| Navy | The Royal Dutch Navy |
| Type | Submarine |
| Class | K XI |
| Pennant | |
| Built by | Feijenoord (Schiedam, Holland) |
| Ordered | 3 Sep 1921 |
| Laid down | 15 Oct 1923 |
| Launched | 23 Dec 1924 |
| Commissioned | 29 Mar 1926 |
| Lost | 2 Mar 1942 |
| History | On 21 December 1941 HrMs K XIII suffered a battery exlosion while at Singapore. Three men were killed and three were wounded. The ship returned to Surabaya for repairs. On 2 March 1942 the repairs were not completed and she was scuttled to prevent her capture by the Japanese. |
Commands listed for HNMS K XIII
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 2e klasse (Lt.) Baron Carel Wessel Theodorus van Boetzelaer, RNN | 13 Apr 1940 | 6 Jul 1940 | |
| 2 | luitenant ter zee 1e klasse (Lt.Cdr.) Henri Charles Besançon, RNN | 9 Sep 1940 | 20 Sep 1941 | |
| 3 | luitenant ter zee 1e klasse (Lt.Cdr.) Martinus Albert Johan Derksema, | 20 Sep 1941 | 6 Jan 1942 | |
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Notable events involving K XIII include:
This page was last updated in June 2013.
2 Dec 1941
HrMs K XIII (Lt.Cdr. M.A.J. Derksema, RNN) 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 XII (Lt.Cdr. H.C.J. Coumou, RNN(R))
(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.
8 Dec 1941
When war with Japan was declared the 2nd submarine division (now comprising 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)) was placed under British command. While waiting for further orders the commander of the 2nd submarine division (the CO of K XIII) ordered all boats to patrol near the Natuna islands.
9 Dec 1941
All five Dutch submarines that are now operating under British control (1st submarine division; HrMs O 16 (Lt.Cdr. A.J. Bussemaker, RNN)
and HrMs K XVII (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Besançon, RNN) and the 2nd submarine division; 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 180° from the South point of French Indo-China.
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 XIII reached her patrol position on the morning of 12 December and then proceeded towards the shore of Malaya.
13 Dec 1941
HrMs K XVII, HrMS K XIII, HrMs K XI and HrMs K XII are ordered to form a patrol line to the North-West of Mankai Island (Anambas Islands).
K XIII arrived in her new patrol position around 2300/14.
15 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 proceed towards the East coast of Malaya. If nothing is spotted then HrMs K XIII and K XII are ordered to proceed towards Singapore for fuel, provisions and small repairs.
17 Dec 1941
After having sighted nothing off the Malayan East coast HrMs K XIII (Lt.Cdr. M.A.J. Derksema, RNN) arrived at Singapore.
21 Dec 1941
HrMs K XIII (Lt.Cdr. M.A.J. Derksema, RNN) suffers a battery explosion while at Singapore. She is unfit for further operations. Three of her crew were killed and three were wounded in this incident.
27 Dec 1941
The damaged HrMs K XIII (Lt.Cdr. M.A.J. Derksema, RNN) departs Singapore for Surabaya where she will undergo repairs. As K XIII is unable to dive she is escorted until she is south of Banka Strait by the Australian minesweeper HMAS Bendigo (Lt.Cdr. J.A.R. Patrick, RANR(S)). There the Dutch destroyer HrMs Van Nes (Lt.Cdr. C.A. Lagaay, RNN) takes over the escort. Both ships arrive at Surabaya on 30 December 1941.
2 Mar 1942
Repairs to HrMs K XIII as still not completed. She is scuttled in Surabaya harbour to prevent her from being captured by the Japanese.