Post by lordroel on Mar 20, 2015 21:36:49 GMT
1920
With the Great War having taught the Netherlands a lesson on the importance of preparing for a war at sea before the start of any future conflict, the Netherlands government, for a moment awash in guilders, decides to increase the funding for the Royal Netherlands Navy by 30 million guilders per year. While some propose offsetting the costs by reducing the size of land forces in the Netherlands East Indies, to ensure loyalty of the ships' sailors and to reduce domestic unemployment the costs are all taken from the Netherlands government and the sailors are raised from the loyal troops who defended the borders during the recent war.
1921
The declining economy results in more than 28,000 veterans' trying to enlist as sailors. While some surplus of sailors to ships is tolerable, the Netherlands government begins to discuss purchase of existing British battle cruisers in lieu of design and construction of new ships, which would take a minimum of three to five years. Purchase of British ships would potentially be cheaper, and it would create a more immediate demand for trained sailors.
A Royal Naval Commission, established the previous year, publishes its 1921 Naval Proposal, the outline of spending and construction for the next decade. The Royal Netherlands Navy commits to buy or build two battlecruisers, four cruisers, and eight destroyers, all to be completed before 1930.
1922
As suggested by the 1921 naval proposal, the Netherlands purchase the former British battlecruiser HMS lion for 100,000 guldens, and renames here HNLMS Amsterdam, becoming the flagship of the Netherlands East Indies Seagoing Squadron.
1923
Creation of the 1st Royal Netherlands Marine Regiment at Naval Base Soerabaja in the Netherlands East Indies.
1925
First Java class cruiser is commissioned, HNLMS Java is the first of four Java class cruiser to be commissioned, while the Royal Netherlands Navy already considers the design old , it has no choice , as newer ship designs are still on the drawing table.
The Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service buys 48 Fokker D.XIIIs, who during flight test by pilots of the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service set four new world airspeed records: the airspeed record for carrying a 500 kg payload at a speed of 265.7 km/h, the record for carrying the same payload over a distance of 200 km, at the same time setting and the same records for carrying a 250 kg payload.
1926
Second Java class cruiser is commissioned, and is called HNLMS Sumatra.
1st Royal Netherlands Marine Regiment is upgraded, becoming the 1st Royal Netherlands Marine Brigade. The brigade field’s three infantry battalions and a light tank company fielding six French purchased Renault FT 17 light tanks.
1927
The third Java class cruiser is commissioned, and is called HNLMS Celebes.
1928
The last and fourth Java class cruiser is commissioned, and is called HNLMS Borneo.
A number of high-ranking naval officers within the Royal Netherlands Navy meet true the year of 1928, to discuss possible improvements to the navy, these discussions are about building two light carriers, two new battlecruisers intended to replace the two British bought , four new cruisers, new submarines, four destroyers and other projects which are being worked on.
First batch of four Admiralen-class destroyers are commissioned in 1928, as HNLMS Evertsen, HNLMS Piet Hein, HNLMS Van Ghent and HNLMS Kortenaer enter in service whit the Royal Netherlands Navy.
1929
The Netherlands purchase it second British battlecruiser when the former British Tiger-class battlecruiser HMS Tiger is bought for 250,000 gulden, and who is slated to be handed over to the Royal Netherlands Navy in 1931.
First two Admiralen-class destroyers, belonging to the second batch are commissioned, as HNLMS Van Galen and HNLMS Witte de with enter in service whit the Royal Netherlands Navy.
Work begins on improving the main naval base Soerabaja, the main naval base in the Netherlands East Indies, as work begins on building a new harbor for small craft, building of a new, 2400 ton drydock, building of a pyrotechnic workshops, where shells and sea mines can be fabricated, building of a coastal battery and the dredging of the Westervaarwater to a depth of 9 meters so that the two battlecruisers of the Royal Netherlands Navy can enter the harbor.
1930
The Netherlands government dissolves the Royal Netherlands Army Aviation Group, whit its function to be taken over by the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service who has expanding significant sins 1921. The Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service whit the disbanding of the Army Aviation Group consist of six naval air regiments divided between the Netherlands and the Netherlands East Indies.
1931
Last two Admiralen-class destroyers, belonging to the second batch are commissioned, as HNLMS Banckert and HNLMS Van Nes enter in service whit the Royal Netherlands Navy.
Former British Battlecruiser HMS Tiger is officially transferred to the Royal Netherlands Navy, and is renamed HNLMS Rotterdam.
The Netherlands buys 24 Carden LoydMark VI tankettes (to be designated T-2 in the Netherlands, with the T-1 being the French build Renault FT 17 light tank) as well as a license to produce more for both the Royal Netherlands Army and the Royal Netherlands Marines.
Work begins on improving naval base Tjilatjap, Netherlands East Indies.
1932
The Royal Netherlands Navy creates the Netherlands East Indies Fleet, which will consist of the 1st Netherlands East Indies Squadron, whit HNLMS Amsterdam as its flagship, two Java class cruisers and four Admiralen-class destroyers, and the 2nd Netherlands East Indies Squadron which has HNLMS Rotterdam as its flagship, two Java class cruisers and four Admiralen-class destroyers.
Construction of a 40.000-ton drydock, meant for the battlecruisers of the Royal Netherlands Navy begins at naval base Soerabaja; whit work on the smaller 2,400 ton drydock is complete.
Work begins on two Eendracht-class battlecruisers for the Royal Netherlands Navy, who are intended to replace battlecruisers HNLMS Amsterdam and HNLMS Rotterdam.
1933
Construction of the first of two new De Ruyter-class cruisers begins.
Construction of the first two light carriers for the Royal Netherlands Navy begins, the two carriers are based on the British HMS Hermes carrier in service whit the British Royal Navy, and thanks to the relations which have been developed sins the purchases of the first of the two British Battlecruisers in 1921, the Royal Netherlands Navy has whit its British counterparts, made plans for the construction of the two carriers, several visit to here, and support allows the Royal Netherlands Navy to begin construction of these carriers whit out much trouble.
The Royal Netherlands Navy commissions, the first two K XIV class submarines, and whit it fields now more than 24 submarines, reaching from the old K II class to the new K XIV class submarines, whit several new version reaching from coastal submarine, to patrol submarine for both the Netherlands home waters and the Netherlands East Indies being still under construction.
1934
Construction of the second De Ruyter-class cruiser begins.
The Royal Netherlands Marines acquires 2 type A and 2 type B Vickers 6-Ton Tanks for tests, whit the hope of fielding another light tank battalion whit them , the Royal Netherlands Marines already operate a light tank battalion who equipped whit the T-2 light tanks.
Whit construction of two light carriers underway, the Royal Netherlands Navy acquirers the license right for the British Hawker Nimrod carrier based fighter aircraft, which Fokker will build, the Hawker Nimrod, will receive the name of Fokker Nimrod, for use in the Netherlands.
1935
Two new cruisers are ordered by the Netherlands government, these two cruisers of the Tromp-class, will if completed, bring the total number of cruisers serving in the Royal Netherlands Navy to eight.
The reorganization of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army is completed, and the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army is now a division size army whit, on each of the three major islands one infantry brigade (Java, Sumatra and Borneo) a brigade sized Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Army Aviation, a Calvary Regiment, one Armored Regiment and several battalions ranging from artillery to garrison battalions.
An agreement between the Royal Netherlands Navy and British Royal Navy is made; in which pilots belonging to the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service are to be trained on board British carriers.
The main Netherlands aircraft manufacture, Fokker, begins production of a naval version of the Fokker C.X scout and light bomber, of which more than 16 standard versions are already serving whit the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service, flying from bases in the Netherlands and Netherlands East Indies.
The Netherlands purchased thirty Vickers 6-Ton Tanks and a licensed for local production, after completing field test, conducted by the Royal Netherlands Marines. The local production which will be done by DAF is for both the Type A with two turrets, each mounting a Vickers machine gun and the Type B with a single two-man turret mounting a single machine gun and a short-barreled 47 mm cannon. The T-3 as it is called will be fielded by the 1st Marine Armored Regiments, while the T-1 and T-2 are being handed over to the Royal Netherlands Army and Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Armored Regiment.
1936
The first Eendracht-class battlecruiser, HNLMS Eendracht is commissioned into the Royal Netherlands Navy.
The first flight of the Fokker DN.XXI fighter happens in the Netherlands, two versions are going to be produce, the Fokker DN.XXI, for use on the light carriers being built, and the land base version Fokker D.XXI for use for the defense of the Netherlands.
The Netherlands government increases its stake in Fokker Aircraft Company, becoming the majority shareholder, in an effort to increase the production of both versions of the Fokker D.XXI, and the Fokker Nimrods for use by the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service.
Zeven Provinciën class pre-dreadnought HNLMS Zeven Provinciën, is renamed HNLMS Soerabaia, in order to allow the second De Ruyter class cruiser, to receive the name Zeven Provinciën.
HNLMS Holland and HNLMS Zeeland, the first two Holland class destroyers are commissioned in the Royal Netherlands Navy, and are based on the preceding Admiralen-class destroyers.
At the Swedish Landverk 24 armored cars are ordered, whit rights to produce more locally, which will done by DAF.
De Ruyter-class cruiser, HNLMS De Ruyter is commissioned into the Royal Netherlands Navy.
1937
Second Eendracht-class battlecruiser, HNLMS Kijkduin is commissioned into the Royal Netherlands Navy.
Cruiser HNLMS De Ruyter departs towards the Netherlands East Indies.
Battlecruiser HNLMS Amsterdam is decommissioned as flagship of the 1st Netherlands East Indies Squadron, whit here function being taken over by Eendracht-class battlecruiser, HNLMS Eendracht.
Java class cruiser HNLMS Java is modernized at the Naval Dockyard in Den Helder, Netherlands, the modifications include adding an AA-battery of 4 double Bofors 40 mm-guns, replacing the fire control system with a new Hazemeyer set and shortening the masts, the other three Java class cruisers will also receive the same modifications.
The Netherlands government places an order whit Fokker for fifty Fokker D.XXIs and 14 Fokker DN.XXIs to be delivered before 1941.
