next with Hr Ms Limburg
Photo impression of the trips in 1967. In that time I made pictures with a very simple camera and shot colour movies with a double eight camera. The projectors for that kind of film do no longer exist so it's a pity I cant see them again. The pictures are made by myself (©), however, if you like to have them for your collection only, I can send them to you by e-mail . My e-mail address is at the introduction page.












                                                                                                        squadron 5                                              RSQ station                                             hunter pack

The first series are from the destroyer squadron heading for Toulon. A mail transfer was going on delivered by one of the helicopter of the Doorman and after that transferred by seamax to other destroyers. At two pictures you can see one of the new Dutch frigates from that time the Hr Ms van Speijk F802 that was the first new frigate of the van Speijk class. After her the other frigates came into service like the : Hr Ms Van Galen F803 - Hr Ms Tjerk Hiddes F804 - Hr Ms Van Nes F805 - Hr Ms Isaac Sweers F814 and Hr Ms Evertsen F815.













The armament of the B-class destroyers consist of: 2 launch platforms (each 4 charges) for rocket depth charge - two 12 cm double barrel turrets - four 40 mm guns (2 extra positions spare) - launch platform for window rocket - depth charge installation aft.
Propulsion consist of: 2 engine rooms - 2 boiler rooms each 2 boilers - 2 propellers. Detecting system : 1 air warning radar - 1 target radar - 1 navigation radar - 2 artillery radar - 1 sonar - antenna's for electronic warfare. The A-class destroyers (build earlier) had about the same equipment. Easily a 30 knots were made and if necessary more. The typical classic construction of the ship made her move some times in a sick making movement that was felt when you lived aft of the ship. When she heeled over she was coming back very quickly and behaved like a dancing lady in bad weather.
















Hr Ms Limburg as host.
The Dutch submarines were often in the same harbours like the the destroyers and other vessels. During a long stay their crew took a nearby hotel. For a short stay they could moor along side one of the surface vessels that acted as host for the submarine. The picture at the left is of a submarine alongside the Hr Ms Limburg. I cant remember the name of that submarine. Always a good opportunity to have a visit aboard a submarine and to see how they live and work. An officer told me that the navy was looking for more people at submarine service and if I was interested in submarines, he could.......! I told him quickly, that it was not my kind of thing! A few years later the navy was asking me again for the submarine service which I politely refused.










    Replenishment at sea (RAS)
Fuel, food, ammunition etc. and of course BEER was at sea delivered by Hr Ms Poolster (A835 - PAOL) the only Dutch auxiliary in that time. During NATO exercises RAS was done from different auxiliary vessels like the British Tidepool or the Canadian Provider. The pictures left and below show a RAS with Hr Ms Poolster with a destroyer at both sides of her. During the RAS course and speed was determined by the auxiliary vessel, the receiving vessels had to adjust. Very often (in small steps) course was changed. First line contact was done by shooting over a line with a riffle, after a warning to keep your head away. RAS in height of the Spanish waters was always a tricky business in view of the many Spanish and Portuguese fisherman that in spite of all signals and warnings ignored the event. In the ops-room we were very alert for them. On the Hr Ms Limburg it happened once that during a RAS a fisherman was not going to avoid us and gave no reaction to our calls and signals. At the last 10 minutes or so we had to abandon the RAS very quickly to avoid collision with her and got a small oil spill. As she passed us very close we saw no one on her deck or the bridge. The heraldic above is from the Hr Ms Poolster in which the device says: Fiat Voluntas.













     The incident at Gibraltar.
Half way 1968 I was still on board of Hr Ms Limburg as we headed for Gibraltar with squadron 5 for replenishment. To our surprise we saw two Spanish frigates nearby the entrance of Gibraltar harbour at anchor, just inside Spanish waters. Once in the harbour we saw to our amazement Dutch flags from houses at their balconies and in gardens. What a nice gesture we thought but we came here very often and they knew our navy very well. Soon we found out what was going on in Gibraltar. A referendum was held to give answer to the question if Gibraltar should be Spanish or remain British. That was a few weeks before we arrived. Franco had put an ultimatum to the negotiations and guess what.....? Yes, the deadline was today! We were advised not to participate in the political discussions at street or in bars for the emotions were rising high. We passed the two Spanish frigates with 1 carrier, 1 cruiser, 1 auxiliary, 5 destroyers, two frigates and two submarines. So we understood the relief and the Dutch flags at Gibraltar. Spain had closed the border with Gibraltar and all over the place you could see signs and stickers that reads: Keep the rock British. Hypocritical Dutch politicians came alive in the parliament with questions like why our navy had to be there just that day en so on. The minister of Defence and our navy declared that this replenishment in Gibraltar was long time ago arranged and that we came here very often for that reason. The result of the referendum was: for British territory 12,138 - against 44. A few Dutch navy sailors were testing the tension and emotions by trying to gross the closed border by night and were arrested by the Spanish police. In my personal view I guess that the British and Dutch navy had a good laugh about the whole thing and that in due time the problem on Gibraltar will be solved in a good and peaceful way.

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