Riekelt (July 4, 2001). "Op zee met M-fregat Hr. Ms. Karel Doorman" (in Dutch). Digibron.nl. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
• W.H.E., van Amstel (1991). De schepen van de Koninklijke Marine vanaf 1945. Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN 978-9060139974.