Development began in the 1980s, when the Royal Netherlands Navy began investigating ways to provide an amphibious transport capability.[3] In 1994, preliminary design work began.[3] The Spanish government proposed in 1990 to collaborate on the design.[3] A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in June 1992.[3] Development of the base design occurred during 1993, after which the navies turned to local companies for further design work and construction: Royal Schelde in the Netherlands, and Bazán (which became Navantia in 2005) in Spain.[3]
Royal Schelde completed one ship to the Rotterdam class, with constructed between 1995 and 1998.[3] Bazan/Navantia completed two ships to the Galicia-class design.
After building Rotterdam, Royal Schelde developed the "Enforcer Family": four variants of the Enforcer design intended for export sale.[3] Increased modularity, less powerful propulsion systems, and allowed the company to offer the export variants at lower prices.[3]
The Enforcer design also served as the basis of a second ship for the Royal Netherlands Navy;, which was laid down in 2003 and commissioned in 2007.[4] The design was used for the British Bay-class landing ships.[5] Four vessels were built for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary by two shipyards between 2002 and 2007, with one sold in 2011 to the Royal Australian Navy.[5]
The Enforcer design was considered a contender for the Indian Navy Multi-Role Support Vessel programme.[6]
Around 2020, Damen released its updated portfolio of Enforcer Landing Platform Dock (LPD). This update saw a significant redesign to facilitate new equipment, material upgrades, improved internal logistics and greater levels of design 'flexibility'.[7] The new portfolio consists of seven sibling designs that range in size and by extension the size of internal facilities / capacity (embarked military force, crew size, aviation spots, hangar capacity etc.). The largest design (Enforcer 18028) is 180 metres in length and capable of embarking a force of 590-790 personnel with a crew of 155; the smallest (Enforcer 12026) is 120 metres with an embarked force of 200-270 and a crew of 90.[8]
The new Enforcer design is highlighted as a contender for a possible UK / Netherlands amphibious requirement with both nations exploring options for joint acquisition of a new common LHP design to replace the three Bay-class and two Albion-class ships, plus RFA Argus of the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary (known as the Multi-Role Support Ship program), as well as the two Rotterdam-class LPDs and the four Holland-class offshore patrol vessels of the Royal Netherland Navy (Known as LPX program).[9]
Here is a list of ships that are based on the Enforcer design.
| Name | Laid down | Launched | In service | Out of service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HNLMS Rotterdam (L800) | 25 January 1996 | 27 February 1997 | 18 April 1998 | - | In active service |
| HNLMS Johan de Witt (L801) | 18 June 2003 | 13 May 2006 | 30 November 2007 | - | In active service |
| Galicia (L51) | May 1996 | 21 July 1997 | 29 April 1998 | - | In active service |
| Castilla (L52) | May 1997 | 14 June 1999 | 29 June 2000 | - | In active service |
| Royal Fleet Auxiliary | |||||
| 28 January 2002 | 18 July 2003 | 28 November 2006 | April 2011 | Sold to RAN in April 2011 | |
| 22 November 2000 | 3 September 2005 | 26 November 2007 | - | In active service | |
| 25 August 2002 | 9 April 2004 | 13 July 2006 | - | In active service | |
| 13 October 2003 | 8–9 April 2005 | 18 December 2006 | - | In active service | |
| Name | Acquired | In service | Out of service | Notes | |
| (ex-Largs Bay) | 6 April 2011 | 13 December 2011 | - | In active service |