O16 by Piet - FINISHED - Pacific Crossroads - scale 1:350 - PLASTIC - Royal Navy Netherlands 1936-1941

[CDW]

Very, very nice work, Piet.

So small and delicate. Really like the copy paper soaked with CA idea. Will need to remember that in the future as it could come in handy for different situations.

[edmay]

Hello Pete. will be watching this interesting build ,hope you are well .Edwin

[popeye the sailor]

very well done Piet......neat fix you did there     glad to see the 019 in your sig.......

[Piet]

Hello Craig, Edwin and Denis - - thanks so much for dropping in and your kind words.

Yeah Craig, that CA trick I noted quite some time ago from another builder. I'm glad remembering it, surprised at that too, due to my highly advanced age

 

Cheers,

[Piet]

Hello friends,

 

Finely a sign of life from the Flying Dutchman. "Stuff" got in the way, as usual. The co-captain had a long list of "stuff" to do around the house so I was Shanghaied into her projects. But besides that I upgraded my Galaxy S5 Android for their S8 and spend 3 days figuring it out and trying to install DropBox - - - to no avail. The differences between my latest upgrade for my iMac and now this S8 kinda changed things. Transferring pics from the S8 to my confuser is a lot more cumbersome, 'm not a happy camper.

 

Okay, enough of my bitching about things that interfere with fun, i.e. ship building. The next thing to tackle for the O16 model is the con. The Dutch call it "het zeil" meaning the sail. The lower part is a combo of storage, hiding and streamlining the exposed tubes for the 40 mm retractable AA guns and the two crew excess tubes to the upper part where the bridge as well as the tubes for the periscopes, antenna and the snorkel inlet. What we call "the bridge" the Dutch submariners call it "de kuip" or the tub or bathtub. A rather appropriate name for it I think.

 

Because this part is rather small and difficult to handle I decided to put it on a wooden pin that I can clamp in my handy dady Proxxon mini vice. I drilled a small hole in the bottom for a toothpick so had something to grab a hold on without the fear of damaging it and all future gizmos that will be attached to it.

 

Due to the lack of time - - see reasons above - - I am only going to cement the steering wheel and direction finder antenna, which we old aviators call the loop antenna onto their appropriate spots. Believe or not, this little bit of work took more time then I figured.

Okay, first I cut the loop antenna from the PE sheet, cleaned it op with a small file and instead of tweezers, they have a tendency to eject the part to unknown regions, I used a pair of instrument maker's needle nose pliers. I cemented it to the forward part of the bathtub. If you notice from the original photo of the O16 bathtub I placed it in the wrong side. I may try to relocate it later.

 

Next is the steering wheel. Boris did a masterful job with the PE, it truly looks like the wheel on the original O16. problem is, it's so tiny. I was afraid of loosing it by handling it with tools. However, I lucked out and was able to remove it from the PE sheet, clean it up with a tiny file and cementing into place.

 

Well, that was all I could do for this day, and yes, I had to use my optivisor. Below are a few pics to show what I have accomplished. 

 

The sail or conning tower temporarily placed on the hull

 

A #11 blade placed in front of the conning tower to indicate its size. Observe how clean the casting is. Another indication of the quality of the kit.

 

A hole drilled in the bottom of the con and the toothpick for my handle.

 

Here is the con nicely clamped to my mini vice and ready for more work.

 

Here I have laid out the loop direction finder antenna and the steering wheel with the #11 blade to indicate size, small is not the right word for it, tiny is better.

 

Here the loop direction finder antenna is cemented in. I decided to have it in the partial up position just show that she had such an antenna.

 

 

I have taken this shot single handed 5 times to get one that's in focus. The steering wheel on my thumb nail.

 

Both parts are now safely cemented into place.

 

This is a photo from the real O16 - showing "the bathtub." To the left is the retractable loop direction finder antenna, the round barrel like thingy is the binnacle, then the steering wheel in front of it. Behind the steering wheel to the right is the chart locker. On the lower right of the photo is the lid for the crew access tube. That goes all the way down to the "Central Control Room." I have no clue what that round standing thing is to the right. Forgive me for my ignorance, I'm an airplane guy.