Last of the two De Ruyter class cruisers is commissioned, as HNLMS Zeven Provinciën, joins the Royal Netherlands Navy.
Finding the Swedish Landverk armored car engine to weak, DAF, whit corporation of several army and marine officers, comes with an alternative vehicle who appears much more modern than the Landsverk vehicles, called the M37, it keeps the same armament as the Landsverk, and after test have been completed, DAF receives a order for 36 of these vehicles, to be use by the armored car battalion, belonging to the Royal Netherlands Marines Corps.
Third and fourth Holland class destroyers, HNLMS Friesland and HNLMS Groningen are commissioned, bringing the total destroyers service whit the Royal Netherlands Navy to twelve.
The Fokker G.I enters in production at Fokker, the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service who has ordered 36 G.Is wants to use them as heavy fighter and bomber destroyers, and the plan is to equip two squadrons for defense of the Netherlands.
1938
The 3rd Netherlands East Indies Squadron, is formed, and consist of two De Ruyter class cruisers and four Holland class destroyers, becoming the reserve squadron in the Netherlands East Indies Fleet, when not deployed whit the 3rd Netherlands East Indies Squadron, the two De Ruyter class cruisers and four Holland class destroyers are available for the defense of the Netherlands itself.
Battlecruiser HNLMS Rotterdam is decommissioned as flagship of the 2nd Netherlands East Indies Squadron, whit here function being taken over by Eendracht-class battlecruiser, HNLMS Kijkduin.
HNLMS Java is re-commissioned with her new look and is sent to Gibraltar Strait to escort Netherlands ships, as the Spanish Civil war is still reaching on.
The main Netherlands aircraft manufacture, Fokker, halts production of the naval version of the Fokker C.X scout and light bomber, of which only 12 where build, and who are now used mostly to train Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service pilot’s onboard British carriers.
First of the two Tromp class cruisers, HNLMS Tromp is commissioned into the Royal Netherlands Navy.
The first of the two named light carriers is commissioned whit the Royal Netherlands Navy, named HNLMS Den Haag, she is the first of two Den Haag-class light carriers to be commissioned and carriers 12 Fokker Nimrods and 8 Fokker DN.XXI.
Java class-cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra enters Den Helder, Netherlands, to receive the same modernization as the lead ship of the class HNLMS Java has received, the two other cruisers; HNLMS Celebes and HNLMS Borneo have already received their modernization at naval base Soerabaja, Netherlands East Indies.
40 Fokker Nimrods now serve in the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service, for use on the Den Haag class light carrier, HNLMS Den Haag, and the soon to be commissioned HNLMS Den Helder, while also being used for defense of the Netherlands.
Java class-cruiser, HNLMS Java leaves for the Netherlands East Indies via Suez, escorting light carrier, HNLMS Den Haag, who is going to join the 1st Netherlands East Indies Squadron.
The 1st Royal Netherlands Marine Brigade is elevated to division status, becoming the 1st Royal Netherlands Marine Division, it consist of 3 infantry regiments, one armored regiment and one armored car battalion, and main function is to protect the Netherlands East Indies together whit the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army.
The last Tromp-class cruiser is laid down at the Nederlandse Scheepsbouw Mij in Amsterdam.
1939
January 9th
Tromp class cruiser, HNLMS Tromp starts her first cruise from Rotterdam, whit here destination being the Mediterranean.
January 11th
The second and last of the two Den Haag light carriers, HNLMS Den Helder , is commission in the royal Netherlands Navy , and like here sister ship , HNLMS Den Haag has 12 Fokker Nimrods and 8 Fokker DN.XXI onboard.
January 13th
Tromp class cruiser, HNLMS Tromp arrives in Lisbon, Portugal.
January 15th
Tromp class cruiser HNLMS Tromp while laying at anchor in Lisbon, Portugal, is rammed by the German passenger ship Orinoco, but is only lightly damaged.
March 11th
The Netherlands, in urgent need of more combat aircraft, place an order for 18 Douglas Model 8A-3Ns light assault/strategic reconnaissance fighters for use by the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service, 1st naval air regiment.
April 30th
Fleet review at Scheveningen, Netherlands , present are the newly commissioned Den Haag class light carrier, HNLMS Den Helder , Tromp class cruiser, HNLMS Tromp , Java class cruiser , HNLMS Sumatra , De Ruyter class cruiser , HNLMS Zeven Provinciën and Eendracht-class battlecruiser, HNLMS Kijkduin.
May 12th
Eendracht-class battlecruiser, HNLMS Kijkduin and Den Haag class light carrier, HNLMS Den Helder starts their voyage towards the Netherlands East Indies.
June 5th
Eendracht-class battlecruiser, HNLMS Kijkduin and Den Haag class light carrier, HNLMS Den Helder arrive in Naval Base Tandjong Priok, Java, whit both HNLMS Den Helder and HNLMS Kijkduin joining the Netherlands East Indies Fleet, 2nd Netherlands East Indies Squadron.
July 3rd
Submarine minelayer for operations in home waters as well as in the colonies, HNLMS 0 19 is commissioned at Wilton-Fijenoord shipyard, Rotterdam, its sister ship HNLMS 0 20 , is expected to be commissioned in Augusts of this year.
August 19th
Tromp class cruiser, HNLMS Tromp starts her long voyage to the Netherlands East Indies, via the Mediterranean and Suez.
August 21st
Minelayer HNLMS Willem van der Zaan is commissioned, she is considered the most modern minelayer in service whit the Royal Netherlands navy.
August 24th
Commissioning of artillery instructions ship HNLMS Van Kinsbergen happens on this day, with her predecessor HNLMS Gelderland being decommissioned, and whit it all Holland-class Pantserdekschepen are decommissioned.
September 1st
The German battleship KMS Schleswig-Holstein opens bombardment on the Westerplatte, a Polish military base outside Danzig, at the same time; regular Wehrmacht troops begin crossing the border into Poland.
September 2nd
Java class cruiser HNLMS Sumatra and De Ruyter class cruiser HNLMS Zeven Provinciën begin performing various duties which included escorting merchants of Netherlands and German origin through the Netherlands territorial waters.
September 3th
Minelayer HNLMS Willem van der Zaan lays 98 mines near Den Helder, Netherlands.
September 4th
The Netherlands Government issues a statement declaring strict neutrality.
September 8th
The Netherlands Government issues instructions to general Reijnders, for the defense off fortress Holland en de Grebbeberg.
September 9th
The first Fokker G-1 heavy fighters begin entering service whit the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service, 1st naval air regiment, 2nd and 4th fighter squadron in the Netherlands.
September 10th
Tromp class cruiser, HNLMS Tromp departs Sabang for Java after refueling.
September 12th
Tromp class cruiser, HNLMS Tromp ,has a rendezvous with the British heavy cruiser HMS Cornwall of Padang, Sumatra , as there are several large German merchants moored in Padang, and according to the British , she inquires what the Netherlands government is planning to do about this ,the government in the NEI replies that they will uphold the proclamation of neutrality, nevertheless, HNLMS Tromp receives the order to search the German ships in Padang for anything suspicious , but boarding party’s conducted the search onboard the German ships , find nothing out of the ordinary.
September 22nd
Minelayer HNLMS Willem van der Zaan lays a new row of 97 mines to the minefield started on September 3th, near Den Helder, Netherlands.
September 29th
Submarines HNLMS O 9, HNLMS O 10 and HNLMS O 11 are attached to the 'coastal division" ,and will be used as the offensive part of the Netherlands coastal defense.
October 2nd
Artillery instructions ship HNLMS Van Kinsbergen departs Den Helder for Netherlands West Indies with submarines HNLMS O-20 and HNLMS O-14 to train new gunners and to join whit the sloop HNLMS Johan Maurits van Nassau, already operating in the Netherlands West Indies.
October 8th
Germany annexes Western Poland.
October 23rd
Tromp class cruiser, HNLMS Tromp officially becomes part of the 2nd Netherlands East Indies Squadron, replacing HNLMS Borneo, who is in Naval Base Soerabaja for an overhaul.
October 27th
The Netherlands ministry of War, confiscates 25 G-1 heavy fighters, meant for Spain, and orders Fokker to arm them as soon as possible.
October 31st
Artillery instructions ship HNLMS Van Kinsbergen arrives at Naval Base "Pareira", Curaçao, and joins sloop HNLMS Johan Maurits van Nassau in patrolling the Netherlands West Indies.
November 1st
As HNLMS Van Kinsbergen leaves Naval Base "Pareira, a British destroyer enters territorial waters, which is strictly forbidden by the neutrality proclamation of September 1939, the British destroyer after being notified of this by HNLMS Van Kinsbergen leafs shortly after.
November 13th
24 DAF M.37 now are in service whit the 1st armored car battalion, 1st Royal Netherlands Marine Division. The older M.36 armored car, are still in service whit the Royal Netherlands Army, 1st Squadron Armored Cars, Light Division, where they are used together whit T-2 light tank (Carden LoydMark VI tankettes) forming the 1st, 2nd 3rd and 4th Squadron Light Tanks.
November 17th
All 18 Douglas 8A-3N, bough in March, are assembled and tested, and deployed whit the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service, 1st naval air regiment.
December 9th
Netherlands East Indies Fleet, 1st Netherlands East Indies Squadron consisting of by Eendracht-class battlecruiser, HNLMS Eendracht, Den Haag class light carrier, HNLMS Den Haag, Java class cruiser HNLMS Java, Tromp class cruiser, HNLMS Tromp, four Admiralen-class destroyers, Zuiderkruis-class submarine mother ship, HNLMS Zuiderkruis and a division of submarines are placed on standby in the Java Sea after a messages of a Japanese concentration of naval forces near Formosa.
December 12th
Flores-class sloop HNLMS Flores leaves the Netherlands East Indies for the Netherlands via Suez.
1940
January 10th
The Royal Netherlands Navy creates the Zuiderzee Squadron which is made up of the Java class cruiser HNLMS Sumatra, De Ruyter class cruiser HNLMS Zeven Provinciën, gunboats HNLM Brinio, HNLMS Friso and torpedoboat HNLMS Z3.
