Friesland

Despite the heavy losses sustained by the Dutch Navy during World War II and colonial revolts in the East Indies, the process of designing new ships started immediately after the war. Wartime experience showed the Dutch experts that submarines would become one of the main strike forces in future conflicts. For this reason, project Onderzeebootjager 1949—which subsequently became the Friesland class—incorporated improved anti-submarine armament and AA defenses, as well as a powerful propulsion system. During the period from 1951 to 1958, eight ships of this class were built, and Friesland was the lead ship.