I hope you like the pics and the additional real photos of the boat.

 

Cheers to all,

 

[Barbossa]

Nice work and an interesting build to follow, Piet

Another part of Dutch Maritime History comes back alive, which is a good thing.

Thank you for sharing.

[JesseLee]

Wow, those are really tiny parts!

 

Jesse

[Piet]

Thank you Christian and JesseLee for your very kind words.

I did plan to post  the history of the O16 at the very start of this build log but did not have enough data until I stumbled on a very narrative. I edited it for punctuation and removed a few duplicate items. With your indulgent I want to share her story with you and hope to make this small build of her model a little more meaningful.

 

In this article you'll also read about her companion the Hr. Ms. K XVII. You may be wondering why the Dutch submarine navy would have two different classifications. The O designation was for boats in domestic and Atlantic waters. The K designation was for boats used in the Dutch East Indies colonies. In the Dutch language colony is spelled Kolonie, therefore the K. These boats had a much larger range and carried more fuel then compared with then O boats. However, this all changed beginning with the O16 and O19.

 

Here is a photo of the K XVII

 

The following is a Coogle map chart of the estimated mine fields discussed in the article

The history of the Submarine O16

28 Dec 1933: The keel of the O 16 is laid down at the Koninklijke.Maatdchappij. De Schelde shipyard in Vlissingen.

A new steel alloy was employed that was stronger and more ductile. It allowed for the first time to employ welding. This new technique also allowed the replacement of 49% of all riveting.

27 Jan 1936: O 16 is launched.

26 Oct 1936: O 16 is commissioned to the Royal Netherlands Navy.

11 Jan - 6 Apr 1937: O 16 makes a voyage to North America by way of a route via Horta, Bermuda, Norfolk and Washington during which Prof. Dr. F.A. Vening Meinesz, B.Sc. conducts gravity measurements. The O 16 returns via the Azores and Lisbon. The gravity measurements had to be broken off Professor Meinesz was put ashore at Lisbon and the O 16 was send to Gibraltar for convoy duties during the Spanish Civil War.

1939 - The O 16 leaves the Netherlands for the Dutch East Indies (now the Republic of Indonesia) under command of Luitenant ter Zee der 2de klasse (Commander) Louie Jan Jarman, attached to the submarine division in the Dutch East Indies. She arrived at the Royal Navy base in Soerabja on 4 January, 1940.

1940 - - 4 Jan 1940: O 16 collides with the destroyer escort Hr. Ms. Witte de With. No damage for the O 16 is documented, but the Witte de With has a damaged screw.

10 May 1940: Germany attacks the Netherlands.  The O16 together with the KXVII performed escort service between The East Indies and South Africa. 

15 Sep 1940: KXVII and O 16 depart from Tandjong Priok (Batavia/Jakarta). K XVII escorts the merchant SS Lematang, heading for Durban (South Africa), and O 16 escorts the tanker Olivia, which is heading for Lourenço Marques (Mozambique). The merchants are escorted because there are reports of a German raider operating in the area.

20 September, 1941 the O16 is under command of Luitenant ter Zee der 1ste klasse (Lieutenant Commander) Antonie Jacob Bussemaker

In November of 1941 both the O16 and KXVII were made available to the British Royal Navy to assist then in case of a Japanese attack on Malakka and Singapore.  Both boats departed Soerabaja on 15 November, 1941 for Singapore.

28 Nov 1941: KXVII and O 16 are ordered to Sambas (north-west Borneo). The boats are expected to arrive in the area on the 6th of December.

29 Nov 1941: KXVII and O 16 are ordered (#2 1129-0535) to 04º00N-104º30E (off Malacca) for a possible unexpected action. They are expected to remain unseen and proceed with a speed of 12 knots.

1 Dec 1941: All of the Dutch submarines of the of the 1st division were placed under direct British command for operational control and ordered to Singapore where they arrived early December of 1941.

6 Dec - 15 Dec 1941: KXVII and O 16 are ordered to patrol the South China Sea. Patrol area 7º30N-103ºE / 8ºN-103ºE. Several attacks are made.

