Rotterdam-class amphibious transport dock

The Rotterdam class is a Landing Platform Dock (LPD) amphibious warfare ship of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The class was the result of a joint project between the Netherlands and Spain, which resulted in the Enforcer design. The ships are equipped with a large helicopter deck for helicopter operations and a dock for large landing craft. The ships have a complete Class II hospital, including an operating theater 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.

The lead ship is HNLMS Rotterdam (L800). It displaces 12,750 tons and was launched in 1997.

The second ship of the class, HNLMS Johan de Witt (L801), displacing 16,800 tons, was launched in February 2007. Johan de Witt is equipped with pod propulsion, as well as command and control facilities.

History
In October 2012, while serving as the flagship for Operation Ocean Shield, Rotterdam sank a suspected Somali pirate ship off the east coast of Africa. Rotterdam came under sustained attack from shore based weapons while rescuing the crew of the sunken ship and sustained damage to one of its small boats.