Zwaardvis (2) in the North Sea.
For additional photos and information please check the 'related pages list' at the bottom of this page.
1965
24 Dec 1965: Zwaardvis (2) is ordered.
1966
14 July 1966: Zwaardvis (2) is laid down at the R.D.M. shipyard in Rotterdam.
1970
2 July 1970: Zwaardvis (2) is launched.
1972
18 Aug 1972: Zwaardvis (2) is commissioned to the Royal Netherlands Navy.
18 Aug - 11 Oct 1972: Zwaardvis (2) is under the command of .
11 Oct 1972 - 3 Sep 1973: Zwaardvis (2) is under the command of .
1974
1 July 1974 - 4 June 1976: Zwaardvis (2) is under the command of .
1976
4 Nov 1976 - 29 July 1977: Zwaardvis (2) is under the command of .
1977
29 July 1977 - 14 Apr 1978: Zwaardvis (2) is under the command of .
Aug or Sep 1977: Zwaardvis (2) participates in a life torpedo firing exercise off the UK, other participating ships are: Dutch submarine Dolfijn (3) , Dutch submarine tender Mercuur (3) and the Canadian submarine Onondaga.
1978
14 Apr - 1 Nov 1978: Zwaardvis (2) is under the command of .
2 July - 21 July 1978: The Zwaardvis (2), Zeehond (3), Potvis and Dolfijn (3) conduct a firing exercise.
1979
24 Apr 1979 - 29 Apr 1981: Zwaardvis (2) is under the command of Ltz. I .
1982
Feb 1982 - 23 Jan 1984: Zwaardvis (2) is under the command of Esq. .
1984
23 Jan - 5 June 1984: Zwaardvis (2) is under the command of .
Nov 1984 - 9 Nov 1984 or Mar 1985: Zwaardvis (2) is under the command of .
1985
Early 1985 or late 1984: At the end of the docking period the Zwaardvis (2) an accident, involving the torpedo crane, took place.
Originally the crane was intended to be used to retrieve exercise torpedo's, but it was never used. Near the end of the docking period it was decided the crane had to be load tested with a special 2 ton test-weight. The weight had to be taken over by the torpedo crane, transported to the bow torpedo room, moved out of the torpedo room, taken over by the crane, swung over board, swung back and taken over by the yard crane again. A crew member was unable to install a securing pin for the vertical part of the crane, but the skipper decided it would not be necessary to install the pin because the crane would not swing that far outboard. But in fact the crane did swing that far and slipped from its mounting. The test-weight hit the hull and the steel cable 'launched' Lauren Slaats into the water. The submariner had a bruised ankle and signs of hypothermia and was transported to a hospital in Overveen where he had to stay for a week.
1 Mar 1985: Zwaardvis (2) visits Norway, port unknown.
8 Nov 1985: Zwaardvis (2) visits Norway, port unknown.
9 Nov 1984 or Mar 1985 - 15 Nov 1986: Zwaardvis (2) is under the command of Ltz. I Esq. .
Zwaardvis (2) visits Norway for torpedo drills, exit en re-entry and a NATO exercise in the Northern Atlantic.
1986
Before Nov 1986: Zwaardvis (2) visits Leith, Edinburgh Scotland.
Apr or May 1986: Zwaardvis (2) visits Toulon, France.
May / June 1986: Zwaardvis (2) participates in exercise "Fairwind 86" near Crete, Mediterranean Sea.
Autumn 1986: , the Commander Submarine Service, is wounded while being hoisted (by chopper) off the sail of Zwaardvis (2). Read the special for more information.
For Zwaardvis (2) 1986 pictures check out the 1986 photo special .
1987
May 1987: Zwaardvis (2) visits Cartagena, Spain.
2 June 1987 - 28 Nov 1988: Zwaardvis (2) is under the command of Ltz. I .
2nd half 1987: Zwaardvis (2) visits Inverary, Scotland.
Nov 1987: Zwaardvis (2) visits Alicante, Spain.
Nov 1987: H.R.H. Prince Claus visits the Zwaardvis (2)
2nd half 1987: Zwaardvis (2) participates in an exercise in the Strait of Gibraltar.
For Zwaardvis (2) 1987 pictures check out the 1987 photo special.
1988
Oct 1988: Zwaardvis (2) visits Gibraltar after a Mediterranean patrol.
Before Nov 1988: Zwaardvis (2) visits Rothesay (Scotland).
For Zwaardvis (2) 1987 pictures check out the 1988 photo special.
1989
13 Feb - 12 Sep 1989: Zwaardvis (2) is under the command of .
March 1989: Zwaardvis (2) participates in NATO exercise 'North Star'.
