The Zwaardvis class submarine (Dutch: "Swordfish") is a conventional attack submarine

Submarine

A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...

 that replaced the Dolfijn class

Dolfijn class submarine

The Dolfijn class submarines of the Royal Netherlands Navy are a class of four submarines, the Dolfijn, Zeehond, Potvis and Tonijn, Which were built in the late 1950s and the early 1960s...

 in the Royal Netherlands Navy

Royal Netherlands Navy

The Koninklijke Marine is the navy of the Netherlands. In the mid-17th century the Dutch Navy was the most powerful navy in the world and it played an active role in the wars of the Dutch Republic and later those of the Batavian Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands...

. Zwaardvis is based on the U.S. Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 Barbel class

Barbel class submarine

The Barbel class of submarines, the last diesel-electric propelled attack submarines built by the United States Navy, incorporated numerous, radical engineering improvements over previous classes...

 with the teardrop hull design. In September 1981 the Republic of China

Republic of China

The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...

 (Taiwan) ordered two modified Zwaardvis class submarines, the Chien Lung/Hai Lung class. In 1992 a repeat order for another 4 boats was turned down by the Netherlands

Netherlands

The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

 Government because of pressure from the People's Republic of China

People's Republic of China

China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...

. The two Dutch boats have been replaced by the Walrus class

Walrus class submarine

The Walrus-class submarine is the only submarine class currently in operation in the Royal Netherlands Navy. They have been in use since 1990 and are all named after sea mammals.-Design:...

.

The two decommissioned Dutch boats, Zwaardvis and Tijgerhaai, were loaded onto a ship and transported to PSC-Naval Dockyard

PSC-Naval Dockyard

Penang Shipbuilding and Construction - Naval Dockyard Sdn Bhd , was a division of the Penang Shipbuilding and Construction Industries Bhd , a Malaysian Government-Linked Company , based in the Lumut, Perak, Malaysia. The company's primary role is to maintain the Royal Malaysian Navy fleet and the...

, Lumut, Malaysia in anticipation of purchase by the Malaysian Navy in 1997. However, the Malaysian Navy declined the offer and chose the French Scorpène class

Scorpène class submarine

Scorpène class submarines are a class of diesel-electric attack submarine jointly developed by the French DCN and the Spanish company Navantia and now by DCNS. It features diesel propulsion and an additional air-independent propulsion ....

instead. The two boats are still in Lumut awaiting a buyer and possible refurbishment.

Ships

• S806 Zwaardvis Commissioned: 18 August 1972 Decommissioned: 1994
• S807 Tijgerhaai Commissioned: 20 October 1972 Decommissioned: 1995
• 793 Hai Lung Commissioned: 9 October 1987
• 794 Hai Hu Commissioned: 9 April 1988