Two were acquired and transferred to the RNLN during the Second World War, while another two were loaned from the Royal Navy post-war for a period of five years.

[16] All four submarines of the Zwaardvisch class were built in the United Kingdom at the shipyard of Vickers-Armstrongs in Barrow-in-Furness.

[19] The primary armament of the Zwaardvisch-class submarines consisted of eleven 53.3-centimetre (21.0 in) torpedo tubes; eight were located at the bow and three at the stern.

[9] The Zwaardvisch-class submarines were equipped with two six-cylinder four-stroke Vickers diesel engines that could each produce 1,250 horsepower (930 kW) (combined 2,500 hp, 1,900 kW)[21] and drive the two screws of the submarine to a maximum surface speed of 15.5 knots (28.7 km/h; 17.8 mph).

[22] Besides the two diesel engines, the submarines also had two electric motors that each could produce 900 hp (670 kW) and three banks of 112-cell batteries with a capacity of 5,350 Ah.

[7] As a result of its accomplishments, Zwaardvisch is considered one of the most successful Dutch submarines during the later part of the Second World War in the Pacific theater.

[26] While HNLMS Tijgerhaai was also commissioned during the war, it saw no action due to entering service a few months before it ended.

[27][8] In 1948 the HNLMS Dolfijn and Zeehond also became part of the Zwaardvisch class, after the United Kingdom agreed to lent these two submarines for a period of five years to the Netherlands.