A class of steel minesweepers

The ship was named after the Dutch commander Jan van Amstel (1618-1669). The Hr. Ms. Jan van Amstel was the name giver of a special class of steel minesweepers that could also be deployed as minelayers. A total of nine of this class have been built.

Netherlands Navy

Second World War

During the outbreak of WWII, the Jan van Amstel was stationed in the former Dutch East Indies and formed part of the 2nd division of minesweepers in Surabaya.

On the evening of March 6th, 1942, the Jan van Amstel left the port of Surabaya together with her sister ship Eland Dubois to attempt the crossing to Australia. The navy command wanted to evacuate a number of ships in the light of the threat of the Japanese invasion. The Jan van Amstel and Eland Dubois were not camouflaged and the commanders had orders not to let the ships fall into enemy hands under any circumstance.

On March 7th, the ships dropped anchor near the island of Gili Radja to resupply. During this day, the ships were spotted by a Japanese reconnaissance plane.

The commanders of both ships decided to destroy the Eland Dubois, because one of her boilers was not functioning and there were not enough crewmen to man both ships due to desertion in Surabaya.

After the Eland Dubois had been destroyed, the Jan van Amstel continued the crossing to Australia. Yet on the night of 8 March, the ship was spotted by the Japanese destroyer Arashio, that opened fire and continued firing after the ship had turned over and began to sink. No help was given to the crewmen who ended up in the water. 23 of them died during this attack, amongst whom the commander of the Eland Dubois, navy Lieutenant de Jong. A part of the crew was picked up by a different Japanese destroyer after having drifted around for 43 hours. They were taken to Makassar as prisoners of war. Another part of the survivors washed ashore on Bali a few days later and were taken prisoner there.

Type: minesweeper class: Jan van Amstel class
Nuilt: 1936, P.Smit Rotterdam

Commisioned: 15 maart 1937

Dimensions: 56.8 x 7.8 x 2.2 m
Tonnage: 525

Complement: 45

Propulsion: steam
Engine: 2 × Stork triple expansion engines, 2 × Yarrow 3-drum boilers,dual shaft, 2 screws
Power: 1600 h.p. (rhp)
Speed: 15 knots

Armament: 1 x 3 inch gun, 4 x 0,50 inch A.A. (2x2), 40 mines

Koninklijke Marine

• lemma wikipedia.
• tracesofwar.nl.
  Stalen mijnenvegers van de Jan van Amstelklasse.
• Marinemuseum.
  Jan van Amstel.