Description
Object description
Dutch officer served aboard aboard submarine HNLMS O 24, 9th Submarine Flotilla in GB coastal waters and North Sea, 9/1940-2/1941; served aboard submarine HNLMS O 24, 8th Submarine Flotilla in Mediterranean, 3/1941-6/1942; served aboard aboard submarine HNLMS O 24, 4th Submarine Flotilla in Far East, 7/1942-2/1944; served with Royal Netherlands Navy in Dutch East Indies, 1947-1949
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Netherlands, 1918-1939: family; education. Recollections of operations as officer aboard coastguard vessel in Netherlands, 1940: duties at Hook of Holland; start of German invasion; lack of readiness of Netherlands Navy; arrival of British destroyers; nature of German Air Force attacks; escape of Dutch royal family and government; his escape in motor torpedo boat to GB; reorganisation of Dutch naval personnel in GB. Recollections of operations as officer aboard submarine HNLMS O 24, 9th Submarine Flotilla in GB coastal waters and North Sea, 9/1940-2/1941: appointment to submarine; characteristics of submarine; repairs to submarine; composition of 9th Submarine Flotilla in Dundee.
REEL 2 Continues: reasons for losses of Allied submarines in flotilla; duties on board; effects of lack of promotion. Recollections of operations as officer aboard submarine HNLMS O 24, 8th Submarine Flotilla in Mediterranean, 3/1941-6/1942: move to Mediterranean; sinking of Italian tanker SS Fianona off Leghorn, Italy, 12/6/1941; torpedo faults; destruction of Axis convoy; pressures of being under depth charging; problems of operating in Mediterranean; competence of Italian anti-submarine forces; attempt to torpedo Axis submarine; use of Italian flag on submarine prior to attack; landing agent on coast of Italy; narrow escapes.
REEL 3 Continues: abortive move to submarine HNLMS O 22; success of submarines and aggressiveness of captains. Recollections of operations as officer aboard submarine HNLMS O 24, 4th Submarine Flotilla in Far East, 7/1942-2/1944: transfer to Far East, 6/1942; attitude to situation in Far East; operations based on Columbo, Ceylon including landing agents; near collision with Japanese submarine; relations between Dutch and British naval personnel; attitude of Royal Netherlands Navy towards submarine service. Memories of return to Netherlands, 1945.
REEL 4 Continues: Attitudes of Dutch civilians after end of the Second World War. Aspects of operations as officer with Royal Netherlands Navy in Dutch East Indies, 1947-1949: attitude to operations against Indonesians; capture of Indonesian smuggling gold and weapons; attitude towards insurgents.