HNLMS Jan van Amstel (1936)

Summary

HNLMS Jan van Amstel was a Jan van Amstel-class minesweeper of the Royal Netherlands Navy that served in World War II.

Jan van Amstel
History
Netherlands
NameJan van Amstel
NamesakeJan van Amstel
BuilderP. Smit, Rotterdam
Laid down21 March 1936
Launched27 August 1936
Commissioned15 March 1937
FateSunk, 8 March 1942
General characteristics
Class and typeJan van Amstel-class minesweeper
Displacement460 long tons (467 t)
Length56.8 m (186 ft 4 in)
Beam7.8 m (25 ft 7 in)
Draft2.2 m (7 ft 3 in)
Propulsion
Speed15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement45
Armament
  • 1 × 3 in (76 mm) gun
  • 2 × twin .50-calibre machine guns

Description edit

The Jan van Amstel-class ships were 55.8 metres (183 ft 1 in) long, with a beam of 7.8 metres (25 ft 7 in) and a draught of 2.2 metres (7 ft 3 in) at deep load. They displaced was 450 long tons (460 t) at normal load, which increased to 585 long tons (594 t) at deep load. A pair of Yarrow boilers fed steam to two triple-expansion steam engines that each drove a single propeller shaft. The engines were rated at 1,690 indicated horsepower (1,260 kW) which gave the ships a speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). They carried up to 110 long tons (110 t) of fuel oil and had a complement of 45 officers and ratings.[1]

Service history edit

Jan van Amstel was damaged by an air attack at Surabaya on 6 March 1942, which killed 23 of her crew.

After the capitulation of all forces on Java Jan van Amstel attempted to escape to Australia, but was intercepted and engaged by the Japanese destroyer Arashio on 8 March 1942 in the Madura Strait. She was sunk with heavy loss of life and her surviving crew taken prisoner.

Citations edit

  1. ^ Roberts, p. 394; van Willigenburg, p. 106

Bibliography edit

  • Roberts, John (1980). "The Netherlands". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 385–396. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
  • van Willigenburg, Henk (2010). Dutch Warships of World War II. Emmen: Lanasta. ISBN 978-90-8616-318-2.