I used for this note several (local) Dutch newspaper to give an impression of the building of both submarines at the yard Fijenoord at Rotterdam, Netherlands.(1)
The newspaper Het Vaderland: staat- en letterkundig nieuwsblad evening edition dated 23 May 1925 reported that the newspaper Times announced the order for two submarines to be built at Fijenoord for the Turkish government. The Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant evening edition dated 11 August reported that Mr. I.H.H. Verloop director of the yard returned from Turkey with a definitively signed building contract.
The Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant morning edition dated 29 January 1926 reported that the day before in the morning the keels were laid down of the two submarines in the presence of the Turkish representative and the Turkish navy commission which was to supervise the building.
The newspaper Het Vaderland: staat- en letterkundig nieuwsblad evening edition dated 29 April reported that according to the annual account over 1925 one of the board members succeeded in obtaining the order for building two submarines after months of negotiation despite the competition of foreign yards.
The newspaper Vlissingse Courant dated Monday 31 January 1927. In 1925 ordered the Turkish government the Dutch Maatschappij voor scheeps- en werktuigbouw Fijenoord at Rotterdam to built two submarines. The first one was last Saturday with success launched. She was baptised by Miss Vérjahat Riza, who was family of the Turkish representative. After the launching were in the reception room some speeches held. The board offered miss Riza a present with inscription. The newspaper Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant morning edition dated 30 January reported that there was a large Turkish representation at the launching like the Turkish head of the navy staff Hussammeddin Bey, also deputy secretary of the navy which especially came from Angora. Further more the Turkish representative in the Netherlands Mehmed Essad Bey. The Turkish consul-general at Amsterdam accompanied by the consul and the vice consul which supervised the building and a Turkish military commission which accidentally happened to visit the Netherlands. Vice admiral Zegers Rijser, secretary-general of the Dutch Navy Department was invited by the Turkish representative and the office which designed the submarine was also present.
The newspaper Vlissingse Courant dated Monday 14 March reported that Saturday afternoon at Fijenoord with success a submarine was launched.
The newspaper Vlissingse Courant dated 17 June reported that the trials of the first submarine off Den Helder were successful. The actual speed was surfaced 0,30 and submerged 0,8 knots more as the contracted speed. This first non official trial was just a few days before the contracted 20 months term ended. The official trial had yet to be done. The newspaper Het Vaderland: staat- en letterkundig nieuwsblad evening edition dated 17 June supplied the same details.
The newspaper Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant evening edition dated 30 September published the account of a visit by the Verbond van Nederlandsche Werkgevers to the yard that year. Both submarines the Birindji-in-uni and the Ikindji-in-uni were sighted being the first foreign warships built by a Dutch yard. They were primarly based on the design of the German submarines in the First World War and qua size comparable with the Dutch submarine Hr.Ms. O 9. Although the Turkish submarines were much cheaper as the Dutch Hr.Ms. O 9, they had the same capabilities as warship. For the Turkish officers was a small hotel established and for the sailors were barracks built. Totally were 74 Turkish superior officers, officers, petty officers and sailors at the completion present. The trials had in the mean time been successful.
The newspaper Vlissingse Courant dated 12 January 1928 reported that one of the two submarines left for the Nieuwediep for the last trial. The second submarine had within short time her last trial.
The newspaper Het Vaderland: staat- en letterkundig nieuwsblad evening edition dated 18 January reported that both submarines arrived last week at Nieuwediep for their trials departed accompanied by the Dutch Hr.Ms. Z 6 towards the Scottish coasts fore more trials.
The newspaper De Sumatra Post daily edition dated 18 February published a photo of one of the two submarines suggesting that the Turkish government wouldn’t accept the submarines due to malversations during the building. Although this paper seemed to publish more dealing with these malversations I wasn’t (yet) able to find these items.
The newspaper Vlissingse Courant dated 25 May 1928 reported that list night the two submarines named Birindji Uni and Ikindji Uni left Rotterdam on own power towards Constantinople. The yard was responsible for the voyage. Not earlier as by their arrival are Constantinople were the ships handed over to the Turkish navy. During the voyage of three weeks they were merchant ships under Dutch colours. A few former submarine commanding officers were appointed by the yard and the crew consisted of personnel of the yard joined by temporarily engaged Dutch and German personnel. On board was also P. Plymert, manager of the submarine building department of the yard. On board were also some members of the Turkish acquisition commission and some Turkish navy officers, all as passengers.
