Henri Charles Besançon, RNN
| Born | 28 Sep 1906 | Den Helder, Netherlands | |
| Died | 21 Dec 1941 | (35) | HrMs K XVII |
| Ranks
Decorations |
Warship Commands listed for Henri Charles Besançon, RNN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HNMS K XI (N 53) | luitenant ter zee 2e klasse (Lt.) | Submarine | 6 Mar 1939 | 9 Sep 1940 |
| HNMS K XIII | luitenant ter zee 1e klasse (Lt.Cdr.) | Submarine | 9 Sep 1940 | 20 Sep 1941 |
| HNMS K XVII | luitenant ter zee 1e klasse (Lt.Cdr.) | Submarine | 20 Sep 1941 | 21 Dec 1941 (+) (1) |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Submarine HNMS K XVII ()
28 Nov 1941
HrMs K XVII (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Besançon, RNN) departed Surabaya together with HrMs O 16 (Lt.Cdr. A.J. Bussemaker, RNN) (this is the 1st Dutch submarine division) with the orders to proceed to North-West Borneo.
1 Dec 1941
The Dutch 1st submarine division (made up of HrMs O 16 (Lt.Cdr. A.J. Bussemaker, RNN) and HrMs K XVII (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Besançon, RNN)) is put under the operation command of the British Commander-in-Chief China Station. The division is ordered to proceed to Singapore.
6 Dec 1941
The Dutch 1st submarine division (made up of HrMs O 16 (Lt.Cdr. A.J. Bussemaker, RNN) and HrMs K XVII (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Besançon, RNN)) departed Singapore to patrol off the Gulf of Siam near position 07.30N, 103.00E.
10 Dec 1941
While still en-route to their patrol area HrMs O 16 (Lt.Cdr. A.J. Bussemaker, RNN), HrMs K XVII (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Besançon, RNN), HrMs K XIII (Lt.Cdr. M.A.J. Derksema, RNN), HrMs K XI (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Deketh, RNN) and HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) are ordered to proceed towards the East coast of Malaya after they had reached their patrol position.
As K XVII did not return from patrol it is not known when she reached her patrol position.
13 Dec 1941
HrMs K XVII (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Besançon, RNN), HrMs K XIII (Lt.Cdr. M.A.J. Derksema, RNN), HrMs K XI (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Deketh, RNN) and HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) are ordered to form a patrol line to the North-West of Mankai Island (Anambas Islands).
K XVII was ordered to take up a patrol position 310°, Mankai Island light, 80 nautical miles.
14 Dec 1941
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) that is en-route to Singapore (Having missed a signal to form the patrol line to the North-East of Mankai Island), meets HrMs K XVII (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Besançon, RNN) shortly after noon. K XVII informed them about a signal K XII had missed and that she had to take up a patrol position 310°, Pulau Mankai, 20 nautical miles. The position of the encounter was near to the position K XVII had to take up in the patrol line.
The crew of K XII were the last to see K XVII as she failed to arrive at Singapore on 21 December.
15 Dec 1941
The patrol line was ordered to proceed towards the coast of Malaya on a course of 270 degrees.
16 Dec 1941
HrMs K XVII (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Besançon, RNN) and HrMs K XI (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Deketh, RNN) are ordered to patrol off the mouth of the Pahang river.
17 Dec 1941
HrMs K XVII (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Besançon, RNN) and HrMs K XI (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Deketh, RNN) are ordered to patrol off the mouth of the Endau river.
19 Dec 1941
HrMs K XVII (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Besançon, RNN) and HrMs K XI (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Deketh, RNN) are ordered to return to Singapore.
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