Allied Warships

HNMS Jan van Gelder (J 60)

Minesweeper of the Jan van Amstel class

NavyThe Royal Dutch Navy
TypeMinesweeper
ClassJan van Amstel 
PennantJ 60 
Built byGusto (Schiedam, The Netherlands) 
Ordered 
Laid down10 Oct 1936 
Launched27 Mar 1937 
Commissioned13 Sep 1937 
End service 1961 
History

Jan van Gelder had her armament modified to British standards during the war, she carried 1 12 pdr AA gun in lieu of the 3" gun and the twin .5" AA guns were replaced by single 20 mm Oerlikons.
Also she received penant number J 60.

Heavily damaged on 1 October 1939 by Dutch mines off Terschelling. 3 crewmembers were killed, 3 were missing and 7 were wounded.
She received a new stern at Werf Gusto, Schiedam.
Jan van Gelder was recommissioned on 17 April 1940.
When the Germans invaded The Netherlands on 10 May 1940 she escorted the submarine O 13 to England.
The ship was refitted in 1940, and added to the 11th minesweeping flotilla, at Milford Haven.
Later she served in Scotland as escort with a British submarine flotilla.
Decommissioned by the Royal Netherlands Navy on 26 March 1943 and transferred to the Royal Navy.
Returned to the Royal Netherlands Navy in 1946 and recommissioned under her old name.
After the war she served as as a patrol ship in the Netherlands East Indies.
Returned to The Netherlands and rebuilt as boom defence vessel in 1950.
Stricken in 1961.

 

Commands listed for HNMS Jan van Gelder (J 60)

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.

CommanderFromTo
1luitenant ter zee 1e klasse (Lt.Cdr.) George IJsbrand Cornelis Fraser, RNN29 Jun 19395 Oct 1939

2luitenant ter zee 2e klasse (Lt.) Jonkheer Paul Louis Marie van Geen, RNN6 Mar 194026 Mar 1943

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Notable events involving Jan van Gelder include:


11 May 1940
HrMs O 13 (Lt.Cdr. E.H. Vorster, RNN) arrived at the Downs escorted by minesweeper HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (1)

26 Mar 1942
At 0910 hours, HMS Thunderbolt (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO, RN), made rendes-vous with her escort towards Holy Loch, the Dutch minesweeper HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (2)

1 Apr 1942
HMS P 44 (Lt. T.E. Barlow, RN) and HMS P 615 (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Hall, RN) departed their builders yard at Barrow for Holy Loch. They were escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (3)

8 Apr 1942
HMS P 46 (Lt. J.S. Stevens, DSC, RN) departed her builders yard at Barrow for Holy Loch. She was escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (4)

19 Apr 1942
HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) departed Dundee for Scapa Flow. She was escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (4)

22 Apr 1942
ORP Jastrzab (Lt.Cdr. B. Romanowski) departed Holy Loch for Lerwick. She is escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (5)

25 Apr 1942
HMS Trident (Lt. A.R. Hezlet, DSC, RN) ended her 27th war patrol at Lerwick. She departed for Holy Loch later the same day escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN).

3 May 1942
HMS Utmost (Lt. A.W. Langridge, RN). departed Blyth for passage to Holy Loch. She made the passage together with HMS Thunderbolt (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO and Bar, RN). They were escorted by HMS Scalby Wyke (Skr. C.A. Grimmer, RNR). Off Dundee they were joined by the Dutch submarine HrMs O 14 (Lt.Cdr. H.A.W. Goossens, RNN) that was on passage to Scapa Flow.

