 K XVII together with minelayerHNLMSMedusa | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Netherlands | |
| Name | K XVII |
| Operator |  Royal Netherlands Navy |
| Builder | Wilton-Fijenoord |
| Yard number | 332 |
| Laid down | 1 June 1931 |
| Launched | 26 July 1932 |
| Commissioned | 19 December 1933 |
| Home port |
|
| Identification | 17 |
| Fate | Struck anaval mine on 21 December 1941 |
| General characteristics[1] | |
| Class & type | K XIV-classsubmarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 73.64 m (241 ft 7 in) |
| Beam | 6.51 m (21 ft 4 in) |
| Draught | 3.93 m (12 ft 11 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range | |
| Complement | 38 |
| Armament |
|
K XVII was one of fiveK XIV-classsubmarines built for theRoyal Netherlands Navy. She served duringWorld War II.
HNLMSK XVII was the last design of J.J. van der Struyff, asubmarine designer and engineer of theRoyal Netherlands Navy.[2]K XVII had a similar design as hersister submarines in theK XIV class, she was fully riveted and herpressure hull was made of 14 mm (0.55 in) thick steel. To increase the submarine's seaworthiness the pressure hull was plated with 3 mm (0.12 in) thick steel. As a consequenceK XVII was 200 tons heavier than submarines in the previousK XI class.[3] However, this did allowK XVII to dive as deep as 80 to 100 m (260 to 330 ft), while withstanding the enormous water pressure.[2] Between the plating and the pressure hull there was room for theballast tanks,fuel tanks,anchor,torpedo tubes and more.[4] Furthermore, the submarine was divided into six compartments.[5] The first compartment at the front contained a room with four torpedo launchers which were loaded during wartime, while there were also four reservetorpedoes stored. The room also acted at the same time as sleeping accommodation andcaboose for the crew. In the second and third compartments thebatteries were stored, and also contained the sleeping accommodation for officers. The fourth compartment was the nerve center ofK XVII, since this was the place where all control panels, instruments, and command tower were located. This tower was made of thick and pressure-resistant steel. The fifth compartment contained the machine chamber and thus the diesel motor. The sixth, and last, compartment was located at the back and had two torpedo launchers and the main electric motor. There was also space for two reserve torpedoes. The torpedo tubes ofK XVII had a width of 53 cm (21 in).[4] To enter the submarine, six water resistant shutters were built.
HNLMSK XVII waslaid down inRotterdam at the shipyard ofWilton-Fijenoord on 1 June 1931 together with hersister shipK XVIII.[6] The submarine'slaunch took place on 26 July 1932 and on 19 December 1933K XVII wascommissioned in the Royal Netherlands Navy.[6] As a K series submarine the purpose ofK XVII was to be active in waters around theDutch East Indies. However, before she left for the Dutch East Indies she first became part of the Royal Netherlands Navy escadreOostzee between 20 June and 1 August 1934.[7] Other ships that were part of this escadre wereHNLMS Hertog Hendrik,Evertsen,Z 5 anotherK XIV-class submarine, namelyK XVIII.[8] As part of the navy escadreOostzee, theK XVII made a trip to several ports and harbors connected to theBaltic Sea, such asGdynia,Königsberg,Riga andCopenhagen.[9]
On 7 January 1935K XVII and her sisterK XVI, were sent to the Dutch East Indies where they arrived on 26 March 1935 atPadang.[10] During this trip both submarines were under command of LTZ1 J.A. de Gelder and visited several ports, such asLisbon (14–18 January),Gibraltar (20 January),Naples (25–30 January),Alexandria (5–11 February),Port Said (12 February),Ismaila (12–13 February),Suez (13–15 February),Aden (23–28 February),Colombo (?-18 March) and finally, Padang (26 March).[8] At every port which they visited more than two days meetings were organised and included showing the Dutch national flag as part of promoting the Netherlands. Alongside this 'Holland-promotion', the meetings also involved parties and dinners.[4] The crew meanwhile made certain visits during their visits to the different ports. For example, the crew visited thePyramid of Cheops while the ship was docked at the port in Alexandria, and alsoVatican City was visited by the crew ofK XVII while they were docked at the port in Naples.[9]
