Royal Netherlands Navy Mine Service | |
---|---|
Mijnendienst | |
Founded | 1907 |
Country | Netherlands |
Branch | Royal Netherlands Navy |
Part of | Ministry of Defence |
Engagements |
The Royal Netherlands Navy Mine Service (Dutch: Mijnendienst) is a department within the Royal Netherlands Navy that is responsible for keeping Dutch coastal waterways and approaches to major seaport areas mine-free.[1][2] It was established out of the Royal Netherlands Navy Torpedo Service in 1907.[3]
The Royal Netherlands Navy Mine Service was established in 1907 when the first Dutch naval mine, Type 1907, was taken into service.[4] The decision to introduce the naval mine was made a year earlier in 1906 and was likely influenced by the important role that mines had played during the Russo-Japanese War in 1904.[5][6] The first minelayers and minesweepers that were used by the mine service consisted of ships that had been modified to be able to lay or sweep mines.[7]
During the First World War the minelayers of the mine service laid several defensive minefields to defend the neutrality of the Netherlands.[2][8] The idea behind the minefields was that it would make it harder for foreign naval ships to enter Dutch territorial waters.[9] Besides laying minefields the ships and personnel of the mine service were also involved in disabling drifting and stranded mines.[9] The important role of the mine service during this period led to a increase of new material.[10][7] As a result the mine service had at the end of the First World War 17 minelayers in service.[6]