Name Potvis Commissioned 2 November 1965 Fate Broken up 1994 Launched 12 January 1965 Draft 5 m | Laid down 17 September 1962 Decommissioned 18 June 1992 Construction started 17 September 1962 Length 78 m | |
Builders Wilton-Fijenoord, Schiedam | ||
Potvis (Dutch: Sperm whale) was a Potvis class (modified Dolfijn-class submarine) of the Royal Netherlands Navy.
Ship history
The submarine was laid down on 17 September 1962 at the Wilton-Fijenoord shipyard in Schiedam and launched on 12 January 1965. 2 November 1965 she was commissioned in the Dutch navy.
In January 1968 Potvis and Dolfijn left the port of Den Helder for a war simulation in the northern Atlantic Ocean that would last 5 weeks. The boat was overhauled in 1970 at the Wilton-Fijenoord shipyard. From October until November 1976 Potvis and the tender Mercuur perform torpedo system trials at Andros, Bahamas. From 2 to 21 July 1978 Potvis, Dolfijn, Zeehond and Zwaardvis practiced firing exercises.
On 19 November 1982 a refit of the boat started at the Naval Yard in Den Helder. This lasts until 8 August 1983. In 1984 she made a visit to Willemstad Curaçao. The following years she made several visits to Norway and Scotland.
On 18 June 1992 she was finally decommissioned and broken up 1994, wearing a special ceremony painting of a Sperm whale.