In 1957 the former Dutch vice admiral Burghard (1) intended to make a voyage towards South-America in behalf of the N.V. Nederlandsche Vereenigde Scheepsbouw Bureaux (NEVESBU) to investigate the possibilities in obtaining orders for shipbuilding.(2) At that moment was it however hardly impossible for the mayor shipyards in Netherlands to realize orders excepted for building minesweepers. The Kon.Mij. De Schelde at Vlissingen, Netherlands was interested in building a submarine to deliver over five years.(3) Building ships in South America was for the time being not attractive for the NEVESBU-shipyards. There were willing to advice, making designs or training personnel. Training would be a lot easier if the first ship was built in the Netherlands. The next ships could be then built in South-America for which parts could be delivered by the Dutch shipyards. Burhard intended to visit first Venezuela, Brazil and Argentina and if there was time left to visit Chile, Peru and Colombia.
Notes
1. François Theodor Burghard (Surabaya, Indonesia 15 April 1900-San Pedro, Marbella, Spain 28 June 1978), out of service in the rank as vice admiral on 1 November 1956. Between 1952-1956 commandant der zeemacht in Nederland (commanding officer of the navy in the Netherlands)
2. Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij (RDM) at Rotterdam, Kon.Mij. De Schelde (K.M.S.) at Vlissingen, Nederlandsche Dok en Scheepsbouw Maatschappij (N.D.S.M.) at Amsterdam, Wilton-Fijnenoord at Schiedam and Werkspoor N.V. at Amsterdam.
3. The KMS had a long history dealing with the building of submarines between 1904-1940 but had built since the Second World War none submarines herself anymore. Despite this she was involved in designing the so-called 3-cylinder submarines. This was design was offered to several South American and European navies but only for the Royal Netherlands Navy were in fact this kind of submarines built. Nowadays is one example (the Tonijn) preserved as museum ship at Den Helder, Netherlands.
Source
Archive Kon.Mij. De Schelde (Municipality Archive of Vlissingen, Netherlands) inventory number 214.1710.