Note
1. See for more details dealing with the engineer office which designed both submarines and the technical information for instance the interesting website http://www.dutchsubmarines.com/
The newspaper Het Vaderland: staat- en letterkundig nieuwsblad evening edition dated 23 May 1925 reported that the newspaper Times announced the order for two submarines to be built at Fijenoord for the Turkish government. The Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant evening edition dated 11 August reported that Mr. I.H.H. Verloop director of the yard returned from Turkey with a definitively signed building contract.
The Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant morning edition dated 29 January 1926 reported that the day before in the morning the keels were laid down of the two submarines in the presence of the Turkish representative and the Turkish navy commission which was to supervise the building.
The newspaper Het Vaderland: staat- en letterkundig nieuwsblad evening edition dated 29 April reported that according to the annual account over 1925 one of the board members succeeded in obtaining the order for building two submarines after months of negotiation despite the competition of foreign yards.
The newspaper Vlissingse Courant dated Monday 31 January 1927. In 1925 ordered the Turkish government the Dutch Maatschappij voor scheeps- en werktuigbouw Fijenoord at Rotterdam to built two submarines. The first one was last Saturday with success launched. She was baptised by Miss Vérjahat Riza, who was family of the Turkish representative. After the launching were in the reception room some speeches held. The board offered miss Riza a present with inscription. The newspaper Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant morning edition dated 30 January reported that there was a large Turkish representation at the launching like the Turkish head of the navy staff Hussammeddin Bey, also deputy secretary of the navy which especially came from Angora. Further more the Turkish representative in the Netherlands Mehmed Essad Bey. The Turkish consul-general at Amsterdam accompanied by the consul and the vice consul which supervised the building and a Turkish military commission which accidentally happened to visit the Netherlands. Vice admiral Zegers Rijser, secretary-general of the Dutch Navy Department was invited by the Turkish representative and the office which designed the submarine was also present.
The newspaper Vlissingse Courant dated Monday 14 March reported that Saturday afternoon at Fijenoord with success a submarine was launched.
The newspaper Vlissingse Courant dated 17 June reported that the trials of the first submarine off Den Helder were successful. The actual speed was surfaced 0,30 and submerged 0,8 knots more as the contracted speed. This first non official trial was just a few days before the contracted 20 months term ended. The official trial had yet to be done. The newspaper Het Vaderland: staat- en letterkundig nieuwsblad evening edition dated 17 June supplied the same details.
The Ikindji-in-uni
The newspaper Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant evening edition dated 30 September published the account of a visit by the Verbond van Nederlandsche Werkgevers to the yard that year. Both submarines the Birindji-in-uni and the Ikindji-in-uni were sighted being the first foreign warships built by a Dutch yard. They were primarly based on the design of the German submarines in the First World War and qua size comparable with the Dutch submarine Hr.Ms. O 9. Although the Turkish submarines were much cheaper as the Dutch Hr.Ms. O 9, they had the same capabilities as warship. For the Turkish officers was a small hotel established and for the sailors were barracks built. Totally were 74 Turkish superior officers, officers, petty officers and sailors at the completion present. The trials had in the mean time been successful.
The newspaper Vlissingse Courant dated 12 January 1928 reported that one of the two submarines left for the Nieuwediep for the last trial. The second submarine had within short time her last trial.
The newspaper Het Vaderland: staat- en letterkundig nieuwsblad evening edition dated 18 January reported that both submarines arrived last week at Nieuwediep for their trials departed accompanied by the Dutch Hr.Ms. Z 6 towards the Scottish coasts fore more trials.
The newspaper De Sumatra Post daily edition dated 18 February published a photo of one of the two submarines suggesting that the Turkish government wouldn’t accept the submarines due to malversations during the building. Although this paper seemed to publish more dealing with these malversations I wasn’t (yet) able to find these items.
The newspaper Vlissingse Courant dated 25 May 1928 reported that list night the two submarines named Birindji Uni and Ikindji Uni left Rotterdam on own power towards Constantinople. The yard was responsible for the voyage. Not earlier as by their arrival are Constantinople were the ships handed over to the Turkish navy. During the voyage of three weeks they were merchant ships under Dutch colours. A few former submarine commanding officers were appointed by the yard and the crew consisted of personnel of the yard joined by temporarily engaged Dutch and German personnel. On board was also P. Plymert, manager of the submarine building department of the yard. On board were also some members of the Turkish acquisition commission and some Turkish navy officers, all as passengers.
Note
1. See for more details dealing with the engineer office which designed both submarines and the technical information for instance the interesting website http://www.dutchsubmarines.com/
