Hey all, I've been wanting to make a more realistic Dutch AU, this one has no carriers or battleships, etc.
The back story to this AU has a point of divergence from our timeline in the late 80's.
The USSR didn't fall apart but succeeded into developing it's economy into what resembles the Chinese economy. The USSR is now in AU 2010 a strong first world power, which is arming itself more and more now that the chaotic years of the 90's where they converted to a more capitalist system are behind them. The USSR has just resumed patrolling into NATO airspace with strategic bombers and reconnaissance planes and the cold war seems to be in full swing again with the Russians spouting more and more anti west rhetoric. NATO reconnaissance is showing a slow but steady build up in combat power in Eastern Europe.
NATO is matching this build up and the Dutch have been arming them self for what it seems is imminent war. This thread will focus on the Royal Netherlands Navy but here is a overview of Dutch forces as of AU 2010:
Airforce:
72 EF-2000 Multirole fighters (more powerful than our version, no corners cut).
108 F-35A Fighter bombers (pretty much the same as our version but in service in 2008).
4 KDC-10 Tankers.
4 C130H Transports.
2 A400M Transports.
48 AH-64D Longbow Attack Helicopters.
48 NH-90 Medium Transport Helicopters.
24 CH-46F Heavy Transport Helicopters.
Patriot PAC4
NASAMS II
Army:
2 Panzer infantry Divisions.
1 Air Mobile/Light infantry Division.
Main equipment: Leopard 3A2 MBT, CV90-35 IFV, Boxer APC, PHZ2000 Howitzers, M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System.
Marines:
3 Light infantry battalions.
1 Panzer infantry battalion.
Navy:
4 Wilhelmina class LPD's
12 Karel Doorman class DD's (3 subclasses, AAW, ASW and MP, 4 of each)
8 De Zeven Provinciën class FF's
4 Johan de Witt class LCS's
6 Witte haai class SSK's.
Various support ships.
42 NH90 Medium/ASW
The task of the Royal Netherlands Navy in times of war is to together with Great Britain, Norway and Germany keep open the North Sea and the Northern Atlantic so the USN can safely bring in reinforcements and supplies from the US. It's secondary but very important role is to together with the British transport the Royal Netherlands Marines and the Royal Marines to NATO's Northern flank in defence of Norway.
In my next posts I will post the ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy.
Main ships of the fleet:
Pictured are the LCS, FF, DD(ASW) and the LPD.