January 16th
During a routine takeoff from Den Haag light carrier, HNLMS Den Haag, a Fokker Nimrod crashes into the sea after its engine stops , killing its pilot when the Fokker crashes into the sea , this crash is the third involving a Fokker Nimrod sins it entered into service whit the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service in 1935 and the second accident onboard one of the Royal Netherlands Navy, two light carriers.
January 21st
For the first times sins 1933, the sloop HNLMS Johan Maurits van Nassau, arrives back in the Netherlands after it was relieved by artillery instructions ship HNLMS Van Kinsbergen ,who is now patrolling the Netherlands West indies , HNLMS Johan Maurits van Nassau will after some maintenance, be used as a search and guard vessel, based out of Vlissingen.
January 31st
Despite the best efforts of the Royal Netherlands Navy to get more submarine into service, it has only got some 30 submarines a commission as of 1940, whit the newest being the 0 21 class HNLMS O 27 who was commissioned on this day and the oldest being HNLMS K VII, who was commissioned in 1916, and is operating out of the Netherlands East Indies.
February 3rd
Flores class sloop HNLMS Flores arrives in Den Helder, and is assigned, to escort German merchant’s true Netherlands coastal waters.
February 8th
The first twelve T-4 light tanks enter service whit the 1st Royal Netherlands Marine Armored Battalion, which is part of the 1st Royal Netherlands Marine Division deployed in the Netherlands East Indies. The T-4 is a development of the T-3 which is a license version of the British Vickers 6-ton light tank, of which 80 are in service whit the two Royal Netherlands Marine Armored Battalions, the improvements of the T-4 over the T-3 are, a more reliable and powerful diesel engine, thicker armor, a 37 mm Bofors cannon, which is the same as the DAF M.37 armor car main armament and some other minor modifications.
February 5th
General Winkelman becomes the new commander of the Royal Netherlands Army.
February 29th
A incident similar to the one on November 1st occurs as a British cruiser steams into Netherlands territorial waters, before being warned by of HNLMS Van Kinsbergen, who is patrolling outside the island of Curacao.
March 5th
HNLMS Van Kinsbergen visits the island Bonaire.
March 6th
While Java class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra lies at anchor in Den Helder, submarine HNLMS O-11 is rammed by the tug HNLMS BV 3 with the loss of three crew members, Sumatra assist the salvage crew with her searchlights during the night.
March 8th
Eendracht-class battlecruiser, HNLMS Kijkduin, whit the Governor General of the Netherlands East Indies on board, begins a trip along Sumatra's western coast.
March 17th
Wile at anchor off Callantsoog, HNLMS Sumatra, anchor line suddenly breaks and Sumatra starts drifting towards a minefield, fortunately, the engine room manages to power up the engines and Sumatra is able to sail safely away from the danger zone.
March 20th
During an air combat patrol a Fokker G.1 heavy fighter belonging to the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service, 1st naval air regiment, 2nd fighter squadron, forces a Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bomber, belonging to the RAF's No. 77 Squadron to land, when it strays into Netherlands air space
April 8th
For the second time, in almost four months a squadron belonging to the Netherlands East Indies Fleet is placed on standby in the Java sea after rumors about a Japanese fleet concentration near Formosa is reported, this time it is the 3rd Netherlands East Indies Squadron which is placed on standby , consisting of Java class cruiser HNLMS Celebes, De Ruyter class cruiser, HNLMS De Ruyter and four Holland class destroyers.
April 9th
Germany invades Denmark and Norway.
April 12th
The last of the 36 Dornier Do-24 flying boats enters in service whit the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service, in Netherlands East Indies, whit some 26 Dornier Do-24 flying boats are in use in the Netherlands itself, the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service has also ordered 36 Consolidated PBY Catalina's for use in the Netherlands East Indies, as production of the Dornier Do-24 flying boats is not going fast enough.
April 14th
While running on the surface, submarine HNLMS O 10 is accidentally attacked by a British plane off the coast of the Netherlands.
April 19th
The Netherlands government announces that from this day on the state of siege is extended to the whole of Netherlands.
May 2nd
Submarine HNLMS O 15 departs from the Netherlands and heads for the Netherlands East Indies.
May 7th
Whit tension in Europe increasing the Royal Netherlands Navy decides to send the 3rd Netherlands East Indies Squadron made up of, De Ruyter-class cruiser, HNLMS De Ruyter , Holland-class destroyers, HNLMS Holland, HNLMS Zeeland, HNLMS Friesland and HNLMS Groningen to the Netherlands, where it will join the already present Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra and De Ruyter-class cruiser, HNLMS Zeven Provinciën in patrolling the coast of the Netherlands.
May 9th
The lead ship of the new Gerard Callenburgh-class destroyer, one of four of its class and a improvement over the Holland-class destroyers is commissioned into the Royal Netherlands Navy.
Submarines HNLMS O 9 and HNLMS O 10 depart Naval Base Den Helder and head to their patrol area off the Netherlands coast.
Submarine HNLMS O 15 arrives in Ponta Delgada ,Portugese Azores for a stop.
May 10th
People across the Netherlands awake, to the sound of aircraft engines roaring in the sky ,as Nazi Germany begins operation Fall Gelb and attacks the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Luxembourg.
The Netherlands East and West Indies and Netherlands Guiana formally declare the existence of a state of war with Germany ,the Governor of Netherlands West Indies places the islands under martial law.
Submarines HNLMS O 9, HNLMS O 10, HNLMS O 13 are during their patrol off the Netherlands coast attacked by German planes.
Lieutenant-Commander Alfred de Booy, Netherlands Naval Attaché, in London, becomes acting deputy commander in chief, for all royal Netherlands Navy ships that arrive safely , the United Kingdom.
A boarding party, belonging to Java class cruiser , HNLMS Borneo successfully captures the German owned freighters Bitterfeld Wuppertal and Rheinland in the harbor of Padang.
HNLMS Sumatra who is stationed in Vlissingen on the Westerschelde for inspection of merchants, fires on German aircraft, which are laying mines near the entrance of the harbor.
The last of the Tromp-class cruisers, HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck, who is still uncompleted moored at her dockyard, but fortunately, has here propulsion system installed and tested, has during the day, as much equipment as possible aboard is put on board , and leaves Amsterdam early in the evening for the United Kingdom , HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck reaches open sea successfully, and during the trip, meets two British destroyers who are unsure of her identity, but after contact between HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck and the British has been made , they allow here to continue here journey towards the United Kingdom.
Second Gerard Callenburgh-class destroyer, Isaac Sweers who was launched on March 11th, is towed to the United Kingdom by the tug Zwarte Zee, in order to prevent here from falling in German hands.
May 11th
De Ruyter class cruiser , HNLMS Zeven Province is ordered to leave Rotterdam and head towards Naval Base Den Helder.
Submarine HNLMS O 8 is decommissioned, whit the goal of destroying here.
Luxembourg is occupied.
The Japanese Foreign Minister notifies diplomatic representatives of the Netherlands, Germany, Britain, France, USA, and Italy that it will not tolerate any change of nationality control of the Netherlands East Indies ,and that any outside interference will be considered an extension of the war to the Orient, which the empire of Japan will forcibly oppose.
Thor-class river gunboats HNLMS Bulgia and HNLMS Thor are sunk in the port of Vlissingen by German planes.
Tromp-class cruiser, HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck reaches the Thames.
Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra leaves Vlissingen in the early morning for Yarmouth, United Kingdom.
Tromp-class cruiser, HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck leaves the Downs for Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
Gerard Callenburgh class destroyer, HNLMS Isaac Sweers arrives in Spithead, where she will stay, until she can be moved to Portsmouth, where she will be completed.
Four days in the journey of the 3rd Netherlands East Indies Squadron, its commander Rear-Admiral J.J.A. van Staveren, receives orders from Netherlands East Indies fleet headquarters at Batavia, to return to Naval Base Soerabaja, now that the German invasion of the Netherlands is underway.
Submarine HNLMS O 15 departs Ponta Delgada ,Portugese Azores , and heads towards Curaçao , the next stop in its journey towards the Netherlands East Indies.
British and French troops land in the Netherlands West Indies Islands of Curacao and Aruba, to aid the Netherlands local authorities in the security of the islands.
May 12th
Submarines HNLMS O 21 and HNLMS O 22, depart from Vlissingen to Portsmouth ,United Kingdom , in order to escape from the invading German forces ,where both will arrive safely a couple of days later.
Minelayer, HNLMS Willem van der Zaan together whit minelayers , HNLMS Jan van Brakel , HNLMS Nautilus and the tactical barrage Middelrug-Haaks lays 240 mines ,after completing the assignment, HNLMS Willem van der Zaan returns to Den Helder.
British cruisers HMS Galatea and HMS Arethusa arrive in the port city of of IJmuiden , where the will load the gold reserve of the central bank of the Netherlands, and bring it to the United Kingdom.
May 13th
General Winkelman commander royal Netherlands army advise the Netherlands government that he considered the general situation to be critical, as on land, the Netherlands have been cut off from the Allied front and it’s becoming clear that no major Allied landings are to be expected to reinforce Fortress Holland by sea; without such support there is no prospect of a prolonged successful resistance.
Submarines HNLMS O 23, HNLMS O 24, HNLMS O 17 and HNLMS O 25 sail, from Rotterdam to Portsmouth in order to escape from the invading German forces, all arriving there safely in the United Kingdom unlike submarines HNLMS O 8, HNLMS O 11, HNLMS O 12, HNLMS O 18, HNLMS O 27 and HNLMS O 28, who are scuttled by yard personal in order to prevent them from falling into German hands.
Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra arrives in Immingham, United Kingdom.
De Ruyter-class cruiser, HNLMS Zeven Provinciën who is still at Naval Base Den Helder takes onboard Queen Wilhelmina, Crown Princess Juliana, her husband Prince Bernhard and their children and departs toward the United Kingdom.
Minelayer, HNLMS Willem van der Zaan evacuates to the United Kingdom, and arrives safely in Portsmouth in the morning of May 14th, from Den Helder, she also takes a cargo of 10 torpedoes and other equipment for Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra with her, in addition, four downed German aviators are embarked.
