In the meetings of the Dutch firm N.V. Nederlandsche Vereenigde Scheepsbouw Bureaux (NEVESBU) is several times discussed about building warships for Israel, presumably without any visible results.(1)
In February 1958 was the building of 1-cylinder 358 ton submarines (project 2100) discussed. Shipyards like the R.D.M., N.D.S.M. and the Kon. Mij. De Schelde were interested in participating in this project. Engineer M.F. Gunning (2) of Nevesbu spoke the Israeli commission member lieutenant commander D. Morash at Paris, France on the 3rd. Morash was enthusiast claiming that Israel certainly was interested in building in the Netherlands because of political considerations. The explanation for the fact that Israel not ordered the building of frigates was simply caused by buying these second-hand from England. Morash was further more interested if deferred payments were possible and of the Royal Netherlands Navy was willing to train personnel of the Israeli navy. The only technical restriction at that moment was that Morash preferred German torpedo fire control systems. In November visited the former Dutch vice admiral Burghard (3) the Israeli ambassador at The Hague, Netherlands. One of the discussion issues was the possibility of the delivery of anti submarine armament by Dutch firms. On 25 November became that clear that lacking enough budget and buying two submarines from England there no orders from Israel for submarines and warships was to be expected.
In September 1960 spoke the Dutch firm NEVESBU with a representative of the British company Vosper Ltd. if it possible was to obtain a licence for building in the Netherlands of fast 80-100 patrol vessels for account of Israel.
In August 1961 was a copy of the project 2132 C dealing with 175 (full load) landing craft tanks sent to the shipyard Kon. Mij. De Schelde. This shipyard was at that moment in negotiation with the Israel Shipyards Ltd., Haifa, Israel for the founding/building of a shipyard, harbour and floating dry dock. This copy was similar to a tender sent to this Israeli shipyard on 24 December 1959.
Notes
1. Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij (RDM) at Rotterdam, Kon.Mij. De Schelde (K.M.S.) at Vlissingen, Nederlandsche Dok en Scheepsbouw Maatschappij (N.D.S.M.) at Amsterdam, Wilton-Fijnenoord at Schiedam and Werkspoor N.V. at Amsterdam.
2. Maximilian Frederik Gunning (9 October 1895 Zwolle, Netherlands-13 February 1972 Petersfield, England), a former naval engineer, since 1926 employee of the Kon. Mij. De Schelde, specialized in submarines who in the thirties became the first director of NEVESBU.
3. François Theodor Burghard (Surabaya, Indonesia 15 April 1900-San Pedro, Marbella, Spain 28 June 1978), out of service in the rank as vice admiral on 1 November 1956. Between 1952-1956 commandant der zeemacht in Nederland (commanding officer of the navy in the Netherlands)
Source
Archive Kon.Mij. De Schelde (Municipality Archive of Vlissingen, Netherlands) inventory numbers 214.1696, 214.1704 and 214.1705.