Norman Polmar writes in "Naval Forces" 5/89: ". . . .during NATO exercise "North Star" in March '89 the Dutch Submarine "Zwaardvis" was the only orange (enemy) submarine to successfully stalk and sink a blue (allied) aircraft carrier although orange SSN (=nuclear drive subs) were participating . . . ."
While Zwaardvis (2) is operating in the Vestfjord the Dutch vessels Kortenaer and Heemskerck receive transmitions, on the international emergency frequency, from the forward indicator/emergency buoy of Zwaardvis (2). Only a little time later the HMS London, Beaver, Odin, and Hr. Ms. Poolster report the same. These vessels are all more then 300 nm away from Zwaardvis (2) possible position.
A 'comcheck' procedure is started, but the submarine does not respond. At 13:30 hrs the 'sublook' procedure is started. A Norwegian search force is directed to the Vestfjord area and rescuing equipment is prepared. At 16:00 hrs the Dutch Navy starts to inform the next of kin of the Dutch submariners.
At 16:30 the Zwaardvis (2) surfaces and reports she has lost her forward indicator/emergency buoy.The submarine is directed to Bodo (Norway) where a new buoy will be installed.
28 May 1989: Zwaardvis (2) visits Barcelona (Spain) for approximately 10 days. Exact date of arrival/departure unknown.
For Zwaardvis (2) 1989/1990 pictures check out the photo specials.
1989-1990
89-1990: Zwaardvis (2) receives a midlife conversion.
1991
28 Feb 1991 - 12 July 1993: Zwaardvis (2) is under the command of .
10 - 13 May: Zwaardvis (2) visits Norway, port unknown.
7 - 10 June 1991: Zwaardvis (2) visits Faslane (Scotland).
14 - 18 June 1991: Zwaardvis (2) visits Faslane (Scotland).
1992
Sep 1992: During Submarine Rescue exercise Sorbet Royal 1992, off Spain, the DSRV-2 Avalon docks with the Zwaardvis (2).
From All Hands magazine of Dec 1992: "We rendezvoused with the Dutch submarine Zwaardvis [S 806] at about 400 feet," explained Sonar Technician (SS/DV) 1st Class Todd A. Litke. "Conditions weren't very favourable. Visibility was poor, the sub was listing 3 degrees, with a strong current. When we saw the submarine's lights, we were able to position ourselves over the hatch and accomplish the mate."
Read the article for more information on a similar exercise.
1993
21 - 24 May 1993: Zwaardvis (2) visits Faslane (Scotland).
31 May - 1 June 1993: Zwaardvis (2) visits Faslane (Scotland).
2 - 3 June 1993: Zwaardvis (2) visits Faslane (Scotland).
12 July 1993 - 13 July 1994: Zwaardvis (2) is under the command of .
1994
12 Sep 1994: While on a mission in the Adriatic (probably spying on the FRY) a serious accident happens on board the Zwaardvis (2). After a malfunctioning of the exhaust system the crew members have so called 'CO poisoning' Four crew members are evacuated to a hospital in Taranto (Italy) for observation. The submarine sails to Brindisi where the malfunction is investigated.G.E. Coleman was on board during the incident. He writes: "I was a Petty Officer First Class at the time, assigned to Rota, Spain. I was on board Zwaardvis to provide some support for the area we were operating in. My duties were pretty much as an advisor to the commanding officer. . . . . . . .My understanding of what happened was that sea water got into the exhaust line, blocking it. We then took on a large amount of CO and diesel particulates. Because there was no centralized air monitoring system on the boat, we were unaware of the problem for quite some time. . . . . We were operating in a spot where it was unsafe to come to the surface immediately, so we had to clear the area before we could take the express elevator to the penthouse. It took some time, and to complicate things, we were first directed to an area which was filled with fishing vessels. . . . . .Once we finally surfaced, we all had to evacuate the boat, and stay topside for several hours. Thankfully, the weather was favourable, so things weren't too bad. Four of the crew were medivac'd to a hospital. And we headed into port, arriving the next morning. . . . . .The evacuated crewmembers returned to the ship the same day we pulled in. They were fully recovered. The smoking lamp was out for the rest of the ship, much to the consternation of the crew. . . . .Despite that incident, I still rate my three deployments on Dutch submarines (Tijgerhaai, Zwaardvis, Walrus) as my favourite trips. Dutch submariners are extremely professional, and the hospitality shown me was tremendous. . . . .":
Check out the Zwaardvis (2) CO poisoning picture special for related images.
