Dutch navy helicopter above Den Helder, Netherlands 29 June 2011

Dutch diving vessel Zr. Ms. Argus (A852) 1991-

off Den Helder, Netherlands 29 June 2011

Of the Cerberus-class. Laid down at the Scheepswerf Visser, Den Helder, Netherlands on 16 September 1991, launched on14March 1992 and commissioned on 2 June 1992. Dimensions 27,3 (maximum) x 8,76 *maximum) x 1,5 (medium) metres and a displacement of 223 ton.

Norwegian supply vessel (ex-Suffolk Supporter 1996-1997) Northern Supporter 1997-

 Den Helder, Netherlands 29 June 2011

Bahamas-flagged, IMO 9123673, MMSI 311000325 and callsign C6BP3. Ex-Suffolk Supporter renamed January 1997. Built at the Vard Soviknes, Sovik, Norway. Owned and managed by Deepocean, Haugesund, Norway. Homeport in 2011 Aberdeen, Scotland.

Dutch buoy laying vessel Terschelling 1988-

in and off Den Helder, Netherlands 29 June 2011

Netherlands-flagged, homeport Terschelling, IMO 8802662, MMSI 245384000 and callsign PBVC. Built at the damen Shipyard Gorinchem, Gorinchem Netherlands in 1988. 

Dutch drill shipp Bucentaur 1983-

Den Helder, Netherlands 29 June 2011

Anno October 2012 called a drill ship. Bahamas-flagged. Homeport Nassau. IMO 8112548, MMSI 311474000 and call sign C6SU4. Gross tonnage 2.768 tons, summer deadweight 2.200 tons and as dimensions 79 x 16 x 5,6 metres. Built in 1983 at Drammen Slip&Verksted, Drammen, Norway. Owned and managed by Fugro, Leidschendam, Netherlands. 

British offshore supply ship Highland Monarch 2003-

Den Helder, Netherlands 29 June 2011

United Kingdom-flagged, homeport London, IMO 9249453, MMSI 235005950 and callsign VQQZ8. Gross tonnage 1.992 tons, net tonnage 926 tons, summer deadweight 3.115 tons and as dimensions 67 (over all)x 16 (moulded) x 5,9 (maximum) and a moulded depth to ship deck of 7 metres. Deck area 46 x 13,5 metres. Deck load 1,550 tons, Accommodation for 21 persons. Built in 2003 by STX OSV Brattvaag, Bratvaag, Norway. Owned and managed by Gulf Offshore, Aberdeen, United Kingdom. 

The German naval policy according to the Dutch newspaper Het nieuws van den dag: kleine courant dated 31 March 1909

According to a tiding dated Berlin 29 March informed the German Chancellor (1) the members of the Reichstag what the results were of the discussions with England dealing with the naval shipbuilding. He referred to what was said during the meeting of the commission on 23 March dealing with the range and costs of the naval programmes. German and British authorities spoke with each other without doing any concessions. However the British never made a proposal which could have resulted in official negotiations. Both cabinets didn’t believe in a naval arms race between both countries. The German shipbuilding programme was public known and nothing was hide and there were no intentions to speed up the shipbuilding, apparently caused this statement quite what commotion in the Reichstag at the ‘right side‘! All rumours which claimed the opposite were false. Not earlier as autumn 1912 as dedicated by law were 13 large new ships included 3 protected cruisers completed.

Dealing with the world wide thoughts about disarmament in the last years thought the German cabinet that an increase of naval shipbuilding would fail if there were no international standards and limits for maximum tonnage and so on. An opinion again by the ‘right side’ in the Reichstag welcomed.

Note
1. This must be Prince Bernhard Heinrich Karl Martin von Bülow (3 May 1849-28 October 1929), Chancellor 16 October 1900-13 July 1909. He had to resign when the parliament was against imposing of the inheritance taxes which was necessary to finance the naval shipbuilding. He was succeeded by Theobald Theodor Alfred von Bethmann Hollweg (29 November 1856 Hohenfinow - 1 January 1921 Hohenfinow), Chancellor 14 July 1909-13 July 1917 and who tried to stop the naval arms race between Germany and England by an agreement but did not succeeded mainly as a result of the opposition of the German minister of navy Von Tirpitz. Alfred von Tirpitz (19 March 1849 Küstrin-6 March 1930 Ebenhausen), grand admiral and between 6 June 1897 (active) and 5 March 1916 secretary of state and in fact the founder of the German Imperial Navy.