The next day HrMs O 14 and HMS Scalby Wyke proceeded to Scapa Flow while HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN) took over the escort of HMS Utmost and HMS Thunderbolt. (6)

10 May 1942
P 212 (Lt. J.H. Bromage, DSC, RN) departed her builders yard for Holy Loch. She was escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (7)

11 May 1942
HMS Utmost (Lt. A.W. Langridge, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. These included a practice attack on HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt.Cdr. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (6)

13 May 1942
HrMs O 10 (Lt. Baron D.T. Mackay, RNN) departed Rothesay for Lerwick. She made the passage together with HMS P 46 (Lt. J.S. Stevens, DSC, RN) and HMS P 614 (Lt. D.J. Beckley, RN). They were escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (8)

21 May 1942
HMS Utmost (Lt. A.W. Langridge, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area with HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt.Cdr. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (6)

22 May 1942
HrMs O 9 (Lt. J.F. Drijfhout Van Hooff, RNN) conducted attack exercises on the Clyde together with HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (9)

22 May 1942
HMS P 45 (Lt. H.B. Turner, RN) was undocked at Kames Bay. She then conducted gunnery exercises in the Clyde area on a target that was towed by HMS Z 5 (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S.T. Wenlock, RNR). These were followed by practice attacks with HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN) serving as target and finally night exercises with special forces. (10)

31 May 1942
HMS H 34 (Lt. F.D.G. Challis, DSC, RN) departed Plymouth for Rothesay. She was escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (11)

12 Jun 1942
HMS P 46 (Lt. J.S. Stevens, DSC, RN) and HMS P 222 (Lt. A.J. MacKenzie, RN) both departed Holy Loch for their passage to Gibraltar. Both submarines were to join the Mediterranean Fleet. They were escorted until Bishops Rock by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN).

For the daily positions (though incomplete) of HMS P 46 during this passage see the map below.

(12)

24 Jun 1942
HMS P 212 (Lt. J.H. Bromage, DSC, RN) departed Holy Loch for Lerwick. She was escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (13)

12 Jul 1942
ORP Sokol (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B. Karnicki, DSO) departed Holy Loch for Blyth via a stopover at Lerwick on the 14th. She was escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN) all the way. (4)

16 Jul 1942
HrMs O 21 (Lt.Cdr. J.F. van Dulm, RNN) departed from Dundee for Holy Loch. She is escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (14)

1 Aug 1942
HMS Sturgeon (Lt.Cdr. M.R.G. Wingfield, RN) departed Holy Loch for Lerwick. She was escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). On 3 August HMS Stella Pegasi (T/Lt. F.S. Howell, RNR) took over the escort. (15)

4 Aug 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Rothesay. She was escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (16)

7 Aug 1942
HrMs O 21 (Lt.Cdr. J.F. van Dulm, RNN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area with HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN) serving as the target. (14)

12 Aug 1942
HMS P 219 (Lt. N.L.A. Jewell, RN) departed Rothesay for Gibraltar. Passage through the Irish Sea was made together with HMS P 48 (Lt. M.E. Faber, RN) and HrMs O 21 (Lt.Cdr. J.F. van Dulm, RNN). They were escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN).

For the daily positions of HMS P 219 during this patrol see the map below.

(17)

2 Sep 1942
HMS P 311 (Cdr. R.D. Cayley, DSO and 2 Bars, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area during which HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN) served as target. (18)

13 Sep 1942
HMS P 311 (Cdr. R.D. Cayley, DSO and 2 Bars, RN) departed from Holy Loch for Plymouth. She has to be modified at the Devonport Dockyard to carry the containers that hold the Chariot human torpedoes. During the passage south through the Irish Sea she was escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (18)

16 Sep 1942
HMS H 50 (Lt. G.E. Hunt, DSC, RN) departed Plymouth for Rothesay. She was escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (19)

27 Sep 1942
HMS P 614 (Lt. D.J. Beckley, RN) departed Lerwick for Holy Loch. She made the passage together with HMS P 615 (Lt. P.E. Newstead, RN). They were initially escorted by HMS Preston North End (Lt. K.A. Vasey, MBE, RNR) until HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN) took over on the 28th. (20)

7 Oct 1942
HrMs Dolfijn (Lt.Cdr. H.M.L.F.E. van Oostrom Soede, RNN) departed her builders yard at Barrow for Holy Loch. She was escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (4)

26 Oct 1942
HMS Otway (Cdr. H.F. Bone, DSO and Bar, DSC and Bar, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area for the C.O.Q.C. (Commanding Officers Qualifying Course) with HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt.Cdr. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (21)

26 Oct 1942
HMS P 312 (Lt. R.M. Favell, RN) conducted special trials in the Clyde area with HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (22)

