Dutch government intended building of 8 motor vessels of the Van der Capellen-type for Far East service in 1944

The Royal Netherlands Government on 24 October 1944 still located at London, England published a brief outline of a shipbuilding program which was to start immediately after the liberation. The described types were needed to serve in the Far East. The Netherlands had at there still a colony namely the Dutch East Indies nowadays Indonesia. On 7 May 1945 was a second outline published with more technical details. I combined both lists.

There were 4 or 8 to be built depending on the building possibilities within the United Kingdom. Dimensions 276.0 (over all) x 43.0 x 19.2 (hold) feeet.Number of cabin passengers 24. To serve between the islands in the archipelago. The Kon. Mij. De Schelde, Vlissingen, Netherlands to deliver within 10-14 months 4 5TS48 engines, tenders were to be asked fom Dutch firms, although the United Kingdom or Switzerland could aso delivere, preferred were all 5TS48 engines (list 1945). Deadweight 1,850 tons and diesel 1,500hp/195 rpm propulsion allowing a speed of 11.5 knots. Totally was around 9,600 tons steel needed for the hulls. 4 Engines were ordered from Sulzer Brothers, Winterthur to be delivered probably within 6-10 months, the remaining engines delivery hoped by United Kingdom with support of the British Admiralty and Ministry of Production (list 1944). Als for delivery of the auxiliaries was this support needed. Similar to the Van der Capellen built by P. Smit in 1939 but with modernization of the accomodation for the Javanese crewmembers.

Source

Zeeuws Archief, archive Kon.Mij. De Schelde (7214) not described part.