8 Oct 1994: Jane's Defence Weekly: The Royal Netherlands Navy has announced that it is to decommission the Hr.Ms. Zwaardvis submarine after negotiations with Indonesia to transfer the vessel stalled. The second Zwaardvis class SSK Hr.Ms. Tijgerhaai will also be decommissioned in 1995 if no customer is found.
Date unknown: Zwaardvis (2) is decommissioned.
1995
- 1995: Jane's Defence Weekly 8 Apr 1995: The Netherlands seeks buyers for two diesel-electric submarines: the Hr.Ms. Zwaardvis (2) and Tijgerhaai (2).
1996
96: Jane's Defence Weekly 8 Apr 1996: The Dutch Ministry of Defence has sold its two decommissioned class submarines to Rotterdam-based RDM. Previously, the Netherlands had tried to sell them as is for $55 million each.
July 1996: The Dutch RDM shipyard is negotiating the sale of two retired Dutch Navy submarines and a newly built submarine to Indonesia ().
1997
The Zwaardvis (2) is still for sale at the R.D.M. shipyard in Rotterdam.
| R.D.M.
shipyard. From top to bottom.
Zwaardvis (2), Zeeleeuw (2),
Tijgerhaai (2) and
Zeehond (3). Zwaardvis (2) and Tijgerhaai (2) are for sale. |
 |
1998
8 July 1998: Jane's Defence Weekly: 8 July 1998: Egypt is negotiating a US Foreign Military Funding package to cover the purchase, refit and modernization of two former Royal Netherlands Navy submarines. The deal is understood to include a follow-on option for two new boats ().
1999
March 1999: USNI Mar 1999: The July 1998 proposal by Netherlands submarine builder RDM to sell its two retired Dutch Navy submarines to Egypt after modernization at Ingalls Shipbuilding in the United States has not been brought to fruition ().
June 1999: RDM still has the two decommissioned Dutch submarines for sale. The Zwaardvis (2) and the Tijgerhaai (2), both of the T. Kiewik stated that these submarines are ideal for a Navy that wants to start-up their own submarine service ().
Aug 1999: In a message from the US Navy to the Egyptian Navy the US congratulates the Egyptians with their new R.D.M., Ingalls submarines deal. This refers probably to the R.D.M. submarine design (probably two type 1400). It is unclear whether Egypt will buy the Moray including A.I.P. (probably not). It is also unclear whether Egypt will buy two retired Dutch Navy submarines ().
Sep 1999: According to several emails the news reported in Aug 1999 about a
possible Moray deal between R.D.M. Submarines, Lockheed
Martin Undersea Systems (USA), shipyard Litton Ingals (USA)
and the Egyptian Navy does not includes any newly built
submarines. The deal
probably includes only the two decommissioned (and bought by RDM)
ex-Dutch Navy
submarines. These subs will probably be refitted at the US Ingalls
shipyard. ().
But at the same time other sources report the 'RDM / Egypt' deal does
indeed include the new Moray design. Possibly the 2nd hand Zwaardvis
(2)-class subs are thrown in (and refitted) for 'free'. All this so RDM
can sell its first Moray.
2000
| Zwaardvis (2) or Tijgerhaai (2) at the RDM yard, July 2000 (Photo: © Collection F. Haagmans) |
 |
Apr 2000: It is reported that According to the newest rumours the submarine deal between the Dutch is off. But it is also reported (rumours) that there are negotiations between about the sale of the two decommissioned (and bought by RDM) ex-Dutch Navy submarines. The Malaysian Navy would use one, or both, of these subs as training boats.
Aug 31 2000: It is reported that the submarine deal is not off. Talks are still going
18 Oct 2000: JDW reports that Malaysia is negotiating a five-year lease contract with RDM Submarines of the Netherlands for the transfer of two ex-Royal Netherlands Navy submarines, Zwaardvis (2) and Tijgerhaai (2).
20 Oct 2000: Today the Smit Explorer (a heavy dock vessel) with on board two ex-Royal Netherlands Navy Zwaardvis-class submarines, Zwaardvis (2) and Tijgerhaai (2) will depart for Malaysia. The deal between RDM Submarines and the Malaysian government is not yet closed 100%, but since the subs are already shipped to Malaysia RDM Submarines must be very confident the deal will be closed soon.
24 Nov 2000: The heavy-dock vessel Smit-Explorer with on board the two Zwaardvis(2)-class submarines is expected to arrive in Lumut (Malaysia) on Dec 14th. The submarines will be refitted, with RDM assistance, at the PSC-Naval Dockyard Sdn Bhd in Lumut. After the refit they will be offered to the Malaysian Navy as lease/training boats.