Tromp-class cruiser, HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck arrives at Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
British cruisers HMS Galatea and HMS Arethusa leave the port city of of IJmuiden, whit the majority of the Netherlands gold reserve on board.
The governments of Great Britain, Netherlands, and France assure the Empire of Japan that no change of control of the Netherlands East Indies is intended.
The Netherlands government embarks British destroyer HMS Windsor for the United Kingdom, several hours after De Ruyter-class cruiser, HNLMS Zeven Provinciën departed Naval Base Den Helder ,whit the Queen and here family on board.
May 14th
Despite local success of the royal Netherlands army across the province of Holland and the arrival of the French, the situation is looking bleak, whit only the Netherlands province of Holland and part of the province of Zeeland still under Netherlands control.
Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, Hermann Goering, orders the carpet bombing of the city of Rotterdam, killing more than 1,000 people, later the Germans give a ultimatum to General Winkelman, surrender ore more cities will be destroyed.
The Royal Netherlands Navy decides to destroy the third and fourth Gerard Callenburgh-class destroyer still under construction.
Flores class sloop, HNLMS Flores is ordered to steam to the Oosterschelde to support the defenses on Zuid-Beveland and is attacked several times without result, while in transit to another bombardment mission, pieces of debris gets stuck in the starboard propeller , as the damage cannot be repaired, HNLMS Flores changes course and steams to Zeebrugge.
Johan Maurits van Nassau sloop, HNLMS Johan Maurits van Nassau leading a convoy to United Kingdom and consisting of mine layers HNLMS Jan van Brakel, HNLMS Douwe Aukes, HNLMS Nautilus and the torpedo boats, HNLMS G 13 and HNLMS G 15, is sunk by German aircraft, survivors of HNLMS Johan Maurits are rescued by the other convoy ships, who continue their journey towards the United Kingdom.
May 15th
The Royal Netherlands Army surrenders, as General Winkelman is not willing to risk more cities’ destroyed.
The commander of Naval Base Den Helder, Rear-Admiral Hoyte Jolles, concludes that his base, with a naval garrison of 10,000, its own air service, and extensive land defenses, should continue to resist, only with some difficulty, is General Winkelman able to convince the Rear-Admiral, to obey the surrender order.
The Netherlands Government now based in the United Kingdom orders that all Netherlands forces fighting in the province of Zeeland, are not part of the surrendering, as they are under French command, who are still fighting the Germans ,and therefore are to continue to fight the Germans.
Hydra-class minelayer, HNLMS Hydra is damaged by German anti-tank rounds and beached by crew in the province of Zeeland, here sister ship HNLMS Medusa, manages to reach safely the United Kingdom.
Admiral J.Th. Furstner becomes commander in chief, royal Netherlands Navy.
Flores class sloop, HNLMS Flores who is still in Zeebrugge, where the damage to the propeller from the previous day cannot be repaired is ordered to steam to Dunkirk.
De Ruyter class cruiser HNLMS Zeven Provinciën whit on board the Queen and the royal family, arrives safely in Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
3rd Netherlands East Indies Squadron arrives back at Naval Base Soerabaja.
May 17th
The Germans demand the capitulation of the province of Zeeland, which is still partly controlled by a joint force consisting of Netherlands and French forces, when this demand is rejected by the commander of the Netherlands and French forces, the Germans ordered the Luftwaffe to carpet bombed Middelburg, the province's capital city, nearly 600 buildings are destroyed by the bombing and resulting fire , later in the evening, a radio transmission is broadcast stating that Netherlands forces still fighting in part of the province of Zeeland will surrender , ending the battle of the Netherlands in Germany favor.
Rear-Admiral Doorman becomes commanding officer of the 1st Netherlands East Indies Squadron, whit his flagship being Den Haag class light carrier, HNLMS Den Haag.
Flores class sloop, HNLMS Flores arrives in Dover, United Kingdom together whit Douwe Aukes class minelayer, HNLMS Van Meerlant
May 18th
Admiral Furstner and Queen Wilhelmina visit all royal Netherlands navy vessels in Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
Java class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra receives a degaussing cable for protection against magnetic mines.
May 25th
Tromp class cruiser, HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck begins in Portsmouth her refit.
May 28th
Java class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra departures from Immingham to Milford Haven in the bay of Bristol.
Belgium surrenders to the Germans.
May 29th
Submarine HNLMS O 15 arrives at Curaçao.
May 30th
De Ruyter class cruiser, HNLMS Zeven Provinciën and Java class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra are assigned to take crown princess Juliana and her two daughters to Canada.
Tromp class cruiser, HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck begins here conversion to an AA-cruiser.
May 31st
HNLMS Van Kinsbergen enters drydock in Curaçao for some repairs.
June 1st
No. 320 (Netherlands) Squadron RAF is formed at Pembroke Dock.
June 2nd
Crown princess Juliana and her two daughters board De Ruyter-class cruiser, HNLMS Zeven Provinciën, whit Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra acting as a backup, in case anything happens to HNLMS Zeven Provinciën towards their journey to Canada.
HNLMS Van Kinsbergen receives a depth charge installation, copied from HMS Caradoc, during her stay in the drydock in Curaçao.
June 4th
In a meeting between the Netherlands Chief of Naval Staff and the British 'Chief of Staff of the Vice-Admiral of Submarines' it is decided there is no need for royal Netherlands navy submarines to be based out of Netherlands West Indies, and therefore submarines HNLMS O 14 and HNLMS O 20 will be ordered to the United Kingdom.
June 6th
De Ruyter class cruiser , HNLMS Zeven Provinciën and Java class cruiser , HNLMS Sumatra on their way to Canada come across a British armed merchant cruiser.
June 7th
Flashes are seen on the horizon and HNLMS Sumatra immediately steers away from the sighting, whit HNLMS Zeven Provinciën following in order to try to avoid possible enemy encounter.
June 10th
HNLMS Van Kinsbergen starts a patrol off Venezuela, where several Italian tankers are located.
To enable minelayer, HNLMS Willem van der Zaan to lay British mines, a period of rebuilding is required ,and therefore she is towed to Basin No.2 of the Naval Yard in Portsmouth.
Preparations begin for submarine HNLMS O 20 to depart for Halifax, Canada, and will during its transit, be placed under the command of the British Commander in Chief America and West Indies Station.
Norway falls to German forces.
June 11th
De Ruyter-class cruiser, HNLMS Zeven Provinciën and Java class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra arrive in Halifax, Canada.
June 13th
Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra departures from Halifax for Bermuda escorting the British troop transport Lady Drake.
HNLMS Van Kinsbergen returns to Curaçao, from here patrol off Venezuela.
Escorted by the British Shoreham class sloop ,HMS Dundee, submarine HNLMS O 20 departs from Curaçao and heads for the Bermudas.
June 16th
Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra anchors in the Bermuda’s, but continues the voyage with the Lady Drake later that day.
June 18th
Submarine HNLMS O 20 arrives in Hamilton, Bermudas.
June 20th
Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra arrives in Kingston, Jamaica.
June 21st
Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra and Lady Drake (with soldiers of the "Shropshire Infantry" on board) depart Kingston for Curacao.
June 22nd
France formally surrenders to Germany.
June 23rd
Java-class cruiser , HNLMS Sumatra and Lady arrives in Curacao.
Submarine HNLMS O 15 arrives in the Netherlands East Indies, having taken the route via the Panama Canal.
June 25th
De Ruyter-class cruiser , HNLMS Zeven Provinciën leaves Halifax to return to the United Kingdom.
June 27th
Minelayer, HNLMS Willem van der Zaan rebuild is completed ,to test the new mine rails, two dummy mines are laid.
June 28th
Minelayer, HNLMS Willem van der Zaan takes on fuel and ammunition for her trials.
The British Dominions Secretary informs the Australian Government that with Italy in the war and France out, Great Britain can not send a fleet to the Far East ,and that Australia together whit the Netherlands , is for the time being ,on their own.
July 2nd
De Ruyter-class cruiser, HNLMS Zeven Provinciën reaches Falmouth, United Kingdom without much trouble.
July 5th
The French begin embarking their troops, whit their jobs being taken over by 120 royal Netherlands marines belonging to the 1st Royal Netherlands Marine division based out of the Netherlands East Indies and 280 British soldiers belonging to the Shropshire Infantry regiment.
July 10th
Java-class cruiser , HNLMS Sumatra departs Curacao to conduct a patrol sweep off the Colombian and Venezuelan mainland, where some German merchants are at anchor.
De Ruyter-class cruiser , HNLMS Zeven Provinciën is assigned to bring the Netherlands gold reserve to Canada , and will do this together whit the British Emerald-class light cruiser, HMS Emerald ,who is also scheduled to deliver gold, destined for safekeeping in Canada.
July 15th
Java-class cruiser , HNLMS Sumatra arrives in Kingston, Jamaica.
July 17th
British premier Winston Churchill visits Tromp class cruiser, HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck which is being converted towards an AA-cruiser.
July 18th
Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra leaves Jamaica for shooting practice.
Submarine HNLMS O 20 arrives in Hamilton ,Bermudas.
July 20th
Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra takes part in the search for a German raider.
De Ruyter-class cruiser, HNLMS Zeven Provinciën and Emerald-class light cruiser, HMS Emerald arrive in Halifax, Canada ,where they begin unloading their precious cargo, who will be stored at the Bank of Canada.
July 23rd
De Ruyter-class cruiser, HNLMS Zeven Provinciën together whit Emerald-class light cruiser, HMS Emerald and Revenge class battleship, HMS Revenge, escort a convoy taking Canadian troops to United Kingdom.
July 24th
Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra anchors in the Bermudas.
July 25th
HNLMS Van Kinsbergen leaves Trinidad to patrol the waters of Guyana and to visit Suriname.
July 26th
Java class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra departures the Bermudas
July 28th
No. 321 (Dutch) Squadron RAF is formed at Pembroke Dock.
July 29th
Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra arrives in Kingston.
July 30th
Minelayer, HNLMS Willem van der Zaan together whit British minelayers lays a total of five mines in a period of a month.
July 31st
Hydra-class minelayer , HNLMS Medusa , is made a accommodation ship at Holyhead, United Kingdom.
