| Navy | The Royal Dutch Navy |
| Type | Minelayer |
| Class | Willem van der Zaan |
| Pennant | M 08 |
| Built by | Nederlandse Droogdok Maatschappij (Amsterdam, Holland) |
| Ordered | |
| Laid down | 18 Jan 1938 |
| Launched | 15 Dec 1938 |
| Commissioned | 21 Aug 1939 |
| End service | Sep 1963 |
| History | Sold to be broken up for scrap on 6 October 1970. For more on this ship see this website (offsite link). For this ship's service record see this website (offsite link). |
Commands listed for HNMS Willem van der Zaan (M 08)
Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | luitenant ter zee 1e klasse (Lt.Cdr.) Hendrik Dirk Lindner, RNN | 21 Aug 1939 | 30 Jan 1941 |
| 2 | luitenant ter zee 2e klasse (Lt.) Anthonie van Miert, RNN | 30 Jan 1941 | 1 Apr 1941 |
| 3 | luitenant ter zee 1e klasse (Lt.Cdr.) Gijsbertus Petrus Küller, RNN | 1 Apr 1941 | 15 Jan 1945 |
| 4 | luitenant ter zee 1e klasse (Lt.Cdr.) Anthonie van Miert, RNN | 16 Jan 1945 | 20 Apr 1946 |
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Notable events involving Willem van der Zaan include:
22 Apr 1942
HrMs K XIV (Lt. J.H. Geijs, RNN) departed Colombo for Bombay. She was escorted by the Dutch minelayer / sloop HrMs Willem van der Zaan (Lt.Cdr. G.P. Küller, RNN). (1)
29 Jul 1942
HrMs K XIV (Lt. J.H. Geijs, RNN) departed Bombay for Colombo. She was escorted by the Dutch minelayer / sloop HrMs Willem van der Zaan (Lt.Cdr. G.P. Küller, RNN). The Dutch merchant Meerkerk (7995 GRT, built 1919) also made this passage together with both warships.
23 Aug 1942
Convoys US 16 and US 17.
Convoy US 16.
Convoy US 16 departed Sydney on 23 August 1942.
It was made up of the following (troop) transports; Aronda (British, 9031 GRT, built 1941) and Devonshire (British, 11275 GRT, built 1939).
The convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Kanimbla (A/Capt. W.L.G. Adams, RN).
The transport Rajula (British, 8478 GRT, built 1926) joined the convoy PM on the 27th in position 18°40'S, 140°40'E.
The convoy was joined by the light cruiser HrMs Tromp (Capt. J.B. de Meester, RNN) at 0845H/2.
The convoy arrived at Fremantle on 3 September 1942.
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Convoy US 17.
Convoy US 17 departed Sydney on 24 August 1942.
It was made up of the following (troop) transports; Ekma (British, 5108 GRT, built 1911), Felix Roussel (British, 17083 GRT, built 1930), Lilian Luckenbach (American, 6339 GRT, built 1919), Westernland (Dutch, 16479 GRT, built 1918).
The convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMAS Manoora (A/Capt. J.M. Armstrong, RAN).
At 1415K/28, the convoy was joined by the light cruiser HMAS Adelaide (A/Capt. J.C.D. Esdaile, OBE, RAN) coming from Melbourne.
The convoy arrived at Fremantle on 4 September 1942.
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The now combined convoy US 16 / US 17 departed Fremantle on 7 September. It was now escorted by the light cruisers HMAS Adelaide, HrMs Tromp, armed merchant cruisers HMS Kanimbla, HMAS Manoora and the destroyer HMAS Voyager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Robison DSC, RAN).
Around 0700H/8, HMAS Voyager was detached to return to Fremantle.
Around 1000FG/11, the heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire (Capt. R.D. Oliver, CBE, DSC, RN) joined the convoy coming from Colombo. HMAS Adelaide and HrMs Tromp then parted company to return to Fremantle.
Around 0930FG/14, the light cruiser HMS Mauritius (Capt. W.D. Stephens, RN) joined the convoy which was then split up. HMS Mauritius and HMS Kanimbla proceeded to Colombo with convoy US 16. HMS Devonshire proceeded to Durban with convoy US 17. HMAS Manoora returned to Fremantle.
Convoy US 16 was joined by the destroyer HMS Scout (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) H. Lambton, RN) around 0900FG/19. Later the same day HMS Scout developed rudder problems and had to be steered by her engines. She and HMS Kanimbla were then detached to proceed to Colombo in company while HMS Mauritius remained with the convoy. Both the convoy escorted by HMS Mauritius and HMS Scout in company with HMS Kanimbla arrived at Colombo on 23 September 1942.
Convoy US 16 departed Colombo for Aden on 24 September 1942 now escorted by the light cruiser HMS Mauritius, sloop HMS Shoreham (Cdr. E. Hewitt, RD, RNR) and the minelayer HrMs Willem van der Zaan (Lt.Cdr. G.P. Küller, RNN).
Around 2000F/26, HrMs Willem van der Zaan parted company with convoy US 16 to return to Colombo where she arrived on 29 September 1942.
Around 0800F/28, HMS Shoreham parted company with convoy US 16 to proceed to Bombay where she arrived on 1 October 1942.
Convoy US 16 arrived at Aden on 2 October 1942.
Convoy US 17 meanwhile had arrived at Durban on 23 September 1942.
Sources
- File 2.12.37.205 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)