7 Dec 1941: The USA declares war on Japan after Japanese forces attack Pearl Harbor. Approximately 7 hours after the attack the Netherlands also declares war on Japan.

7 Dec 1941: The CZM radios (#109 1207-2215) that "War with Japan has broken out".

8 Dec 1941 Two ALMR [(Alle Marine Radiostations) All Naval Radio Stations)] messages (#126 1208-533 and #127 1208-535) report details on enemy forces in the Gulf of Siam and off Kota Bharu.

8 Dec 1941: O 16 attacks the Japanese invasion forces that are invading Northeast Malaya.

9 Dec 1941:  C-in-C Eastern Fleet orders (#154 1413 9 Dec'41) Submarine Divisions and (O 16, K XVII, K XI, K XIII, K XII) to form a line N180ºE, distance between the submarines should be 20 miles. O 16 should be 40 miles South of the Poeloe Obi Light at 08º26'N-104º50'E. At Dec 10 at 23:30 MTG, but not sooner, the boats have to sail a general course of N260ºE between Kota Bharu, Malacca and Singora, Thailand. This is due to a large number of transports was spotted off the coast 05º30'N and 07º30'N (#156 1209-2045).

10 Dec 1941: O 16 damages the Japanese troopship Ayatosan Maru (9788 t) or Sakura Maru (7170 t). See also 12 Dec 1941.

12 Dec 1941: At midnight (not confirmed) the O 16 attacks several Japanese ships in the Bay of Soengei Patani (east coast of Malaya, and only 9m deep). The ships are torpedoed while the submarine is surfaced.

O 16 sinks the Japanese troopship Tosan Maru  (8666 t). Some source report the troopship as Tozan Maru, which is incorrect. One Japanese source reports the ship is attacked while at anchor, is grounded to prevent sinking, and is salvaged later. Tosan Maru was towed to Hong Kong in April 1942.

The Japanese Tosan Maru (Photo: © Collection Hasashi Noma)

O 16 sinks the Japanese troopship Asosan Maru (8812 t). One Japanese source reports the ship is attacked while at anchor, is grounded to prevent sinking, and is salvaged later.

O 16 sinks the Japanese troopship Kinka Maru (9306 t). One French source report the ships name as the 4980 t Kinkasan Maru. One Japanese source reports the ship is attacked while at anchor, is grounded to prevent sinking, and is salvaged later.

An unsuccessful attack by O 16 on Sakura Maru (7170t) is also reported. John Aldens book 'US Submarine attacks during WWII including Allied submarine attacks in the pacific theatre' reports that the attack on Sakura Maru is probably the same attacks as the attack on the Kinka Maru.

O 16 damages the Japanese troopship Ayatosan Maru (9788 t) or Ayata Maru. See also 10 Dec 1941.

Due to a serious shortage of ships later during the war, the vessels Tozan Maru, Asosan Maru, and Kinka Maru which were all sunk in shallow waters, where salvaged and recommissioned under their own name. Tozan Maru for example was towed to Hong Kong in April 1942.

According to several sources, including John Aldens book 'US Submarine attacks during WWII including Allied submarine attacks in the pacific theatre' 2nd edition, KXII torpedoes and sinks or damages the Japanese freighter ms Toro Maru (1939t) on the 12th of December 1941. Position: Off Kota Bharu, 06°N-102°20'E (or 06°08'N-102°16'E according to other sources). But he also quotes sources that credit O 16 with this attack. Dutch sources do not credit either of these subs with the sinking of ms Toro Maru.

The Japanese Toro Maru (Photo: © Collection Hasashi Noma)

 

13 Dec 1941: The O 16, with only one torpedo remaining, returns to Singapore.

13 Dec 1941: : C-in-C Eastern Fleet reports (#283 1213-0741) 100 transport vessels have been spotted off the Indochina coast at 12:13 in the morning.

13 Dec 1941: C-in-C Eastern Fleet orders (#290 0620/13 Dec. 41) K XVII, K XI, K XII and O 16) to proceed to Singapore at best speed. He also reports that large convoys are spotted sailing SSW from approximately 011N-109E p.m. 12 Dec or a.m. 13 Dec.