With the Great War having taught the Netherlands a lesson on the importance of preparing for a war at sea before the start of any future conflict, the Netherlands government, for a moment awash in guilders, decides to increase the funding for the Royal Netherlands Navy by 30 million guilders per year. While some propose offsetting the costs by reducing the size of land forces in the Netherlands East Indies, to ensure loyalty of the ships' sailors and to reduce domestic unemployment the costs are all taken from the Netherlands government and the sailors are raised from the loyal troops who defended the borders during the recent war.
1921
The declining economy results in more than 28,000 veterans' trying to enlist as sailors. While some surplus of sailors to ships is tolerable, the Netherlands government begins to discuss purchase of existing British battle cruisers in lieu of design and construction of new ships, which would take a minimum of three to five years. Purchase of British ships would potentially be cheaper, and it would create a more immediate demand for trained sailors.
A Royal Naval Commission, established the previous year, publishes its 1921 Naval Proposal, the outline of spending and construction for the next decade. The Royal Netherlands Navy commits to buy or build two battlecruisers, four cruisers, and eight destroyers, all to be completed before 1930.
1922
As suggested by the 1921 naval proposal, the Netherlands purchase the former British battlecruiser HMS lion for 100,000 guldens, and renames here HNLMS Amsterdam, becoming the flagship of the Netherlands East Indies Seagoing Squadron.
1923
Creation of the 1st Royal Netherlands Marine Regiment at Naval Base Soerabaja in the Netherlands East Indies.
1925
First Java class cruiser is commissioned, HNLMS Java is the first of four Java class cruiser to be commissioned, while the Royal Netherlands Navy already considers the design old , it has no choice , as newer ship designs are still on the drawing table.
The Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service buys 48 Fokker D.XIIIs, who during flight test by pilots of the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service set four new world airspeed records: the airspeed record for carrying a 500 kg payload at a speed of 265.7 km/h, the record for carrying the same payload over a distance of 200 km, at the same time setting and the same records for carrying a 250 kg payload.
1926
Second Java class cruiser is commissioned, and is called HNLMS Sumatra.
1st Royal Netherlands Marine Regiment is upgraded, becoming the 1st Royal Netherlands Marine Brigade. The brigade field’s three infantry battalions and a light tank company fielding six French purchased Renault FT 17 light tanks.
1927
The third Java class cruiser is commissioned, and is called HNLMS Celebes.
1928
The last and fourth Java class cruiser is commissioned, and is called HNLMS Borneo.
A number of high-ranking naval officers within the Royal Netherlands Navy meet true the year of 1928, to discuss possible improvements to the navy, these discussions are about building two light carriers, two new battlecruisers intended to replace the two British bought , four new cruisers, new submarines, four destroyers and other projects which are being worked on.
First batch of four Admiralen-class destroyers are commissioned in 1928, as HNLMS Evertsen, HNLMS Piet Hein, HNLMS Van Ghent and HNLMS Kortenaer enter in service whit the Royal Netherlands Navy.
1929
The Netherlands purchase it second British battlecruiser when the former British Tiger-class battlecruiser HMS Tiger is bought for 250,000 gulden, and who is slated to be handed over to the Royal Netherlands Navy in 1931.
First two Admiralen-class destroyers, belonging to the second batch are commissioned, as HNLMS Van Galen and HNLMS Witte de with enter in service whit the Royal Netherlands Navy.
Work begins on improving the main naval base Soerabaja, the main naval base in the Netherlands East Indies, as work begins on building a new harbor for small craft, building of a new, 2400 ton drydock, building of a pyrotechnic workshops, where shells and sea mines can be fabricated, building of a coastal battery and the dredging of the Westervaarwater to a depth of 9 meters so that the two battlecruisers of the Royal Netherlands Navy can enter the harbor.
1930
The Netherlands government dissolves the Royal Netherlands Army Aviation Group, whit its function to be taken over by the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service who has expanding significant sins 1921. The Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service whit the disbanding of the Army Aviation Group consist of six naval air regiments divided between the Netherlands and the Netherlands East Indies.
1931
Last two Admiralen-class destroyers, belonging to the second batch are commissioned, as HNLMS Banckert and HNLMS Van Nes enter in service whit the Royal Netherlands Navy.
Former British Battlecruiser HMS Tiger is officially transferred to the Royal Netherlands Navy, and is renamed HNLMS Rotterdam.
The Netherlands buys 24 Carden LoydMark VI tankettes (to be designated T-2 in the Netherlands, with the T-1 being the French build Renault FT 17 light tank) as well as a license to produce more for both the Royal Netherlands Army and the Royal Netherlands Marines.
Work begins on improving naval base Tjilatjap, Netherlands East Indies.
1932
The Royal Netherlands Navy creates the Netherlands East Indies Fleet, which will consist of the 1st Netherlands East Indies Squadron, whit HNLMS Amsterdam as its flagship, two Java class cruisers and four Admiralen-class destroyers, and the 2nd Netherlands East Indies Squadron which has HNLMS Rotterdam as its flagship, two Java class cruisers and four Admiralen-class destroyers.
Construction of a 40.000-ton drydock, meant for the battlecruisers of the Royal Netherlands Navy begins at naval base Soerabaja; whit work on the smaller 2,400 ton drydock is complete.
Work begins on two Eendracht-class battlecruisers for the Royal Netherlands Navy, who are intended to replace battlecruisers HNLMS Amsterdam and HNLMS Rotterdam.
1933
Construction of the first of two new De Ruyter-class cruisers begins.
Construction of the first two light carriers for the Royal Netherlands Navy begins, the two carriers are based on the British HMS Hermes carrier in service whit the British Royal Navy, and thanks to the relations which have been developed sins the purchases of the first of the two British Battlecruisers in 1921, the Royal Netherlands Navy has whit its British counterparts, made plans for the construction of the two carriers, several visit to here, and support allows the Royal Netherlands Navy to begin construction of these carriers whit out much trouble.
The Royal Netherlands Navy commissions, the first two K XIV class submarines, and whit it fields now more than 24 submarines, reaching from the old K II class to the new K XIV class submarines, whit several new version reaching from coastal submarine, to patrol submarine for both the Netherlands home waters and the Netherlands East Indies being still under construction.
1934
Construction of the second De Ruyter-class cruiser begins.
The Royal Netherlands Marines acquires 2 type A and 2 type B Vickers 6-Ton Tanks for tests, whit the hope of fielding another light tank battalion whit them , the Royal Netherlands Marines already operate a light tank battalion who equipped whit the T-2 light tanks.
Whit construction of two light carriers underway, the Royal Netherlands Navy acquirers the license right for the British Hawker Nimrod carrier based fighter aircraft, which Fokker will build, the Hawker Nimrod, will receive the name of Fokker Nimrod, for use in the Netherlands.
1935
Two new cruisers are ordered by the Netherlands government, these two cruisers of the Tromp-class, will if completed, bring the total number of cruisers serving in the Royal Netherlands Navy to eight.
The reorganization of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army is completed, and the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army is now a division size army whit, on each of the three major islands one infantry brigade (Java, Sumatra and Borneo) a brigade sized Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Army Aviation, a Calvary Regiment, one Armored Regiment and several battalions ranging from artillery to garrison battalions.
An agreement between the Royal Netherlands Navy and British Royal Navy is made; in which pilots belonging to the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service are to be trained on board British carriers.
The main Netherlands aircraft manufacture, Fokker, begins production of a naval version of the Fokker C.X scout and light bomber, of which more than 16 standard versions are already serving whit the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service, flying from bases in the Netherlands and Netherlands East Indies.
The Netherlands purchased thirty Vickers 6-Ton Tanks and a licensed for local production, after completing field test, conducted by the Royal Netherlands Marines. The local production which will be done by DAF is for both the Type A with two turrets, each mounting a Vickers machine gun and the Type B with a single two-man turret mounting a single machine gun and a short-barreled 47 mm cannon. The T-3 as it is called will be fielded by the 1st Marine Armored Regiments, while the T-1 and T-2 are being handed over to the Royal Netherlands Army and Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Armored Regiment.
1936
The first Eendracht-class battlecruiser, HNLMS Eendracht is commissioned into the Royal Netherlands Navy.
The first flight of the Fokker DN.XXI fighter happens in the Netherlands, two versions are going to be produce, the Fokker DN.XXI, for use on the light carriers being built, and the land base version Fokker D.XXI for use for the defense of the Netherlands.
The Netherlands government increases its stake in Fokker Aircraft Company, becoming the majority shareholder, in an effort to increase the production of both versions of the Fokker D.XXI, and the Fokker Nimrods for use by the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service.
Zeven Provinciën class pre-dreadnought HNLMS Zeven Provinciën, is renamed HNLMS Soerabaia, in order to allow the second De Ruyter class cruiser, to receive the name Zeven Provinciën.
HNLMS Holland and HNLMS Zeeland, the first two Holland class destroyers are commissioned in the Royal Netherlands Navy, and are based on the preceding Admiralen-class destroyers.
At the Swedish Landverk 24 armored cars are ordered, whit rights to produce more locally, which will done by DAF.
De Ruyter-class cruiser, HNLMS De Ruyter is commissioned into the Royal Netherlands Navy.
1937
Second Eendracht-class battlecruiser, HNLMS Kijkduin is commissioned into the Royal Netherlands Navy.
Cruiser HNLMS De Ruyter departs towards the Netherlands East Indies.
Battlecruiser HNLMS Amsterdam is decommissioned as flagship of the 1st Netherlands East Indies Squadron, whit here function being taken over by Eendracht-class battlecruiser, HNLMS Eendracht.
Java class cruiser HNLMS Java is modernized at the Naval Dockyard in Den Helder, Netherlands, the modifications include adding an AA-battery of 4 double Bofors 40 mm-guns, replacing the fire control system with a new Hazemeyer set and shortening the masts, the other three Java class cruisers will also receive the same modifications.
The Netherlands government places an order whit Fokker for fifty Fokker D.XXIs and 14 Fokker DN.XXIs to be delivered before 1941.
Last of the two De Ruyter class cruisers is commissioned, as HNLMS Zeven Provinciën, joins the Royal Netherlands Navy.
