View source for K-class sloop

{|{{Infobox ship begin |sclass=2}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[Image:Hr. Ms. Van Speijk (F805).jpg|250px|HNLMS ''Van Speijk'' (K3/F805), source: [[Royal Netherlands Navy|Koninklijke Marine]]]]
|Ship caption={{HNLMS|Van Speijk|K3}} after World War II
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Name=K class
|Builders=*P. Smit Jr, Rotterdam (2)
*[[Gusto Shipyard]], Schiedam (1) 
|Operators=*{{navy|Netherlands}}
*{{navy|Nazi Germany|name=''Kriegsmarine''}}
|Class before= 
|Class after=
|Subclasses=
|Cost=
|Built range=1939–1941
|In service range=
|In commission range=
|Total ships building=
|Total ships planned=7
|Total ships completed=3
|Total ships cancelled=
|Total ships active=
|Total ships laid up=
|Total ships lost=2
|Total ships retired=1
|Total ships preserved=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=
|Ship type=[[Sloop-of-war|Sloop]]
|Ship displacement=*'''As designed''':
*1,267&nbsp;tons
*1470&nbsp;tons (full load)
*'''As completed''':
*1,200&nbsp;tons
*1420&nbsp;tons (full load)
|Ship length= {{convert|77.9|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} 
|Ship beam={{convert|10.3|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} 
|Ship draught={{convert|3.4|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} 
|Ship power=
|Ship propulsion=*'''As designed''':
*{{convert|3500|ihp|abbr=on}}, two shafts
*'''As completed''':
*{{convert|2770|ihp|abbr=on}}, two shafts (K1)
*{{convert|3500|ihp|abbr=on}}, two shafts (K2 and K3)
|Ship speed=*'''As designed''':
*{{convert|19|kn|km/h}}
*'''As completed''':
*{{convert|14.5|kn|km/h}} (K1 and K2)
*{{convert|18|kn|km/h}} (K3)
|Ship range= 
|Ship endurance=
|Ship boats=
|Ship capacity=
|Ship troops=
|Ship complement=*'''As designed''':
*99
*'''As completed''':
*161-184
|Ship crew=
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*'''As designed''':
*4 × {{convert|12|cm|in|abbr=on}} (2 × 2)
*4 × {{convert|4|cm|in|abbr=on}} (2 × 2)
*4 × .50 MG
*'''As completed''':
*4 × {{convert|12|cm|in|abbr=on}} (2 × 2)
*4 × {{convert|3.7|cm|in|abbr=on}} (2 × 2)
*12 × {{convert|2|cm|in|abbr=on}} (2x4 and 2x2)
|Ship armour=*{{convert|2|cm|in|abbr=on}} to {{convert|3.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} deck
*{{convert|3.7|cm|in}} to {{convert|6|cm|in}} Belt
*{{convert|6|cm|in}}Turrets
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

The '''K class''' was a class of three [[Sloop-of-war|sloop]]s designed in the late 1930s to replace the aging {{sclass|Brinio|gunboat}}s of the [[Royal Netherlands Navy]]. Originally seven ships were planned of which three ships were laid down and two more ordered (which were canceled after the German invasion). Still incomplete at the start of the [[Battle of the Netherlands|German invasion of the Netherlands]] and not yet launched, the ships were found undamaged by the German forces. The [[Kriegsmarine]] ordered the completion of ''K1'', ''K2'' and ''K3'', then commissioned them for service in Norwegian and German home waters. After the war only ''K3'' entered Dutch service as the [[HNLMS Van Speijk (K3)|''Van Speijk'']].

==Construction==
''K1'' and ''K3'' were laid down at the P. Smit Jr, Rotterdam shipyard in 1939. ''K2'' was laid down at Gusto N.V., Schiedam shipyard also in 1939. Still incomplete at the start of the German invasion of the Netherlands and not yet launched, the ships were found undamaged by the German forces and the Kriegsmarine ordered the completion of ''K1'', ''K2'' and ''K3''. ''K1'' was launched on 23 November 1940. Both ''K2'' and ''K3'' were launched in 1941 on 28 June and 22 March. The ships were commissioned in 1941 and 1942.

