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.

Dutch navy strengthening security of Dutch New Guinea according to the Australia Station Intelligence Summary dated7 January 1955

An item reported that rear admiral Moorman (1) under secretary of the Royal Netherlands Navy in the Staten Generaal (Dutch Parliament) stated that the security of Dutch New Guinea (2) was to be strenghtened by increasing the Marine Corps, stationing an extra destroyer and replacing the Catalina flying boats by more modern aircraft.

Notes

1. Henricus Cornelis Willem Moorman (30 July 1899 Roermond, Netherlands-5 May 1971 The Hague, Netherlands). Under secretary for the navy between 1 May 1949-19 May 1959 and under secretary for war between 23 October 1950-2 September 1952. Ended his naval career in the rank of vice admiral.

2. 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.

Source

Website Royal Australian Navy, Sea Power Centre.

Japanese cargo ship (ex-Georgia 1908-1924, Georgia C 1924-1926, Hasshu Maru 9126-1929) Daigen Maru No. 3 1929-1944

Syunsei Maru©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

Similar Daigen Maru No.3, Syunsei Maru and Wakatu Maru, although the latter with a raked funnel. Call sign JHJB. Launched by Russell&Co., Kingston Yard, Port Glasgow, Scotland with yard number 587 on 27 July 1908, completed in September 1908 and torpedoed and sunk by the American submarine USS Gat about 200 miles north of Kaap d’Urville, Dutch New Guinea on 26 February 1944. Gross tonnage 4,000 tons, under deck 4,462 tons, net tonnage 4,042 tons and as dimensions 7.6 (light)-24.6 (loaded) feet. Reciprocating propulsion. Horsepower 502 nhp. Range 12,000 nautical miles/9.5 knots and speed 9.5 (normal cruising)-11 (maximum) knots. Coal bunker capacity 1,600 tons. Single screw. 

Japanese planning bases on Netherlands New Guinea according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary dated 14 April 1942

An item reported that the Japanese continued with exploring western Netherlands New Dutch Guinea probably with the intention to establish various bases.

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 125 dated 14 April 1942

American whaler Benjamin Tucker spoken according to the newspaper The Polynesian dated 2 October 1852

An item reported the arrival at Honolulu, Hawaii on 30 September of the American whaler Hibernia returning from the Arctic which spoke on 18 August the American whaler Benjamin Tucker of New Bedford 6 whales

German screw steam gunboat SMS Jaguar visited the Dutch East Indies in 1899

Dutch screw steamship Hr.Ms. Borneo

NIMH-Beeldbank

SMS Jaguar

Source

The Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemacht 1898-1899 reported that the German cruiser 3rd class SMS Jaguar (1) visited Makasser between 22-26 August and Ambon, Dutch East Indies in end August 1899. The Dutch newspaper Soerabaijasch handelsblad dated 15 August reported her arrival on 6 August at Singapore and her departure on 13 August towards Makassar. The Bataviaasch nieuwsblad dated 21 August reported that the Zr.Ms. Borneo (2) part of the Java-division departed last Friday in all hurry towards New Guinea. The reason was that German occupied the Carolines-Ladrones islands (3) for which purpose the German gunboat Jaguar recently left Singapore passing Makasser. The Borneo was to prevent a possible German ocupation of the Mapia-islands. She was described as one of the finest ships of the Indische marine and heavier armed than the Jaguar. Due to engine problems she was towed back before arriving at New Guinea.

Notes

1. Part of the Iltis-class, laid down as Ersatz Hyäne by Schichau-Werke, Danzig, German with yard number 231 in early 1898, launched on 19 September 1898, commissioned on 4 April 1899 and scuttled in the German Chinese Kiautschou Bay-concession (Tsingtao) to prevent capture by Japanese forces on 7 November 1914. Armament consisted of 4-8.8cm/3.5” L/30 quick firing guns and 6 machine guns.

1. Screw steam ship 4^th class, built by J.&G. Thompson, Clydebank, Glasgow, Scotland in 1891 using the British Goldfinch-design, commissioned on 21 July 1893, surve vessel since 1906, decommissioned and condemned on 1 January 1913 and used as accommodation ship for native sailors. Armament consisted of 6-10.5cm A gus, 1-7,.5cm gun, 4-3.7cm guns and 1-7.5cm mortar.

2. Carolines Islands is an archipelago north of New Guinea, nowadays divided between the Federal States of Micronesia and Palau, part of the Spanish empire and sold with the Northern Marianas in 1899 under the German-Spanish Treaty to Germany. 

Dutch landingcraft Hr.Ms. L. 9607 1944-1962

On the slipway at Manokwari, West Papua before 1958
NMVW-collection

NMVW-collection

Built in the United Kingdom in the Second World War. Dimensions 57,1 x 11,91 x 1.1 metres and 438 (standard)-497 (loaded) tons displacement. The diesel engines supplied via 2 screws 1.200 hp allowing a speed of 7 knots. Crew numbered 20 men. Armament consisted of 2-2 cm machineguns.

Italian sloop Eritrea 1925-1948 and French frigate Francis Garnier (F730) 1948-1966

Hollandia, Netherlands New Guinea 20 July 1958

National Archief, The Hague, Netherlands. Original source

Photo Kantoor voor Voorlichting en Radio Omroep Nieuw Guinea

Building ordered on 8 May 1925, launched s the Italian colonial sloop Eritrea on 28 September 1936, completed on 10 February 1937, lying at Kobe, Japan was she not allowed by the Japanese government to act as a commerce raider in the Pacific Ocean, used to support cargo submarines after December 1941, interned at Colombo Ceylon in September 1943, handed over to France on 12 February 1948, renamed Francis Garnier (F730), served in French Indochina and the French Pacific colonies like Tahiti, French Polynesia and the Chagos Archipelago, stricken in 1966 and sunk as target during nuclear tests off the atoll Moruora in the Pacific Ocean in 1966.