The Canadian navy according to the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Handelsblad evening edition dated Saturday 9 October 1909

From her correspondent at Ottawa was the newspaper Times reported that the Parliament at the start of her new parliamentary year the first of the new bills was dealing with the building of 12 warships for the Canadian fleet consisting of cruisers and destroyers. The parliament was asked to approve a budget of 4.000.000 pound sterling to spent over a number of years with other words an annual budget of around 600.000 pound sterling. It was intended to built 12 warships of which 9 for the Atlantic and 3 for the Pacific. The Canadian government was negotiating with the British Admiralty to sent immediately a British cruiser to Canadian waters to serve as a training ships for midshipmen and sailors for the Canadian fleet. The organisation of the Canadian navy was an other issue. The British Admiralty seemed to prefer the building of large dry docks at the Canadian coast above the creating of a local fleet. The existing dry docks didn’t answer the needs of the British navy regarded her dreadnoughts but the building of a new dry dock demanded large expenses from Canada. Another issue was where the ships were to be built, in Canada of somewhere else. If the Canadian were ordered to built these ships very high costs were feared but the money was spent in Canada with as result more acceptance by the Canadian people for the fleet programme.

The Danish naval strength according to the Dutch newspaper Rotterdamse Courant dated 27 October 1803

According to a tiding dated Copenhagen 15 October consisted the Danish navy of 19 ships of the line (1-90, 2-80, 12-74, 4-64), 15 frigates of different sizes, 8 brigs, 1 cutter, 1 chebecq, 1 armed yacht and 13 gunboats, totally 58 units with a total armament of 2,104 guns. On stocks were 3-74 gun ships of the line, 1-40 gun frigate, 1-36 gun frigate, 2 smaller frigates and a brig. Yesterday left the frigate Friedrichsteen towards the West Indies.

Venetian flotilla fitted out according to the Dutch newspaper Oprechte Haarlemse Courant dated 19 June 1806

According to an item dated Paris fitted the Venetian government a flotilla out consisting of 3 frigates, 2 brigs and 7 smaller vessels and which nearly fitted out for departure to sea.

Norwegian multi purpose off shore vessel Island Earl of Aalesund 2008-

Den Helder, Netherlands 29 June 2011

Norway-flagged, homeport Aalesund, IMO 9402330, MMSI 259271000 and callsign LAKP. PSV-DP II type. UT 755 LN design. Gross tonnage 2.304 tons, summer deadweight 3.180 tons and as dimensions 76,6 (over all) x 16,0 x 4,5 metres. Deckarea 715 square metres. Crew accommodation for 16. Built in 2008 at STX OSV Brevik, Brevik, Norway. Owned and managed by Island Offshore Group, Ulsteinvik, Norway.

Details changed on 1 June 2013 at 18:41 o'clock

Dutch coast guard vessel Ievoli Black off Den Helder, Netherlands 29 June 2011

Dutch ocean going patrol vessel (OPV) Zr. Ms. Holland (P840) 2008-

off Den Helder 29 June 2011

Part of the Holland-class ocean going patrol vessels of four ships all built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding, Vlissingen, Netherlands. The casco’s were built at the Damen shipyard at Galatz, Romania and completed at the Damen shipyard at Vlissingen. This class was designed to be used for coast guard duties in the Netherlands and the Caribbean area including search and rescue and calamity tanks. Further more they were to be used for maritime safety purposes as patrolling against piracy. In 2011 was the decision to sell two off the vessels for budget savings; however not executed.

Displacement 3.750 tons and as dimensions 107,9 x 16 x 4,55 metres. Crew numbers 50 men. Armament consists 0f 1-7,cm Oto Melara gun, 1-3c, quick firing Oto Melara gun, 2-12,7mm Oto Melara Hitrole machineguns, 2/4-12,7mm Browning M2 machineguns, 2/6-7,72mm FN MAG machineguns, 2 FRISCS’ and 1 NH-90 helicopter. Laid down on 8 December 2008, launched and christened by the Dutch queen Beatrix on Tuesday 2 February 2010, starting executing trials begin March 2011 and commissioned on 6 July 2012.  MMSI 244522000 and call sign PAVA.