1 Nov 1942
HMS P 339 (Lt.Cdr. M.R.G. Wingfield, RN) departed from her builders yard at Barrow for Holy Loch. She was escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt.Cdr. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (23)

22 Nov 1942
HMS P 223 (Lt. G.D.N. Milner, DSC, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area during which HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt.Cdr. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN) served as target. On completion of these exercises noise trials were carried out in Loch Goil. (24)

25 Nov 1942
HMS P 49 (Lt. J.P. Fyfe, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area during which HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN) served as target. (25)

26 Nov 1942
HMS P 49 (Lt. J.P. Fyfe, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area during which HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN) and HMS Breda (Capt.(Retd.) A.E. Johnston, RN) served as targets. These included night exercises. (25)

3 Feb 1943
HMS Oberon (Lt.Cdr. J.W. McCoy, DSC, RN) conducted gunnery exercises in the Clyde area with a target towed by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt.Cdr. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (26)

4 Feb 1943
HMS Oberon (Lt.Cdr. J.W. McCoy, DSC, RN) conducted gunnery exercises in the Clyde area with a target towed by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt.Cdr. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (26)

5 Feb 1943
HMS P 223 (Lt. G.D.N. Milner, DSC, RN) conducted gunnery exercises in the Clyde area on a target that was being towed by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt.Cdr. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (27)

18 Feb 1943
Stubborn (Lt. A.A. Duff, RN) departed her builders yard at Liverpool for Holy Loch. She was escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt.Cdr. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (28)

25 Feb 1943
HMS Usurper (Lt. D.R.O. Mott, DSC, RN) was conducting exercises on Inmarnock Water when she was ordered to search in the Clyde area for her missing sister ship HMS Vandal (Lt. J.S. Bridger, RN).

The following submarines / ships were also ordered to search for HMS Vandal (which was not found until 1994); HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, DSO, RN), HMS L 27 (Lt. W.N. Eade, RNR), HMS Severn (Lt.Cdr. A.N.G. Campbell, RN), HMS Stubborn (Lt. A.A. Duff, RN), HMS Whitehall (Cdr. C.L.de H. Bell, RD, RNR), HMS Breda (Capt.(Retd.) A.E. Johnston, RN), HMS Kingfisher (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) G.H. Gandy, RN), HMS La Capricieuse (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Dobson, RNR), HMS Cygnet (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) F.B. Proudfoot, RN), HMS Tedworth (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) G.H. Warren, RN) and HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (29)

6 Mar 1943
HMS Satyr (Lt. J.P.H. Oakley, DSC, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area during which HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt.Cdr. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN) served as target. (30)

12 Mar 1943
HMS Stubborn (Lt. A.A. Duff, RN) conducted RDF (radar) exercises in the Clyde area with HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt.Cdr. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (31)

16 Mar 1943
Surf (Lt. D. Lambert, DSC, RN) departed her builders yard for Holy Loch. She was escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt.Cdr. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (32)

19 Mar 1943
HMS Stubborn (Lt. A.A. Duff, RN) conducted RDF (radar) exercises in the Clyde area with HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt.Cdr. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (31)

Sources

  1. File 2.12.27.215 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
  2. ADM 199/1846
  3. ADM 173/17399
  4. ADM 199/424
  5. ADM 199/1907
  6. ADM 173/17732
  7. ADM 173/17438
  8. File 2.12.03.6379 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
  9. File 2.12.03.6370 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
  10. ADM 173/17406
  11. ADM 173/17237
  12. ADM 199/1822
  13. ADM 173/17439
  14. File 2.12.03.6412 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
  15. ADM 173/17578
  16. ADM 173/17497
  17. ADM 173/17453
  18. ADM 173/17482
  19. ADM 173/17276
  20. ADM 199/1834
  21. ADM 173/17341
  22. ADM 173/17485
  23. ADM 173/17488
  24. ADM 173/17466
  25. ADM 173/17421
  26. ADM 173/17865
  27. ADM 173/18023
  28. ADM 173/18131
  29. ADM 173/18388
  30. ADM 173/17997
  31. ADM 173/18132
  32. ADM 173/18148

ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.


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