==Service history==
The ships saw service in Norwegian and German home waters. ''K1'' sank near [[Aarhus]] on 5 May 1945. ''K2'' was found in [[Horten]] in 1945 and towed back to the [[Delfzijl]] where she sank by accident in November of that year. The ship was raised the next year on 26 July and towed to [[Den Helder]] where she was sold for scrap in October 1947 after inspection. After the war only ''K3'' entered Dutch service as the [[HNLMS Van Speijk (K3)|''Van Speijk'']] after she was repaired at the Rijkswerf at Amsterdam. The ship was sold for scrap 29 August 1960.

==Ships==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%;"
|-
! Name
! width="20%" | Builder
! Laid down
! Launched
! Completed
! width="33%" | Fate
|-
| ''K1''
| [[P. Smit Jr.]], [[Rotterdam]]
| 2 August 1939
| 23 November 1940
| 2 October 1941
| Captured by the [[Nazi Germany|Germans]] in May 1940. Sunk on 5 May 1945 by the [[Royal Air Force]]
|-
| ''K2''
| [[Gusto Shipyard]], [[Schiedam]]
| 1939
| 28 June 1941
| 14 November 1942
| Captured by the [[Nazi Germany|Germans]] in May 1940. Heavily damaged by an aerial torpedo 9 October 1944, towed back to port. Sold for scrap October 1947.
|-
| [[HNLMS Van Speijk (K3)|''K3'']]
| [[P. Smit Jr.]], [[Rotterdam]]
| 23 June 1939
| 22 March 1941
| 2 February 1942
| Captured by the [[Nazi Germany|Germans]] in May 1940. Found after the war and returned to the Royal Netherlands Navy on 18 July 1946. Sold for scrap 29 August 1960
|-
| ''K4''
| [[P. Smit Jr.]], [[Rotterdam]]
| -
| -
| -
| Cancelled by the [[Royal Netherlands Navy]] when [[Battle of the Netherlands|Germany invaded the Netherlands]] in May 1940.
|-
| ''K5''
| [[P. Smit Jr.]], [[Rotterdam]]
| -
| -
| -
| Cancelled by the [[Royal Netherlands Navy]] when [[Battle of the Netherlands|Germany invaded the Netherlands]] in May 1940.
|}

==References==
*{{cite book |editor-last1=Gardiner |editor-first1=Robert |editor-last2=Chesneau |editor-first2=Roger |date=1980 |title= Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946 |location=London |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |isbn=0-85177-146-7}}
*{{cite book |last=Lenton |first=H.T. |date=1968 |title=Royal Netherlands Navy |location=London |publisher=Macdonald & Co. |series=Navies of the Second World War |isbn=}}
*{{cite book |last=Mark |first=Chris |date=1997 |title=Schepen van de Koninklijke Marine in W.O. II |language=Dutch|edition= |url= |location=Alkmaar |publisher=De Alk |page= |isbn=90-6013-522-9}}
*{{cite book |last=van Willigenburg |first=Henk |date=2010 |title=Dutch Warships of World War II |location=Emmen |publisher=Lanasta |isbn=978-90-8616-318-2}}
*{{cite book |last=von Münching |first=L.L. |date=1978 |title=Schepen van de Koninklijke Marine in de Tweede Wereldoorlog |language=Dutch|edition= |url= |location=Alkmaar |publisher=De Alk |page= |isbn=90-6013-903-8}}

==External links==
*[http://www.netherlandsnavy.nl/Kclass.htm Description of class]

{{WWII Dutch ships}}

[[Category:Sloops of the Royal Netherlands Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:World War II naval ships of Germany]]