The Dreadnought of Haiti according to the Dutch newspapers in 1911

The Dutch newspaper Het Centrum daily edition dated 12 July 1911 republished a telegram from the correspondent at London of the German newspaper Lokal-Anzeiger. This correspondent received from New York a tiding dealing with the fate of the former Italian cruiser Umbria (1) sold by consul Grosstück at Berlin to the Haitian government. She was not far from Port-au-Prince left behind while in a leaking states. The Allemannia of the Hamburg-America Line brought this news with her to New York without any doubts in good faith. The correspondent doubted however what happened with the cruiser remembering the rumours that president Simon of Haiti was nothing more as a stooge of the former president of Venezuela Castro and that the latter was the real buyer of the ship.(2) Castro landed in the meantime at the West coast of Venezuela and there were no telegraphic signals received dealing with an eventual shipwreck. The captain of the Allemannia told a quite funny story. The president of Haiti renamed the cruiser in President Simon and official tidings was she called the Dreadnought of Haiti. When Simon wanted to celebrate his newest acquisition for his fleet which further more existed only of aged coaliers and tugs invited he his bravest generals and the whole army of about 1,000 men all dressed in something resembling uniforms. The personnel yacht of the president escorted the fleet, the fortress of Port-au-Prince saluted the fleet and the dreadnought begun her first voyage with the new admiral. The latter was a former captain on a fruit freighter and one of his superiors until recently manager on a milk plant. After nearly 30 miles struck she suddenly something causing a leak. Water filled the engine room and she stranded shortly afterwards on a sandbank. The whole army was in panic and the yacht did everything to come near for saving the men on board. After two hours was the president and staff safely on board of the yacht. The bowsprit if the yacht was smashed and everyone begged the president to go back to Port-au-Prince, something he did while leaving his soldiers in the dreadnought behind promising to send help. At that moment arrived the Allemannia taking all soldiers on board and bringing them to the capital city. The dreadnought was apparently still lying on the sandbank. Later telegraphed Harold’s from Port-au-Prince that she was salvaged by a steamship of the Hamburg America Line and towed to Port-au-Prince. Other Dutch newspapers published a similar accounts.

The newspaper Het nieuws van den dag voor Nederlandsch-Indië dated 7 November1911 published also a topic dealing with the landing of Castro at Venezuela. The steam boat with his war stores on board was seized by the new president of Haiti Leconte when she was used as the troop transport Antonio Simon by the former president Simon and during which revolt the engines failed. This troop transport was as the newspaper recalled the famous Consul Grosstück and renamed by Antonio Simon with his own name pretending she was property of the Haitian government and to hand over to Castro for his invasion. The Rotterdamsch nieuwsblad dated 19 June supplied more details dealing with Konsul Grosstück. American newspapers claimed that in the Behrenstrasse 64 at Berlin, Germany an arsenal was located delivering weapons to revolutionaries of all countries including torpedo boats, aircraft and airships. Grosstück was consul for Ecuador and told that he bought from the Italian government the condemned cruiser Umbria. He ordered her to be thoroughly repaired and fitted out and sold her to the Haitian government. She was armed with 21 heavy guns. Some days ago she visited Las Palmas but still flying German colours while she was his property until delivery at Haiti. Her visit at Las Pasmas caused the silly rumours that she was sold to Castro. He received in the night of Thursday a telegram she arrived safely at Port-au-Prince and was today to hand over to the Haitian government and to be paid for. Her crew consisted just of Germans who all served within the navy. However his statement was still not confirmed and apparently was men in Haiti still anxious that Castro was indeed on board. From Washington was telegraphed that several warships were send out to observe the mysterious ship believing that Castro was on board. If so they intended to board the ship, taken Castro prisoner and send him back to Europe. Het nieuws van den dag voor Nederlands-Indië dated 12 July confirmed her name Consul Grosstück during the sell and that in official papers she was called the Dreadnought of Haiti despite being renamed by Simon.