14 Dec 2000: The heavy-dock vessel Smit-Explorer with on board the two Zwaardvis(2)-class submarines is expected to arrive in Lumut (Malaysia) today.
Check out the Subs shipped to Malaysia page for photos of this transport.
2001
22 Apr 2001: The Star reports that one of the submarines is expected to be "towed'' to Langkawi for the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) which will be held from 9th - 14th October 2001 in the resort island of Langkawi, Malaysia. .
20 Sep 2001: The Apr. 22 that one of the ex-Dutch Navy Swordfish submarines is expected to be "towed'' to Langkawi for the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) can not be confirmed anymore. According to the latest news none of the Swordfish submarines will be present at this exhibition.
22 Apr 2001: It is reported that: "there will be some important Dutch
submarine news during or just before/after the Langkawi International Maritime
and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA). The exhibition is held 9th - 14th October
2001."
This news will probably have to do with the two ex-Dutch Navy subs that are to
be leased to Malaysia or with the possible sale of new subs to Malaysia.
.
20 Sep 2001: The Apr. 22 report that one of the ex-Dutch Navy Swordfish submarines is expected to be "towed'' to Langkawi for the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) can not be confirmed anymore. According to the latest news none of the Swordfish submarines will be present at this exhibition.
24 Oct 2001: The Malaysian Minister of defence stated that the Malaysian government will acquire two second hand submarines and two new ones. He also stated that the two ex-Dutch submarines off the Zwaardvis class will not be part of the . Some other bad news is that the might be off as well.
20 Nov 2001: The Malaysian government is finalizing negotiations to buy four submarines and is expected to award a contract next month. Talks are continuing with at least three companies that have tendered for contracts to supply the submarines, a government official said, adding that "contracts will be awarded next month..... probably for two submarines first, and two more sometime next year." Among the bidders are France's DCN International, the Netherlands' RDM Submarines, and the German-Turkish Submarine Corp led by Germany's Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft (HDW) and Ferrostaal.
21 Nov 2001: Janes Defence Weekly reports that France is close to securing a contract to supply submarines to Malaysia. . . . .Their source (a report in the Paris Busuniss Daily of Nov 5) follows an announcement last month by Abdul Razak that Malaysia would no longer be considering a proposal by the Netherlands-based RDM shipyard to supply two used Zwaardvis-class, the Zwaardvis and the Tijgerhaai, and two new build SSKs to the RMN. .
2003
There are rumours that Indonesia is negotiating a submarine deal with the Dutch company RDM-Submarines. The deal is aid to include Zwaardvis as well as Moray class designs .
2004
12 May 2004: There is a rumour that the Australian Solosub company is interested in a decommissioned Dutch Zwaardvis (2) class submarine. Rumour has it that the price is 40,000,000 $US per sub. Solosub company wants to use the sub to circumnavigate the globe with only 1 person on board ! More info on this strange (to say the least) venture at the Solosub website.
2005
13 Apr 2005: The Dutch Ministry Of Defence has given the business man Joep van den Nieuwenhuyzen till April 24 to come up with a plan to scrap the two ex-Royal Netherlands Navy submarines, Zwaardvis (2) and Tijgerhaai (2). If he does not come up with a plan the MOD will go to court.
The MOD has urged the the business man to scrap the subs because the subs are still not sold and the bills of the Malaysian port authorities and increasing. The MOD want to prevent that the yard will confiscate the submarines or that the vessels are scrapped by using child labour. The MOD also wants to prevent vital parts like torpedo tubes and radar from getting in the wrong hands.
Originally this plan has to be ready before January 1st. But Van den Nieuwenhuyzen magaged to get the dat posponed again. But now the MOD is fed up and wants a plan according to the agreements in the contract.
Joep van den Nieuwenhuyzen stated that he has 3 potential buyers for the submarines and that he will pay the yard as soon as the subs are sold. .
5 Aug 2005: The Dutch Ministry of Defence will take RDM to court on Monday in order to force him to srap the two ex-Royal Netherlands Navy submarines, or get then back to the Netherlands.
The subs are already in a Malaysian port. The MOD is afraid the boats might get confiscated because Van den Nieuwenhuyzen has not payed his bills. This could result in the subs, and or parts of it, getting in the wrong hands.
With the court case the Dutch MOD will try to force Van den Nieuwenhuyzen to start scrapping the subs before September, or to get them back to the Netherlands. .
| Zwaardvis(2) related pages |
| Zwaardvis (2) boat history |
| Various Zwaardvis (2) photo pages |
| Zwaardvis (2) CO poisoning |
| Subs shipped to Malaysia |
| Zwaardvis(2) related books |
