HNLMS Johan de Witt (Zr.Ms. Johan de Witt) is the second Landing Platform Dock (LPD) amphibious warfare ship of the Royal Netherlands Navy. It is an improved design of Rotterdam, which was designed in conjunction between the Netherlands and Spain. With the required capabilities the ship is also well suited for secondary missions such as military sealift or disaster relief. HNLMS Johan de Witt will have a larger vehicle transport capacity than HNLMS Rotterdam, which has demonstrated full functionality for dock and helicopter operations in all weather conditions. The ship, displacing 16,800 tons, was launched in February 2007. The motto of the ship is Ago Quod Ago, translated as I do what I do.
The ship is equipped with a large helicopter deck for helicopter operations and a dock for large landing craft. It can carry six NH 90 helicopters or four Chinook helicopters. It has a well dock for two landing craft utility and it carries four davit-launched LCVPs. The dock is wide enough to support two LCAC, but to allow for this, the centre barrier, that splits the dockwell in two, must be removed. The vessel has an extra deck with rooms for command staff to support a battalion size operation. The ship has a complete Role II hospital, including an operation theatre and intensive care facilities. A surgical team can be stationed on board. The ship also has a desalination system enabling it to convert seawater into drinking water. It is equipped with pod propulsion enabling the ship to use dynamic positioning while sea basing.
The sensor suite consists of a Thales Netherlands Variant 2D Air and Surface surveillance radar, the Thales Scout Low Probability of Intercept Surface surveillance and tactical navigation radar and the Thales GateKeeper Electro-Optical warning system. When participating in high-risk operations Johan de Witt needs additional protection from frigates or destroyers. For protection against incoming anti-ship missiles or hostile aircraft and swarm attacks the ship has two Goalkeeper CIWS systems and 4-6 manual operated .50 Browning or FN Mag machine guns. Goalkeeper’s Gatling-principle 30mm gun provides a maximum firing rate of 4,200 rounds a minute with a range of 1,500m. To support the Goalkeeper CIWS, a Thales Nederland IRSCAN infrared search and track system is fitted. IRSCAN can detect and track targets to a maximum range of 20km. Four Oerlikon 20mm guns are located on the bridge deck. Rotterdam has the capacity to carry up to 36 torpedoes in the magazine area.