Notes
1. The Italian cruiser Umbria was laid down at the yard of Orlando, Livorno on 1 August 1888, launched on 23 April 1891, completed on 16 February 1894, discarded in July 1909 while becoming property of Haiti in 1911. She had a displacement of 2,245(standard)-2,411 (full load) tons and as dimensions 80,00 (between perpendiculars)-8,48 (over all) x 12,0 x 5,35 metres. The engines and 4 cylindrical boilers supplied 7,104 hp allowing a speed of 18,8 knots, with a speed of 10 knots and a coal bunker capacity of 430 tons was her range 2,100 nautical miles. The crew numbered 213-278 men. The armour consisted of a 50mm thick sloping deck and the conning tower was also protected by 50mm. The armament consisted originally of 4x1-15m,2cm guns, 6x1-12cm guns, 1x1-7,5cm gun, 7x1-5,7cm guns, 9x1-3,7cm guns and 2-45cm torpedo tubes in the beam. She was of the Umbria-class with as sister ships Lombardia, Etruria, Liguria, Elba and Puglia. http://www.navypedia.org/ships/italy/it_cr_umbria.htm said that she was sold in 1911 to Haiti, rechristened Ferrier bust sunk underway caused by an inexperienced crew. http://oceania.pbworks.com/w/page/8464919/INS%20Umbria-1894 said that she was sold in 1911 to Haiti, rechristened Ferrier and lost. http://www.gwpda.org/naval/fdzz0001.htm no details dealing with her fate.
Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1906-1911 said that she was bough in 1911 from Italy, rechristened Ferrier and sunk caused by an inexperienced crew.
Fellow researcher Ekkehard Rbermann confirmed she was in Haitian service since July 1911 and renamed Antoine Simon, beached in the Bay of Goave, towed to Kingston where she was provisionally repaired for her return to Port-au-Prince and afterwards was she renamed Ferrier. In spring 1912 went she to Charleston for repairs where her crew mutinied. She returned to her homeport with a changed armament into 6-12cm breech loaders, laid up, renamed Hayti in 1921 and sold finally in 1921 to be broken up.
2. José Cipriano Castro Ruize (12 October 1858 Capacho, Táchira, Venezuela - 4 December 1924 San Juan, Puerto Rico) president of Venezuela in 20 October 1899-19 December 1908.

The British naval budget for 1909-1910 according to the Dutch newspaper Het nieuws van den dag: kleine courant dated 15 March 1909

The naval budget for 1909/1910 caused extensive discussions of the British navy was strong enough mostly when compared with the German shipbuilding program. In a tidings dated London 12 March was reported that the proposed budget was 35.142.700 pound sterling against the 32.319.500 pound sterling for the budget 1908/1909. Against the 7.545.202 Pound for the last budget was now 8.885.194 pound asked to be used for new building. Plans were made for building 4 dreadnoughts, 6 protected cruisers, 20 destroyers and a number of submarines costs 500.000 pound. With the building of two dreadnoughts was to start all ready in July in stead of what was common at the end of the year, with the two others was started on 2 November.

The British minister of navy McKenna (1) said further more that it could necessary to take this years measures for the building of another 4 large armoured ships. He asked the parliament for approval to give in advance the necessary orders to be able to start with the building on 1 April 1910 making it possible that these ships were completed in March 1912.

Note
1. Reginald McKenna (6 July 1863-6 September 1943 London), banker and a politician belonging to the Liberal party. Chancellor of the Exchequer between 25 may 1915-10 December 1916 and Home Secretary 24 October 1911-27 May 1915 and First Lord of the Admiralty 1908-1911 and was followed by Winston Churchill.

British navy not building enough sufficient destroyers compared with Germany according to the Dutch newspaper Rotterdamsch Nieuwsblad dated Thursday 27 May 1909

In the British House of Commons asked a representative attention for the fact that England in 1905-1909 built 49 destroyers against the 54 of Germany. The minister van navy (1) even had to admit that 72 German destroyers had a coal bunker capacity of minimum 100 ton against the just 40 British destroyers.

Note
1. This must be Reginald McKenna 6 July 1863-6 September 1943) who was First Lord of the Admiralty in 1908-1911 and who moved from the admiralty to the Home Office as Home Secretary on 24 October 1911. Liberal politician.

Brazilian traing ship Brasil (U 27) 1981-

Amsterdam, Netherlands 5 August 2011

Building ordered in June 1981, laid down by A. de M., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in September 1981, commissioned in 1984. Modified Niteroi-class frigate. Displacement 2.420 (light)-3.500 9full load) tons and as dimensions 129,2 x 13,5 x 5,5 metres or 423.11 x 44.3 x 18.1 feet. Machinery consisted of 2 Pielstick/Ishikawajima diesel supplying via 2 shafts 8.000 bhp allowing a speed of 18 knots. Range 7.0000 nautical miles. Crew numbered 415 persons including 200 traines. Able to carry a helicopter with her. Brazil-flagged, MMSI 710429000 and call sign PWBL. 

