Dutch amphibious Assault Ship Johan de Witt Docks in Bilbao
Bilbao, Spain – The Royal Dutch Navy’s amphibious assault ship, HNLMS Johan de Witt (L801), arrived at the Queen Victoria de Santurtzi dock in Bilbao at 9:10 AM this Monday, September 29th, for a four-day visit concluding October 2nd. The ship is currently serving as the flagship of NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1). Public tours of the vessel are not scheduled.
The 177-meter long Johan de Witt, with a 30-meter beam and a maximum displacement of 16,800 tons, is a Rotterdam-class assault ship designed for amphibious operations, humanitarian aid, and command & control functions. It boasts a crew of approximately 146, with the capacity to embark up to 555 marines.
The ship features 2,675 square meters of space for boats and landing vehicles, alongside a 600-square-meter flight deck and hangar capable of operating six medium-sized helicopters (NH-90, LYNX, or King) or four heavy-lift helicopters (CH-47 Chinook, EH-101 Merlin). its defensive systems include 30mm Goalkeeper cannons and 20mm cannons.
The Johan de Witt is equipped to carry a medical reinforcement team and a General Staff, making it comparable to the Spanish Navy’s Castilla and Galicia Landing Platform Dock ships.
Prior to its arrival in Bilbao, the vessel participated in NATO maneuvers in Portugal, specifically in Troia and Sesimbra, between September 15th and September 26th. SNMG1, comprised of ships from the Netherlands and Germany with the potential for additions, is one of NATO’s four permanent naval reaction forces currently deployed in the Baltic Sea.