Finding the Swedish Landverk armored car engine to weak, DAF, whit corporation of several army and marine officers, comes with an alternative vehicle who appears much more modern than the Landsverk vehicles, called the M37, it keeps the same armament as the Landsverk, and after test have been completed, DAF receives a order for 36 of these vehicles, to be use by the armored car battalion, belonging to the Royal Netherlands Marines Corps.
Third and fourth Holland class destroyers, HNLMS Friesland and HNLMS Groningen are commissioned, bringing the total destroyers service whit the Royal Netherlands Navy to twelve.
The Fokker G.I enters in production at Fokker, the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service who has ordered 36 G.Is wants to use them as heavy fighter and bomber destroyers, and the plan is to equip two squadrons for defense of the Netherlands.
1938
The 3rd Netherlands East Indies Squadron, is formed, and consist of two De Ruyter class cruisers and four Holland class destroyers, becoming the reserve squadron in the Netherlands East Indies Fleet, when not deployed whit the 3rd Netherlands East Indies Squadron, the two De Ruyter class cruisers and four Holland class destroyers are available for the defense of the Netherlands itself.
Battlecruiser HNLMS Rotterdam is decommissioned as flagship of the 2nd Netherlands East Indies Squadron, whit here function being taken over by Eendracht-class battlecruiser, HNLMS Kijkduin.
HNLMS Java is re-commissioned with her new look and is sent to Gibraltar Strait to escort Netherlands ships, as the Spanish Civil war is still reaching on.
The main Netherlands aircraft manufacture, Fokker, halts production of the naval version of the Fokker C.X scout and light bomber, of which only 12 where build, and who are now used mostly to train Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service pilot’s onboard British carriers.
First of the two Tromp class cruisers, HNLMS Tromp is commissioned into the Royal Netherlands Navy.
The first of the two named light carriers is commissioned whit the Royal Netherlands Navy, named HNLMS Den Haag, she is the first of two Den Haag-class light carriers to be commissioned and carriers 12 Fokker Nimrods and 8 Fokker DN.XXI.
Java class-cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra enters Den Helder, Netherlands, to receive the same modernization as the lead ship of the class HNLMS Java has received, the two other cruisers; HNLMS Celebes and HNLMS Borneo have already received their modernization at naval base Soerabaja, Netherlands East Indies.
40 Fokker Nimrods now serve in the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service, for use on the Den Haag class light carrier, HNLMS Den Haag, and the soon to be commissioned HNLMS Den Helder, while also being used for defense of the Netherlands.
Java class-cruiser, HNLMS Java leaves for the Netherlands East Indies via Suez, escorting light carrier, HNLMS Den Haag, who is going to join the 1st Netherlands East Indies Squadron.
The 1st Royal Netherlands Marine Brigade is elevated to division status, becoming the 1st Royal Netherlands Marine Division, it consist of 3 infantry regiments, one armored regiment and one armored car battalion, and main function is to protect the Netherlands East Indies together whit the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army.
The last Tromp-class cruiser is laid down at the Nederlandse Scheepsbouw Mij in Amsterdam.
1939
January 9th
Tromp class cruiser, HNLMS Tromp starts her first cruise from Rotterdam, whit here destination being the Mediterranean.
January 11th
The second and last of the two Den Haag light carriers, HNLMS Den Helder , is commission in the royal Netherlands Navy , and like here sister ship , HNLMS Den Haag has 12 Fokker Nimrods and 8 Fokker DN.XXI onboard.
January 13th
Tromp class cruiser, HNLMS Tromp arrives in Lisbon, Portugal.
January 15th
Tromp class cruiser HNLMS Tromp while laying at anchor in Lisbon, Portugal, is rammed by the German passenger ship Orinoco, but is only lightly damaged.
March 11th
The Netherlands, in urgent need of more combat aircraft, place an order for 18 Douglas Model 8A-3Ns light assault/strategic reconnaissance fighters for use by the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service, 1st naval air regiment.
April 30th
Fleet review at Scheveningen, Netherlands , present are the newly commissioned Den Haag class light carrier, HNLMS Den Helder , Tromp class cruiser, HNLMS Tromp , Java class cruiser , HNLMS Sumatra , De Ruyter class cruiser , HNLMS Zeven Provinciën and Eendracht-class battlecruiser, HNLMS Kijkduin.
May 12th
Eendracht-class battlecruiser, HNLMS Kijkduin and Den Haag class light carrier, HNLMS Den Helder starts their voyage towards the Netherlands East Indies.
June 5th
Eendracht-class battlecruiser, HNLMS Kijkduin and Den Haag class light carrier, HNLMS Den Helder arrive in Naval Base Tandjong Priok, Java, whit both HNLMS Den Helder and HNLMS Kijkduin joining the Netherlands East Indies Fleet, 2nd Netherlands East Indies Squadron.
July 3rd
Submarine minelayer for operations in home waters as well as in the colonies, HNLMS 0 19 is commissioned at Wilton-Fijenoord shipyard, Rotterdam, its sister ship HNLMS 0 20 , is expected to be commissioned in Augusts of this year.
August 19th
Tromp class cruiser, HNLMS Tromp starts her long voyage to the Netherlands East Indies, via the Mediterranean and Suez.
August 21st
Minelayer HNLMS Willem van der Zaan is commissioned, she is considered the most modern minelayer in service whit the Royal Netherlands navy.
August 24th
Commissioning of artillery instructions ship HNLMS Van Kinsbergen happens on this day, with her predecessor HNLMS Gelderland being decommissioned, and whit it all Holland-class Pantserdekschepen are decommissioned.
September 1st
The German battleship KMS Schleswig-Holstein opens bombardment on the Westerplatte, a Polish military base outside Danzig, at the same time; regular Wehrmacht troops begin crossing the border into Poland.
September 2nd
Java class cruiser HNLMS Sumatra and De Ruyter class cruiser HNLMS Zeven Provinciën begin performing various duties which included escorting merchants of Netherlands and German origin through the Netherlands territorial waters.
September 3th
Minelayer HNLMS Willem van der Zaan lays 98 mines near Den Helder, Netherlands.
September 4th
The Netherlands Government issues a statement declaring strict neutrality.
September 8th
The Netherlands Government issues instructions to general Reijnders, for the defense off fortress Holland en de Grebbeberg.
September 9th
The first Fokker G-1 heavy fighters begin entering service whit the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service, 1st naval air regiment, 2nd and 4th fighter squadron in the Netherlands.
September 10th
Tromp class cruiser, HNLMS Tromp departs Sabang for Java after refueling.
September 12th
Tromp class cruiser, HNLMS Tromp ,has a rendezvous with the British heavy cruiser HMS Cornwall of Padang, Sumatra , as there are several large German merchants moored in Padang, and according to the British , she inquires what the Netherlands government is planning to do about this ,the government in the NEI replies that they will uphold the proclamation of neutrality, nevertheless, HNLMS Tromp receives the order to search the German ships in Padang for anything suspicious , but boarding party’s conducted the search onboard the German ships , find nothing out of the ordinary.
September 22nd
Minelayer HNLMS Willem van der Zaan lays a new row of 97 mines to the minefield started on September 3th, near Den Helder, Netherlands.
September 29th
Submarines HNLMS O 9, HNLMS O 10 and HNLMS O 11 are attached to the 'coastal division" ,and will be used as the offensive part of the Netherlands coastal defense.
October 2nd
Artillery instructions ship HNLMS Van Kinsbergen departs Den Helder for Netherlands West Indies with submarines HNLMS O-20 and HNLMS O-14 to train new gunners and to join whit the sloop HNLMS Johan Maurits van Nassau, already operating in the Netherlands West Indies.
October 8th
Germany annexes Western Poland.
October 23rd
Tromp class cruiser, HNLMS Tromp officially becomes part of the 2nd Netherlands East Indies Squadron, replacing HNLMS Borneo, who is in Naval Base Soerabaja for an overhaul.
October 27th
The Netherlands ministry of War, confiscates 25 G-1 heavy fighters, meant for Spain, and orders Fokker to arm them as soon as possible.
October 31st
Artillery instructions ship HNLMS Van Kinsbergen arrives at Naval Base "Pareira", Curaçao, and joins sloop HNLMS Johan Maurits van Nassau in patrolling the Netherlands West Indies.
November 1st
As HNLMS Van Kinsbergen leaves Naval Base "Pareira, a British destroyer enters territorial waters, which is strictly forbidden by the neutrality proclamation of September 1939, the British destroyer after being notified of this by HNLMS Van Kinsbergen leafs shortly after.
November 13th
24 DAF M.37 now are in service whit the 1st armored car battalion, 1st Royal Netherlands Marine Division. The older M.36 armored car, are still in service whit the Royal Netherlands Army, 1st Squadron Armored Cars, Light Division, where they are used together whit T-2 light tank (Carden LoydMark VI tankettes) forming the 1st, 2nd 3rd and 4th Squadron Light Tanks.
November 17th
All 18 Douglas 8A-3N, bough in March, are assembled and tested, and deployed whit the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service, 1st naval air regiment.
December 9th
Netherlands East Indies Fleet, 1st Netherlands East Indies Squadron consisting of by Eendracht-class battlecruiser, HNLMS Eendracht, Den Haag class light carrier, HNLMS Den Haag, Java class cruiser HNLMS Java, Tromp class cruiser, HNLMS Tromp, four Admiralen-class destroyers, Zuiderkruis-class submarine mother ship, HNLMS Zuiderkruis and a division of submarines are placed on standby in the Java Sea after a messages of a Japanese concentration of naval forces near Formosa.
December 12th
Flores-class sloop HNLMS Flores leaves the Netherlands East Indies for the Netherlands via Suez.
1940
January 10th
The Royal Netherlands Navy creates the Zuiderzee Squadron which is made up of the Java class cruiser HNLMS Sumatra, De Ruyter class cruiser HNLMS Zeven Provinciën, gunboats HNLM Brinio, HNLMS Friso and torpedoboat HNLMS Z3.