13 Dec 1941: C-in-C Eastern Fleet orders (#312 ) O 16 to return to Singapore East Sanctuary during daylight of 16 or 17 December. Staying submarines are to take positions at best speed between Anambas and the Malaya shore, on a line of bearing 310º from Mangkai light, 20 miles apart in the sequence K XII, K XIII, K XI, K XVII. K XII is to be 20 miles from Mangkai light.

14 Dec 1941: C-in-C orders/reports (#340 0821/ 14 Dec. 41) that a force of 2 battle ships and 6 cruisers was reported in position 7º32'N-106º18'E at 0654z 14 December. O 19 and O 20 are to endeavor to gain on a position covering the advancing enemy, should they pass between position assigned to K XVII and the shore.

15 Dec 1941 about 02:30 hrs: O 16 is struck by a mine while she is exiting the Gulf of Siam during her homebound voyage to Singapore. The submarine is nearly broken in half and 41 men are lost. Only one crewmember, boatswain Cornelis de Wolf, survives. Actually there were five crew who were thrown overboard by the blast and tried to stay together and swim to a nearby island. However, only boatswain de Wolf made it. O 16 sailed right into a Japanese line of mines, this line of mines also sunk the submarine K XVII. Because the wreck of the O 16 is regarded as a war grave the exact coordinates of the wreck will not be displayed on this site.  

Oct 1995: A wreck, located off Tioman and reported years before by fisherman, is identified as the Dutch submarine O 16. Approximate position of the wreck is 3º10'N-104º19'E.

1998

18 Aug 1998, from "The Strait Times", by Chang Ai-Lien: Dive expedition to film W.W.II submarines:

A Singapore team will film two sunken Dutch submarines (O 16 and K XVII) on the Pulau Tioman seabed and offer the footage to the Singapore History Museum.

A Singapore dive expedition is preparing to film and document two Dutch submarines lying on the seabed off Pulau Tioman in Malaysia. The O 16 and K XVII, relics of World War II, are the watery tombs of about 70 officers and crew who drowned when the submarines were sunk in the South China Sea by Japanese mines. Both submarines were based in Singapore under the British eastern fleet command when they were sunk in December, 1941.
The O 16, which was responsible for sinking several Japanese ships, was struck by Japanese mines as she exited the Gulf of Siam.
The K XVII hit the same line of mines about a week later, after an unsuccessful attack on a Japanese submarine. Of the 75 people on board the two craft, only one man survived, boatswain C. de Wolf was the only survivor of the O 16)

Expedition leader Michael Lim, 32, director of Technical Diving International, told reporters on a training barge off Tuas yesterday: "No one is certain what we will find in the submarines. "If they have been air-locked, then we really will not know what to expect." The submarines could still be completely sealed or air locked.

The group of 18 highly trained technical divers will begin their four-day expedition on Thursday. They will dive to depths of about 60 m. Recreational divers can dive only to depths of 40 m. The expedition divers will use time-tested methods, as well as the newest gadgets, to ensure their safety. For example, they will unravel lines as they dive so that they do not lose their way if it gets very dark or murky. They will also be talking to people on the boat via an underwater transmitter set, and using up-to-date dive software, which will calculate the best mix of gases to place in the tanks and how fit the divers are to dive. Mr. Lim, who was also responsible for a recent salvage operation on the Empress of Asia which was sunk by Japanese bombers in 1942, said that the film footage will be offered to the Singapore History Museum.

The $35,000 expedition is sponsored by Unilever Singapore, which markets Brut Actif Blue, a men's fragrance. Mr. Ignatius Francis Danakody, 21, is one of two men selected to enter the submarines because of his small build. Heavier men would not be able to squeeze into the submarine's hull. The salvage officer with Singapore Salvage Engineers, who started diving when he was 10, is a veteran with more than 1,000 dives under his belt. Mr. Danakody weighs 58 kg and his equipment, which includes a video camera and double tanks, weighs almost as much as he does. He said: "At that depth, everything is so different. Your movements are slower and you even think slower."

