Henry Christophe John Coumou DSC, RNN(R)
| Born | 24 Sep 1909 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| Died | 25 Oct 1973 | (64) | Middleburg, Netherlands |
 | Ranks
Retired: 1953 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Henry Christophe John Coumou, RNN(R)
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HNMS K XII (N 61) | luitenant ter zee 1e klasse (Lt.Cdr.) | Submarine | 20 Sep 1941 | 15 Jul 1942 |
| HNMS K IX (N 39) | luitenant ter zee 1e klasse (Lt.Cdr.) | Submarine | 15 Jul 1942 | 23 Aug 1942 |
| HNMS IJsselmonde (FY 1026) | luitenant ter zee 1e klasse (Lt.Cdr.) | Motor minesweeper | 17 Apr 1943 | 5 May 1943 |
| HNMS Wieringen (FY 1025) | luitenant ter zee 1e klasse (Lt.Cdr.) | Motor minesweeper | 5 May 1943 | 9 Apr 1945 |
Career information
Henry Christopher John Coumou onboard his boat.
Events related to this officer
Submarine HNMS K XII (N 61)
2 Dec 1941
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) departed Surabaya together with HrMs K IX (Lt.Cdr. P.G. de Back, RNN), HrMs K XI (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Deketh, RNN) and HrMs K XIII (Lt.Cdr. M.A.J. Derksema, RNN)
(this is the 2nd Dutch submarine division) with the orders to patrol in Strait Karimata and Strait Gaspar.
7 Dec 1941
Before the war with Japan started the submarines of the 2nd submarine division, HrMs K XIII (Lt.Cdr. M.A.J. Derksema, RNN), HrMs K IX (Lt.Cdr. P.G. de Back, RNN), HrMs K XI (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Deketh, RNN) and HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) were ordered to proceed Northwards. K XI was ordered to patrol off the Natuna Islands. The other three submarines were ordered to patrol off the Badas Islands.
K IX however developed engine problems and was forced to return to Surabaya for repairs.
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.
K XII reached her patrol position in the morning of 11 December and then proceeded towards the shore of Malaya. She arrived off Kota Bharu at daybreak on 12 December.
12 Dec 1941
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) torpedoed and sank the already damaged Japanese transport ship Awazisan Maru (9794 GRT, built 1939, sometimes also spelled as Awajisan Maru) off Kota Bharu, Malaya.
(All times are zone -7.5) In the late afternoon a large merchant ship was sighted close inshore. K XII closed submerged in very shallow water.
1815 hours - Two 21" mk.II torpedoes were fired. No explosions however followed and it is thought the torpedoes might have got stuck in the mud. It was decided to close and attack again after dark.
1923 hours - Fired a 18" mk.IV torpedo. Another one was fired 6 minutes later. Both hit. As K XII was in very shallow water she made immediately for deeper water.
The Awajisan Maru had already been damaged by British Hudson aircraft on 8 December 1941. She was gutted with fire and had been abandoned.
13 Dec 1941
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) attacked a Japanese tanker off Kota Bharu. A hit was claimed.
The ship attacked was an engines aft transport which therefore looked like a tanker. The ship was the Japanese Toro Maru (1939 GRT, built 1939) which was sunk.
(All times are zone -7.5) In the early morning hours K XII returned towards the shore and in the early afternoon a Japanese tanker was sighted.
1452 hours - Fired a 21" mk.II torpedo. The torpedo ran on the surface but non the less it hit the ship aft.
1458 hours - Fired another 21" mk.II torpedo. The results could not be observed as depth control was lost and K XII broached. She immediately dived again and cleared the area at speed to make for deeper water.
It is not known what ship was attacked and hit by K XII.
14 Dec 1941
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) set course towards Singapore. Early in the afternoon she had an encounter with HrMs K XVII (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Besançon, RNN). They 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. K XII arrived in this position early in the evening.
15 Dec 1941
Around noon HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) set course to close the shore of Malaya as she had been ordered to do by signal.
Early in the evening course was set (as ordered) towards Singapore.
16 Dec 1941
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) arrived at Singapore thus ending her 1st war patrol. Small repairs were undertaken and 6 new torpedoes were taken on board.
21 Dec 1941
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) departed Singapore for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol to the North of the Anambas Islands.
25 Dec 1941
In the evening HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) is ordered to proceed to position 04°29'N, 106°03'E to search for survivors of a British Catalina aircraft that was shot down by a Japanese aircraft.
26 Dec 1941
At 0330 hours (zone -7.5) HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) picked up 9 survivors of the British Catalina aircraft. As all survivors were injured course was set to return to Singapore.
27 Dec 1941
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) ended her 2nd war patrol at Singapore.
30 Dec 1941
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) departed Singapore for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol to the North of Kuching, Borneo.
11 Jan 1942
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) ended her 3rd war patrol at Singapore.
18 Jan 1942
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) departed Singapore for Surabaya.
23 Jan 1942
While en-route from Singapore to Surabaya HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) is ordered to take up a patrol position in the Southern entrance to the Makassar Strait making this her 4th war patrol.
31 Jan 1942
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) ended her 4th war patrol at Surabaya.
6 Feb 1942
After small repairs HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) departed Surabaya for her 5th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol to the North-West of Billiton.
10 Feb 1942
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) arrived in her patrol area.
14 Feb 1942
The port diesel engine of HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) became defective. A signal is sent to base to report the situation. K XII is then ordered to return to Surabaya for repairs.
20 Feb 1942
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) ended her 5th war patrol at Surabaya.
1 Mar 1942
After repairs HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) departed Surabaya. She was ordered to stay outside the harbour and to be ready to evacuate members of the naval staff to Colombo.
6 Mar 1942
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) departed Surabaya roads for Colombo. She had on board 7 members of the naval staff.
8 Mar 1942
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) tried to pass through either Strait Bali, Strait Lombok or Strait Atlas but Japanese destroyers were sighted patrolling at all places. It was decided to postpone the passage and if it proved to be impossible to pass the above mentioned Strait's to pass through Stait Sape.
10 Mar 1942
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) passed through Strait Sape Southbound. As there was now not enough fuel on board to make Colombo. It was decided to make for Fremantle, Australia.
20 Mar 1942
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) arrived at Fremantle.
12 May 1942
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) arrived at Sydney after stopovers at Adelaide and Melbourne. At Sydney she is to be refitted by the Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Co. Ltd.
26 May 1942
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) is docked at Sydney.
17 Jun 1942
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R)) is undocked.
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