The Brinio was a Dutch gunboat. She was named after a leader of the Germanic tribe of the Cananefaten who lived in Holland in Roman times. Gunboats are a class of small vessels armed with relatively large caliber guns. The Dutch gunboats from the first half of the 2oth century were originally designed for harbour defense and the assistance of minelayers. By World War II, these gunboats were outdated due to their lack of anti-aircraft armament. A group of them were assigned guard duties in the northern territorial waters of the Netherlands, of which the Brinio was one. Together wit the Friso, she was stationed in the IJsselmeer and the Gruno was stationed in the vicinity of the island of Terschelling. They could be quite effective with their large main battery.

The ships aided the land troops during the German invasion of the Netherlands in May 1940. The Brinio was attacked on the 14th of May by a German Stuka (a Junkers Ju 87 aircraft) and badly damaged. She was later scuttled by the crew. In October 1942 she was salvaged and dismantled.

Type: Gruno class gunboat

Yard: Rijkswerf Amsterdam

Crew: originally 52, 63 at the time of her demise

Armament: 1 x 40 mm gun, 2 x 12.7 mm Vickers

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The gunboat Friso, who served in the Ijsselmeer area together with the Brinio when she was lost.

The wreck was salvished and demolished during the Second World War.

• Münching, L.L. Koninklijke Marine in de 2e wereldoorlog, Alkmaar 1978. p 55.