On 4 April 1935 made bothK XVII andK XVIII made it to their new home port in the Dutch West Indies, namelySurabaya. Here they were added to submarine division I. Later that year, in October 1935, this division took part in anexercises near Surabaya. After the exercises were finished all boats underwent maintenance, which took till 24 February 1936 to complete. Immediately after the maintenance periods were completed on all boats of submarine division I, they were ordered to be part of a navy escadre. The escadre would make an exercise trip to the west part of theJava Sea.[11] The trip would last till mid-March, after which the escadre would change course to theMakassar Strait and spent the remainder of March practicing there. During April, May and JuneK XVII, as part of submarine division I, went on an exercise trip to the eastern part of theIndian archipelago.[4]
From October 1936 till June 1937 theK XVII, and the rest of submarine division I, were once again part of a navy escadre. This time the escadre exercised for 8 months with sea planes.[4] These exercises took place at theMakassar Strait andJava Sea. One year later, in January 1938, submarine division I, which included the submarinesK XIV,K XIV,K XVI,K XVII andK XVIII were once again added to a navy escadre for exercises.[12] TheK XVII served this time as flag-ship of the submarine division, and was under command of LTZ 1 A. van Karnebeek, while LTZ 1 J.A. de Gelder had command of the whole submarine division I.[9] The exercises were done at theMakassar Strait andJava Sea.[11]
On 6 September 1938 theK XVII participated in a fleet show at Surabaya. The show was held in honor of the Dutch QueenWilhelmina of the Netherlands who was than 40 years the head of state. More than twenty navy ships of theRoyal Netherlands Navy and three ships of theGovernment Navy participated in the show.[9]
WhenGermanydeclared war on theNetherlands and also started its war against other West-European nations, the Dutch navy gave the order for all submarines in theDutch East Indies to protect the colony against possible attacks or raids by German or Italian auxiliary cruisers.[13] At the same time, the Dutch navy also observed Japanese activity closely, especially after Japan had signed theTripartite Pact with Italy and Germany.[14] TheK XVII was during this period mainly tasked with protecting merchant ships against raiders by either taking part in convoys or closely shadowing merchant ships. For example, on 15 September 1940K XVII together withO 16 shadowed the steamshipLematang and the tankerOlivia on their trip toDurban andLourenço Marques. They had the order to keep their eyes open for German raiders and attack them if spotted.[15] At the end of September 1940K XVII also protected the steamshipSalando of the Rotterdam companyLloyd when it made its way through the Soenda Strait to reach its destination,Durban.[16]
In March 1941K XVII, alongside the submarinesK IX andK X, was sent the Soenda Strait because of the 'Scheer-alarm'. The scheer-alarm meant that the German cruiserAdmiral Scheer had been spotted. The Dutch navy believed, based on their intel, thatAdmiral Scheer was planning to enter theIndian Ocean with as goal to sink allied merchant ships and head towardsSurabaya.[13] The Dutch navy therefore made preparations to possibly face theAdmiral Scheer and eventually sink the cruiser. TheK IX,K X andK XVII were ordered to patrol aroundSabang. However, the German cruiser did not enter theIndian Ocean and thus the submarines could resume with their normal patrols.[4]
In June 1941K XVII was sent alongside other ships, such asK XVIII andO 16, to north-west of theDutch East Indies. There were reports of Japanese warships accompanying merchant ships to Southeast Asia, and the Dutch navy sent her own ships as a precaution to be ready for anything.[16] After this assignment theK XVII was sent toSurabaya for her half yearly maintenance. At the end of July she was declared fit for service, and was taken back into service.[4]
During the warK XVII patrolled in theSouth China Sea, offMalaya and in theGulf of Siam. While exiting the Gulf of Siam in December 1941 she hit a Japanese mine and sunk. The entire crew of thirty-six men perished.[17] One of the missing crew members was 28-year old Lieutenant GerhardKruys, member of a well-known Dutch Navy family. The wreck of theK XVII was located in 1978.[10] In 2019, a scientific expedition discovered that theK XVII had disappeared.[18]
There are several conspiracy theories involvingK XVII and how the submarine allegedly sighted the Japanese fleet prior toattacking Pearl Harbor.[19][20][21]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)3°10′N104°12′E / 3.167°N 104.200°E /3.167; 104.200
