Dutch navy establishing naval headquarters at Biak, Dutch New Guinea according to the Australia Station Intelligence Summary dated7 January 1955

An item reported that the Royal Netherlands Navy would move in 1955 her headquarters in Dutch New Guinea (1) from Hollandia to Biak.(2)

Notes

1. Dutch New Guinea or Netherlands New Guinea was the western half of New Guinea until 1949 part of the Dutch East Indies and until 1962 an overseas territory handed over by the United Nations to Indonesia on 1 May 1963.

2. The Dutch newspaper Het vrije volk dated 20 August 1954 reported that under secretary of the navy Moorman returned from Dutch New Guinea after a stay of 4 weeks preparing the technical transfer of the defence from the army to the navy starting in October and to be completed by May 1955. The operational naval headquarters was to be established at Biak. Moorman expected more contact by the navy with Australia in contrary to the navy. Totally the naval personnel strength would number more as 1,000 men less than the 1,600 men of the army.Except for smaller vessels were 2-3 destroyers or frigates be stationed and the Catalina’s replaced by 15 Martin Mariner amhibious aircraft. Henricus Cornelis Willem Moorman (30 July 1899 Roermond, Netherlands-5 May 1971 The Hague, Netherlands). Under secretary of the navy between 1 May 1949-19 May 1959 and under secretary of war between 23 October 1950-2 September 1952. Ended his naval career in the rank of vice admiral.

Source

Website Royal Australian Navy, Sea Power Centre.