Colombian training sailing ship ARC Gloria, Scheveningen, Netherlands 20 August 2011

Dutch trawler Zeeland (Sch123) 1989-

 Scheveningen, Netherlands 21 August 2011

Netherlands-flagged, homeport Scheveningen, IMO 8901913, MMSI 244583000, EC no. NLD198901025 and callsign PIWT/ Built at the YVC Ysselwerf, Capelle a/d Ijssel, Netherlands in 1989. Owned and managed by Jaczon, The Hague, Netherlands. 

Singapore tank landing ship (LST) RSS Persistence L290 1996-

Of the Endurance-class with as sister ships the Endurance, Resolution and Endeavour forming the 191 Squadron. Also called landing platform dock ship. Ordered in August 1996 to replace aged American County-class LST’s with as main task logistics support duties. This class is designed in cooperation with the American firm Ingalls Shipbuilding of Pascagoula, Mississippi, USA. The Persistence was launched on 13 March 1999 at ST Marine‘s Benoi yard, Singapore and commissioned on 7 April 2001. With a displacement of 6,000-8,500 (full load) tons are her dimensions 141,0 x 21,0 x 5, (mean) metres. The armament consists of 2 twin rail Simbad point defence SAM systems using Mistral missiles, 1-7,6cm gun and 2x1-12,7mm machine guns. The 4x700 kw diesel engines provided 2,800 kw total allowing a maximum speed of 20 knots and a  range of 5,000 nautical miles with a speed of 15 knots or 10,400 nautical miles with a speed of 12 knots. Her crew numbered 65 men but she is fitted out for accommodation for another 35 men and able to transport 350 soldiers, 18 tanks and 20 other vehicles. She is fitted out with 4 EP 03-class landing crafts and 2 RIB’s. Fitted out with a flight deck and an enclosed hangar fir maximum 2 helicopters.

Fulton’s experimental submarine in New York according to the Dutch newspaper Vriessche Courant dated Tuesday 15 September 1807

Ron van Maanen

According to an item dated New York 15 July intended Fulton (1) on coming Monday in the harbour of New York to test his submerged engine which was able to destroy ships. The object which was to be destroyed was a brig of 200 tons. This was a promising inventions offered in 1797 to the French government and if accepted could had destroy the British fleet.

In the edition of 19 September was an item dated Leeuwarden, Netherlands 18 September published. This item used letters received from North America dated 30 July reporting that on 26 July Fulton tested his fire engine in the presence of a large audience. He used a bark which was enough be submerged to be invisible and used his battery against a old ships of 300 tons which immediately with lots of violence exploded.

According to item dated New York 15 August published in the edition dated Thursday 8 October wrote Fulton a few days after his experiment a letter to the governor, mayor and the council of the city what exactly happened. The first test failed because the gunpowder fell out of the pan and so there was no ignition. He improved his invention by placing a fuse inside the sheet and which lit the 70 pound within the torpedo which as result that the brig was destroyed. The Dutch newspapers Koninklijke courant dated 6 October 1807 and Ommelander courant dated 18 September 1807 supplied similar details.

Note
1. Robert Fulton (14 November 1765 Little Britain, Penssylvania-24 February 1815 New York), American engineer/inventor who invented during his stay in France in 1793-1797 the submarine Nautilus which was tested in 1800-1804.

American naval strength according to the Dutch newspaper Vriessche Courant dated 20 August 1807

According to an item dated London 7 August consisted the American navy of 5-44 gun frigates, 10-32 gun frigates and 25 smaller vessels, totally 40 units for which 7,500 sailors were needed.

Welcome to our followers

My father (Ron) and I (Alexander) are doing research in the topic navies and trading companies in the period 1500-present. My mother Karin helped my father early 1980's with research and nowadays she is almost daily photographing the ships passing on the river Schelde.

My father started his research early 1970s. First he was interested in the Dutch navy and the navies in the Second World War , later in the period 19th century-present and about 30 years he started his research in the topic navies 1500-1860, in fact the era of the sailing warships including the galleys and the trading companies like the Dutch E.I.C. and the W.I.C. Nowadays he is doing research in the whole period. My self, I’m interested in the topic navies 1860-present including the coastguards, especially Russian built warships and the Dutch warships.

Together we are busy with photographing, drawing and doing research in archives, literature and on the web trying to collect every kind of information and sharing that with others without commercial thoughts just because we are shiplovers and fond of naval history.