January 16th
During a routine takeoff from Den Haag light carrier, HNLMS Den Haag, a Fokker Nimrod crashes into the sea after its engine stops , killing its pilot when the Fokker crashes into the sea , this crash is the third involving a Fokker Nimrod sins it entered into service whit the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service in 1935 and the second accident onboard one of the Royal Netherlands Navy, two light carriers.
January 21st
For the first times sins 1933, the sloop HNLMS Johan Maurits van Nassau, arrives back in the Netherlands after it was relieved by artillery instructions ship HNLMS Van Kinsbergen ,who is now patrolling the Netherlands West indies , HNLMS Johan Maurits van Nassau will after some maintenance, be used as a search and guard vessel, based out of Vlissingen.
January 31st
Despite the best efforts of the Royal Netherlands Navy to get more submarine into service, it has only got some 30 submarines a commission as of 1940, whit the newest being the 0 21 class HNLMS O 27 who was commissioned on this day and the oldest being HNLMS K VII, who was commissioned in 1916, and is operating out of the Netherlands East Indies.
February 3rd
Flores class sloop HNLMS Flores arrives in Den Helder, and is assigned, to escort German merchant’s true Netherlands coastal waters.
February 8th
The first twelve T-4 light tanks enter service whit the 1st Royal Netherlands Marine Armored Battalion, which is part of the 1st Royal Netherlands Marine Division deployed in the Netherlands East Indies. The T-4 is a development of the T-3 which is a license version of the British Vickers 6-ton light tank, of which 80 are in service whit the two Royal Netherlands Marine Armored Battalions, the improvements of the T-4 over the T-3 are, a more reliable and powerful diesel engine, thicker armor, a 37 mm Bofors cannon, which is the same as the DAF M.37 armor car main armament and some other minor modifications.
February 5th
General Winkelman becomes the new commander of the Royal Netherlands Army.
February 29th
A incident similar to the one on November 1st occurs as a British cruiser steams into Netherlands territorial waters, before being warned by of HNLMS Van Kinsbergen, who is patrolling outside the island of Curacao.
March 5th
HNLMS Van Kinsbergen visits the island Bonaire.
March 6th
While Java class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra lies at anchor in Den Helder, submarine HNLMS O-11 is rammed by the tug HNLMS BV 3 with the loss of three crew members, Sumatra assist the salvage crew with her searchlights during the night.
March 8th
Eendracht-class battlecruiser, HNLMS Kijkduin, whit the Governor General of the Netherlands East Indies on board, begins a trip along Sumatra's western coast.
March 17th
Wile at anchor off Callantsoog, HNLMS Sumatra, anchor line suddenly breaks and Sumatra starts drifting towards a minefield, fortunately, the engine room manages to power up the engines and Sumatra is able to sail safely away from the danger zone.
March 20th
During an air combat patrol a Fokker G.1 heavy fighter belonging to the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service, 1st naval air regiment, 2nd fighter squadron, forces a Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bomber, belonging to the RAF's No. 77 Squadron to land, when it strays into Netherlands air space
April 8th
For the second time, in almost four months a squadron belonging to the Netherlands East Indies Fleet is placed on standby in the Java sea after rumors about a Japanese fleet concentration near Formosa is reported, this time it is the 3rd Netherlands East Indies Squadron which is placed on standby , consisting of Java class cruiser HNLMS Celebes, De Ruyter class cruiser, HNLMS De Ruyter and four Holland class destroyers.
April 9th
Germany invades Denmark and Norway.
April 12th
The last of the 36 Dornier Do-24 flying boats enters in service whit the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service, in Netherlands East Indies, whit some 26 Dornier Do-24 flying boats are in use in the Netherlands itself, the Royal Netherlands Naval Aviation Service has also ordered 36 Consolidated PBY Catalina's for use in the Netherlands East Indies, as production of the Dornier Do-24 flying boats is not going fast enough.
April 14th
While running on the surface, submarine HNLMS O 10 is accidentally attacked by a British plane off the coast of the Netherlands.
April 19th
The Netherlands government announces that from this day on the state of siege is extended to the whole of Netherlands.
May 2nd
Submarine HNLMS O 15 departs from the Netherlands and heads for the Netherlands East Indies.
May 7th
Whit tension in Europe increasing the Royal Netherlands Navy decides to send the 3rd Netherlands East Indies Squadron made up of, De Ruyter-class cruiser, HNLMS De Ruyter , Holland-class destroyers, HNLMS Holland, HNLMS Zeeland, HNLMS Friesland and HNLMS Groningen to the Netherlands, where it will join the already present Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra and De Ruyter-class cruiser, HNLMS Zeven Provinciën in patrolling the coast of the Netherlands.
May 9th
The lead ship of the new Gerard Callenburgh-class destroyer, one of four of its class and a improvement over the Holland-class destroyers is commissioned into the Royal Netherlands Navy.
Submarines HNLMS O 9 and HNLMS O 10 depart Naval Base Den Helder and head to their patrol area off the Netherlands coast.
Submarine HNLMS O 15 arrives in Ponta Delgada ,Portugese Azores for a stop.
May 10th
People across the Netherlands awake, to the sound of aircraft engines roaring in the sky ,as Nazi Germany begins operation Fall Gelb and attacks the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Luxembourg.
The Netherlands East and West Indies and Netherlands Guiana formally declare the existence of a state of war with Germany ,the Governor of Netherlands West Indies places the islands under martial law.
Submarines HNLMS O 9, HNLMS O 10, HNLMS O 13 are during their patrol off the Netherlands coast attacked by German planes.
Lieutenant-Commander Alfred de Booy, Netherlands Naval Attaché, in London, becomes acting deputy commander in chief, for all royal Netherlands Navy ships that arrive safely , the United Kingdom.
A boarding party, belonging to Java class cruiser , HNLMS Borneo successfully captures the German owned freighters Bitterfeld Wuppertal and Rheinland in the harbor of Padang.
HNLMS Sumatra who is stationed in Vlissingen on the Westerschelde for inspection of merchants, fires on German aircraft, which are laying mines near the entrance of the harbor.
The last of the Tromp-class cruisers, HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck, who is still uncompleted moored at her dockyard, but fortunately, has here propulsion system installed and tested, has during the day, as much equipment as possible aboard is put on board , and leaves Amsterdam early in the evening for the United Kingdom , HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck reaches open sea successfully, and during the trip, meets two British destroyers who are unsure of her identity, but after contact between HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck and the British has been made , they allow here to continue here journey towards the United Kingdom.
Second Gerard Callenburgh-class destroyer, Isaac Sweers who was launched on March 11th, is towed to the United Kingdom by the tug Zwarte Zee, in order to prevent here from falling in German hands.
May 11th
De Ruyter class cruiser , HNLMS Zeven Province is ordered to leave Rotterdam and head towards Naval Base Den Helder.
Submarine HNLMS O 8 is decommissioned, whit the goal of destroying here.
Luxembourg is occupied.
The Japanese Foreign Minister notifies diplomatic representatives of the Netherlands, Germany, Britain, France, USA, and Italy that it will not tolerate any change of nationality control of the Netherlands East Indies ,and that any outside interference will be considered an extension of the war to the Orient, which the empire of Japan will forcibly oppose.
Thor-class river gunboats HNLMS Bulgia and HNLMS Thor are sunk in the port of Vlissingen by German planes.
Tromp-class cruiser, HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck reaches the Thames.
Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra leaves Vlissingen in the early morning for Yarmouth, United Kingdom.
Tromp-class cruiser, HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck leaves the Downs for Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
Gerard Callenburgh class destroyer, HNLMS Isaac Sweers arrives in Spithead, where she will stay, until she can be moved to Portsmouth, where she will be completed.
Four days in the journey of the 3rd Netherlands East Indies Squadron, its commander Rear-Admiral J.J.A. van Staveren, receives orders from Netherlands East Indies fleet headquarters at Batavia, to return to Naval Base Soerabaja, now that the German invasion of the Netherlands is underway.
Submarine HNLMS O 15 departs Ponta Delgada ,Portugese Azores , and heads towards Curaçao , the next stop in its journey towards the Netherlands East Indies.
British and French troops land in the Netherlands West Indies Islands of Curacao and Aruba, to aid the Netherlands local authorities in the security of the islands.
May 12th
Submarines HNLMS O 21 and HNLMS O 22, depart from Vlissingen to Portsmouth ,United Kingdom , in order to escape from the invading German forces ,where both will arrive safely a couple of days later.
Minelayer, HNLMS Willem van der Zaan together whit minelayers , HNLMS Jan van Brakel , HNLMS Nautilus and the tactical barrage Middelrug-Haaks lays 240 mines ,after completing the assignment, HNLMS Willem van der Zaan returns to Den Helder.
British cruisers HMS Galatea and HMS Arethusa arrive in the port city of of IJmuiden , where the will load the gold reserve of the central bank of the Netherlands, and bring it to the United Kingdom.
May 13th
General Winkelman commander royal Netherlands army advise the Netherlands government that he considered the general situation to be critical, as on land, the Netherlands have been cut off from the Allied front and it’s becoming clear that no major Allied landings are to be expected to reinforce Fortress Holland by sea; without such support there is no prospect of a prolonged successful resistance.
Submarines HNLMS O 23, HNLMS O 24, HNLMS O 17 and HNLMS O 25 sail, from Rotterdam to Portsmouth in order to escape from the invading German forces, all arriving there safely in the United Kingdom unlike submarines HNLMS O 8, HNLMS O 11, HNLMS O 12, HNLMS O 18, HNLMS O 27 and HNLMS O 28, who are scuttled by yard personal in order to prevent them from falling into German hands.
Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra arrives in Immingham, United Kingdom.
De Ruyter-class cruiser, HNLMS Zeven Provinciën who is still at Naval Base Den Helder takes onboard Queen Wilhelmina, Crown Princess Juliana, her husband Prince Bernhard and their children and departs toward the United Kingdom.
Minelayer, HNLMS Willem van der Zaan evacuates to the United Kingdom, and arrives safely in Portsmouth in the morning of May 14th, from Den Helder, she also takes a cargo of 10 torpedoes and other equipment for Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra with her, in addition, four downed German aviators are embarked.
Tromp-class cruiser, HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck arrives at Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
British cruisers HMS Galatea and HMS Arethusa leave the port city of of IJmuiden, whit the majority of the Netherlands gold reserve on board.