Displacement 2.200 (standard)-3.117 (full load) tons and as dimensions 96,9 x 13,3 x 4,7 metres or 317.11 x 43.8 x 15.5 feet. Machinery consisted of .7.800hp diesel and 1.300 electric motor allowing a speed of 20 knots and a range of 6.950 nautical miles. Her crew numbered 234 men. Armour consisted of a 2,5-3,3cm/0.98-1.26” thick deck with the conning tower protected by 10cm/4”. Armament consisted of 2x2-12cm/4.7” guns, 2x1-4cm/39 pom pom Vickers-Terni guns and 4x1-13,2mm/0.52” machineguns.

Dutch tug Soekarama launched at Arnhem, Netherlands according to the Dutch magazine Schip en Werf dated 17 September 1948

An item reported the launching on 4 September of the motor seagoing tug Soekarama at the Arnhemsche Stoomsleephelling Maatschappij N.V., Arnhem, Netherlands for account of the B.P.M. She was to serve in the waters around Borneo, Dutch East Indies. Fitted out with 1-340hp Werkspoor diesel engine. Dimensions 22 (between perpendiculars)-24,25 (over all) x 5,50 (on thrushes) x 2,70 (hold) metres. The edition dated 10 December 1948 reported that she executed her trial on the Nieuwe Waterweg on 6 December and afterwards was she handed over to the N.V. De Bataasfche Petroleum Maatschappij and de parted towards Balik Papan, Netherlands New Guinea. 

Dutch tug Flamingo launched at Arnhem, Netherlands according to the Dutch magazine Schip en Werf dated 23 July 1948

An item reported the launching on 10 July of the motor ocean seagoing tug Flamingo at the Arnhemsche Stoomsleephelling Mij N.V., Arnhem, Netherlands for account of the B.P.M. Fitted out with 1-340hp Werkspoor diesel engine. Was to serve in the Netherlands New Guinea. Dimensions 22 (between perpendiculars)-24,25 (over all) x 5,50 (on thrushes) x 2,70 (hold) metres. The edition dated 12 November 1948 that she executed her successful trial on the Nieuwe Waterweg on 28 October and after her delivery to the Nieuw Guinea Petroleum Maatschappij departing towards Balik-Papan. 

Dutch tug Henri 1952-

Government vessel. Horsepower 150 hp. Commissioned in May 1952. Stationed at Hollandia, Netherlands New Guinea.

Source
Dutch Parliament session 1954-1955. Budget Netherlands New Guinea 1953-1954. Memory of response. Attachment No. 14. 

Dutch tug Matoa 1953-

Government vessel. Horsepower 80 hp. Commissioned in May 1953. Stationed at Fak-Fak, Netherlands New Guinea.

Source
Dutch Parliament session 1954-1955. Budget Netherlands New Guinea 1953-1954. Memory of response. Attachment No. 14. 

Dutch double screw tug Merbau 1953-

Government vessel. Horsepower 160 hp. Commissioned in August 1953. Stationed at Sorong, Netherlands New Guinea.

Source
Dutch Parliament session 1954-1955. Budget Netherlands New Guinea 1953-1954. Memory of response. Attachment No. 14. 

Dutch motorboat Dr. Bervoets 1950-

Government vessel. Horsepower 70 hp. Commissioned in October 1950. Stationed at Biak, Netherlands New Guinea.

Source
Dutch Parliament session 1954-1955. Budget Netherlands New Guinea 1953-1954. Memory of response. Attachment No. 14. 

Dutch motor boat Marie van Hoogstraten 1950-

Government vessel. Horsepower 70 hp. Commissioned on 18 August 1950. Stationed at Hollandia, Netherlands New Guinea.

Source
Dutch Parliament session 1954-1955. Budget Netherlands New Guinea 1953-1954. Memory of response. Attachment No. 14. 

Dutch timber pontoon unnamed 1953-

Government vessel. No engine. Commissioned in August 1953. Stationed at Sorong, Netherlands New Guinea.

Source
Dutch Parliament session 1954-1955. Budget Netherlands New Guinea 1953-1954. Memory of response. Attachment No. 14. 

Dutch lighter Mieke 1955-

Part of the fleet of the Afdeling Scheepvaart. Expected in 1955. Stationed at Merauke, Netherlands New Guinea. Steel built. Tonnage 20 tons.

Source
Dutch Parliament session 1954-1955. Budget Netherlands New Guinea 1953-1954. Memory of response. Attachment No. 14. 

Dutch lighter Mona 1952-

Part of the fleet of the Afdeling Scheepvaart. Commissioned on 20 May 1952. Stationed at Meraule, Netherlands New Guinea. Steel built. Tonnage 20 tons.

Source
Dutch Parliament session 1954-1955. Budget Netherlands New Guinea 1953-1954. Memory of response. Attachment No. 14. 

Dutch lighter Margriet 1952-

Part of the fleet of the Afdeling Scheepvaart. Commissioned on 29 May 1952. Stationed at Kepi, Netherlands New Guinea. Steel built. Tonnage 20 tons.

Source
Dutch Parliament session 1954-1955. Budget Netherlands New Guinea 1953-1954. Memory of response. Attachment No. 14. 

Dutch tuna fishing vessel Hollandia 1952-

Government vessel. Horsepower 200 hp. Kromhout motor type 4A190. Commissioned on 25 October 1952. Stationed at Manikwari, Netherlands New Guinea.(1)

Note
1. Used for a tuna fishing project.

Source
Dutch Parliament session 1954-1955. Budget Netherlands New Guinea 1953-1954. Memory of response. Attachment No. 14.