uboat.net

  Front page - Fighting the U-boats - Allied Warships

Follow us on Twitter
@uboatnet

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)

12 May 1940
Around 0800A/12, the unfinished light cruiser HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck (Lt.Cdr. A. van Foreest, RNN), minesweeper HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN), submarine HrMs O 13 (Lt.Cdr. E.H. Vorster, RNN) and the unfinished submarines HrMs O 21 (Lt.Cdr. J.F. van Dulm, RNN) and HrMs O 22 (Lt.Cdr. A.M. Valkenburg, RNN) departed the Downs for Portsmouth where they arrived around 2000A/12. (1)

26 Mar 1942
At 0910A/26, near Trevose Head, HMS Thunderbolt (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO, RN), made rendezvous with her escort towards Holy Loch, 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
Around 1145A/25, HMS Trident (Lt. A.R. Hezlet, DSC, RN) ended her 27th war patrol at Lerwick.

She departed for Holy Loch around 1500A/25, 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
Around 1400B/16, 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).

Around 0630B/17, they anchored in Widewall Bay, Orkney Islands due to bad weather conditions. They entered Scapa Flow around 1400B/17.

Around 1100B/18, they departed Scapa Flow to continue their passage to the Clyde. (14)

18 Jul 1942
Around 1800B/18, HrMs O 21 (Lt.Cdr. J.F. van Dulm, RNN) and her escort, HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN), made rendezvous with HMS P 212 (Lt. J.H. Bromage, DSC, RN) and her current escort HMS La Capricieuse (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Dobson, RNR) coming from Lerwick. HMS P 212 then joined while HMS La Capricieuse parted company to return to Lerwick. (15)

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. (16)

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). (17)

6 Aug 1942
HrMs O 21 (Lt.Cdr. J.F. van Dulm, RNN) conducted RDF trials in the Clyde area during which she was escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (14)

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. Also a deep dive trial was carried out. (14)

12 Aug 1942
Around 0300B/12, HrMs O 21 (Lt.Cdr. J.F. van Dulm, RNN) departed from Holy Loch for Gibraltar. This is the first leg of the trip to the Far East where she is to join the Eastern Fleet.

During the passage south through the Irish Sea she was escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). HMS P 219 (Lt. N.L.A. Jewell, RN) and HMS P 48 (Lt. M.E. Faber, RN) were also in company.

Around 2120B/13, near the Scilly Islands, the submarines parted company with their escort. (18)

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. (19)

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). (19)

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). (20)

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. (21)

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). (22)

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). (23)

1 Nov 1942
Around 1445A/1, 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). (24)

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. (25)

25 Nov 1942
HMS P 339 (Lt.Cdr. M.R.G. Wingfield, DSO, RN) and HMS P 49 (Lt. J.P. Fyfe, RN) both conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area during which HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN) served as target. (26)

26 Nov 1942
During 26/27 November 1942, HMS P 339 (Lt.Cdr. M.R.G. Wingfield, DSO, RN) and 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. (26)

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). (27)

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). (27)

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). (28)

11 Feb 1943
Around 1600A/11, P 316 (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) departed her builders yard at Barrow for Holy Loch. She is escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt.Cdr. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (29)

12 Feb 1943
Around 1330A/12, P 316 (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) and HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt.Cdr. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN) arrived at Holy Loch from Barrow. (30)

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). (31)

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). (32)

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. (33)

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). (34)

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). (35)

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). (34)