The governments of Great Britain, Netherlands, and France assure the Empire of Japan that no change of control of the Netherlands East Indies is intended.
The Netherlands government embarks British destroyer HMS Windsor for the United Kingdom, several hours after De Ruyter-class cruiser, HNLMS Zeven Provinciën departed Naval Base Den Helder ,whit the Queen and here family on board.
May 14th
Despite local success of the royal Netherlands army across the province of Holland and the arrival of the French, the situation is looking bleak, whit only the Netherlands province of Holland and part of the province of Zeeland still under Netherlands control.
Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, Hermann Goering, orders the carpet bombing of the city of Rotterdam, killing more than 1,000 people, later the Germans give a ultimatum to General Winkelman, surrender ore more cities will be destroyed.
The Royal Netherlands Navy decides to destroy the third and fourth Gerard Callenburgh-class destroyer still under construction.
Flores class sloop, HNLMS Flores is ordered to steam to the Oosterschelde to support the defenses on Zuid-Beveland and is attacked several times without result, while in transit to another bombardment mission, pieces of debris gets stuck in the starboard propeller , as the damage cannot be repaired, HNLMS Flores changes course and steams to Zeebrugge.
Johan Maurits van Nassau sloop, HNLMS Johan Maurits van Nassau leading a convoy to United Kingdom and consisting of mine layers HNLMS Jan van Brakel, HNLMS Douwe Aukes, HNLMS Nautilus and the torpedo boats, HNLMS G 13 and HNLMS G 15, is sunk by German aircraft, survivors of HNLMS Johan Maurits are rescued by the other convoy ships, who continue their journey towards the United Kingdom.
May 15th
The Royal Netherlands Army surrenders, as General Winkelman is not willing to risk more cities’ destroyed.
The commander of Naval Base Den Helder, Rear-Admiral Hoyte Jolles, concludes that his base, with a naval garrison of 10,000, its own air service, and extensive land defenses, should continue to resist, only with some difficulty, is General Winkelman able to convince the Rear-Admiral, to obey the surrender order.
The Netherlands Government now based in the United Kingdom orders that all Netherlands forces fighting in the province of Zeeland, are not part of the surrendering, as they are under French command, who are still fighting the Germans ,and therefore are to continue to fight the Germans.
Hydra-class minelayer, HNLMS Hydra is damaged by German anti-tank rounds and beached by crew in the province of Zeeland, here sister ship HNLMS Medusa, manages to reach safely the United Kingdom.
Admiral J.Th. Furstner becomes commander in chief, royal Netherlands Navy.
Flores class sloop, HNLMS Flores who is still in Zeebrugge, where the damage to the propeller from the previous day cannot be repaired is ordered to steam to Dunkirk.
De Ruyter class cruiser HNLMS Zeven Provinciën whit on board the Queen and the royal family, arrives safely in Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
3rd Netherlands East Indies Squadron arrives back at Naval Base Soerabaja.
May 17th
The Germans demand the capitulation of the province of Zeeland, which is still partly controlled by a joint force consisting of Netherlands and French forces, when this demand is rejected by the commander of the Netherlands and French forces, the Germans ordered the Luftwaffe to carpet bombed Middelburg, the province's capital city, nearly 600 buildings are destroyed by the bombing and resulting fire , later in the evening, a radio transmission is broadcast stating that Netherlands forces still fighting in part of the province of Zeeland will surrender , ending the battle of the Netherlands in Germany favor.
Rear-Admiral Doorman becomes commanding officer of the 1st Netherlands East Indies Squadron, whit his flagship being Den Haag class light carrier, HNLMS Den Haag.
Flores class sloop, HNLMS Flores arrives in Dover, United Kingdom together whit Douwe Aukes class minelayer, HNLMS Van Meerlant
May 18th
Admiral Furstner and Queen Wilhelmina visit all royal Netherlands navy vessels in Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
Java class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra receives a degaussing cable for protection against magnetic mines.
May 25th
Tromp class cruiser, HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck begins in Portsmouth her refit.
May 28th
Java class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra departures from Immingham to Milford Haven in the bay of Bristol.
Belgium surrenders to the Germans.
May 29th
Submarine HNLMS O 15 arrives at Curaçao.
May 30th
De Ruyter class cruiser, HNLMS Zeven Provinciën and Java class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra are assigned to take crown princess Juliana and her two daughters to Canada.
Tromp class cruiser, HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck begins here conversion to an AA-cruiser.
May 31st
HNLMS Van Kinsbergen enters drydock in Curaçao for some repairs.
June 1st
No. 320 (Netherlands) Squadron RAF is formed at Pembroke Dock.
June 2nd
Crown princess Juliana and her two daughters board De Ruyter-class cruiser, HNLMS Zeven Provinciën, whit Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra acting as a backup, in case anything happens to HNLMS Zeven Provinciën towards their journey to Canada.
HNLMS Van Kinsbergen receives a depth charge installation, copied from HMS Caradoc, during her stay in the drydock in Curaçao.
June 4th
In a meeting between the Netherlands Chief of Naval Staff and the British 'Chief of Staff of the Vice-Admiral of Submarines' it is decided there is no need for royal Netherlands navy submarines to be based out of Netherlands West Indies, and therefore submarines HNLMS O 14 and HNLMS O 20 will be ordered to the United Kingdom.
June 6th
De Ruyter class cruiser , HNLMS Zeven Provinciën and Java class cruiser , HNLMS Sumatra on their way to Canada come across a British armed merchant cruiser.
June 7th
Flashes are seen on the horizon and HNLMS Sumatra immediately steers away from the sighting, whit HNLMS Zeven Provinciën following in order to try to avoid possible enemy encounter.
June 10th
HNLMS Van Kinsbergen starts a patrol off Venezuela, where several Italian tankers are located.
To enable minelayer, HNLMS Willem van der Zaan to lay British mines, a period of rebuilding is required ,and therefore she is towed to Basin No.2 of the Naval Yard in Portsmouth.
Preparations begin for submarine HNLMS O 20 to depart for Halifax, Canada, and will during its transit, be placed under the command of the British Commander in Chief America and West Indies Station.
Norway falls to German forces.
June 11th
De Ruyter-class cruiser, HNLMS Zeven Provinciën and Java class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra arrive in Halifax, Canada.
June 13th
Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra departures from Halifax for Bermuda escorting the British troop transport Lady Drake.
HNLMS Van Kinsbergen returns to Curaçao, from here patrol off Venezuela.
Escorted by the British Shoreham class sloop ,HMS Dundee, submarine HNLMS O 20 departs from Curaçao and heads for the Bermudas.
June 16th
Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra anchors in the Bermuda’s, but continues the voyage with the Lady Drake later that day.
June 18th
Submarine HNLMS O 20 arrives in Hamilton, Bermudas.
June 20th
Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra arrives in Kingston, Jamaica.
June 21st
Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra and Lady Drake (with soldiers of the "Shropshire Infantry" on board) depart Kingston for Curacao.
June 22nd
France formally surrenders to Germany.
June 23rd
Java-class cruiser , HNLMS Sumatra and Lady arrives in Curacao.
Submarine HNLMS O 15 arrives in the Netherlands East Indies, having taken the route via the Panama Canal.
June 25th
De Ruyter-class cruiser , HNLMS Zeven Provinciën leaves Halifax to return to the United Kingdom.
June 27th
Minelayer, HNLMS Willem van der Zaan rebuild is completed ,to test the new mine rails, two dummy mines are laid.
June 28th
Minelayer, HNLMS Willem van der Zaan takes on fuel and ammunition for her trials.
The British Dominions Secretary informs the Australian Government that with Italy in the war and France out, Great Britain can not send a fleet to the Far East ,and that Australia together whit the Netherlands , is for the time being ,on their own.
July 2nd
De Ruyter-class cruiser, HNLMS Zeven Provinciën reaches Falmouth, United Kingdom without much trouble.
July 5th
The French begin embarking their troops, whit their jobs being taken over by 120 royal Netherlands marines belonging to the 1st Royal Netherlands Marine division based out of the Netherlands East Indies and 280 British soldiers belonging to the Shropshire Infantry regiment.
July 10th
Java-class cruiser , HNLMS Sumatra departs Curacao to conduct a patrol sweep off the Colombian and Venezuelan mainland, where some German merchants are at anchor.
De Ruyter-class cruiser , HNLMS Zeven Provinciën is assigned to bring the Netherlands gold reserve to Canada , and will do this together whit the British Emerald-class light cruiser, HMS Emerald ,who is also scheduled to deliver gold, destined for safekeeping in Canada.
July 15th
Java-class cruiser , HNLMS Sumatra arrives in Kingston, Jamaica.
July 17th
British premier Winston Churchill visits Tromp class cruiser, HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck which is being converted towards an AA-cruiser.
July 18th
Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra leaves Jamaica for shooting practice.
Submarine HNLMS O 20 arrives in Hamilton ,Bermudas.
July 20th
Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra takes part in the search for a German raider.
De Ruyter-class cruiser, HNLMS Zeven Provinciën and Emerald-class light cruiser, HMS Emerald arrive in Halifax, Canada ,where they begin unloading their precious cargo, who will be stored at the Bank of Canada.
July 23rd
De Ruyter-class cruiser, HNLMS Zeven Provinciën together whit Emerald-class light cruiser, HMS Emerald and Revenge class battleship, HMS Revenge, escort a convoy taking Canadian troops to United Kingdom.
July 24th
Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra anchors in the Bermudas.
July 25th
HNLMS Van Kinsbergen leaves Trinidad to patrol the waters of Guyana and to visit Suriname.
July 26th
Java class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra departures the Bermudas
July 28th
No. 321 (Dutch) Squadron RAF is formed at Pembroke Dock.
July 29th
Java-class cruiser, HNLMS Sumatra arrives in Kingston.
July 30th
Minelayer, HNLMS Willem van der Zaan together whit British minelayers lays a total of five mines in a period of a month.
July 31st
Hydra-class minelayer , HNLMS Medusa , is made a accommodation ship at Holyhead, United Kingdom.