For comparison one should also read the Aug 19 and 21 article.

19 Aug 1998, from "De Telegraaf" (a Dutch Newspaper): Divers locate two Dutch W.W.II submarines:

“A team of divers from Singapore located the Dutch Submarines K XVII and O 16 in the South China Sea at a depth of 60 meters. The wrecks of the two submarines were found East of Malaysia, off Tioman, by divers of Technical Diving International (TDI). The search for the submarines is financially supported by the Dutch multinational Unilever. The diving team will return to the wreck sites during the next five days in order to photograph and video the area. Since the wrecks are war graves the divers will not touch the wrecks or bring pieces up to the surface.”

Reading this article one could get the impression the submarines were discovered in 1998, but the K XVII was located in 1982 and the O 16 in 1995. For comparison one should also read the Aug 18 and 21 article.

21 Aug 1998, by RTL5 TV: War grave film footage (not) used for commercial:

“Today the Dutch press reported that the film footage made of the submarines O 16 and K XVII (see Aug 18 and 19) was going to be used in a commercial for the men's fragrance Brut Actif Blue from Unilever. Since the two submarines are still war graves this resulted in a lot of negative response from the Dutch. Unilever stated that because of all this negative publicity the footage will not be used for the commercial anymore.”

As for K XVII all that could be learned was that her skipper, Ltz. I  H.C. Besançon, had exchanged messages with K XII during a brief encounter on 14 December. Thereafter there was only silence. Although Ltz. I  Coumou had later noted an oil slick and some floating pieces of teak decking, these could have come from the British warship sunk a few days earlier. Possibly K XVII too had blundered into the same mined area that claimed O 16, but for lack of evidence her loss was put down to an unknown cause.
An official Dutch reassessment shortly after the war reaffirmed the original conclusions. There the matter stood, cases considered closed.

Cornelis de Wolf, after serving his country's submarine force for the rest of the war, retired from the navy and died in 1983. Unaware that the scenario based on his remarkable escape from death at sea was flawed. Given the duration of his swim, his sightings of distant peaks, the strength of the ocean current, and the known place where he landed, O 16 could not possibly have been far enough south to have run into the British minefield. (Piet van Warmerdam’s Note: Lieutenant Commander Bussemaker was accused of blundering into a known British minefield and held responsible for the death of his crew. This part of the story is showing the effort put forth to exonerate Lieutenant Commander Bussemaker.)

Later, new information surfaced from the shambles of Japanese naval records and suggested a somewhat different conclusion. By 1956 the British had found and published the information that on the night of 6-7 December the Japanese had planted a previously unknown mine line east of Tioman Island.4 Of two auxiliary minelayers (requisitioned merchant ships) sent to do the stealthy job, one had turned back immediately after being discovered by enemy reconnaissance planes, but TATSUMIYA MARU had laid a string of 456 lethal eggs across the route later taken by the Dutch submarines. Although the Dutch naval authorities, having other problems on their minds, did not reopen the official case, the British and many students of World War II submarine operations now felt that the Dutch skippers were exonerated from the charge of having blundered into a friendly minefield. Years later however, historians were still repeating the old assessment.

Unexpectedly, the case of K XVII was reopened in 1980 as the result of a sensational Dutch television program on which a man with his face masked claimed to have engineered the sinking of a Dutch submarine in the Pacific Ocean on orders from Winston Churchill. The boat, he said, had discovered the Japanese fleet on its way to Hawaii, but Churchill had suppressed the information to ensure that a successful Japanese attack would force America's entry into the war. To hush up this traitorous act, the submarine and its crew had to be eliminated. This bizarre rehash of a discredited conspiracy theory was apparently perpetrated by a man calling himself Christopher Creighton, whose fantastic claims were used as the basis for a novel by Brian Garfield and later enlarged in a book by Creighton himself7. (check out the K XVII and the Japanese "Pearl Harbour Fleet" message on the Dutch Sub-Board for more info on Creighton/Garfield and their books) In the course of the TV program, the interrogator asked whether the submarine in question might have been the missing K XVII, although the sabotage was alleged to have taken place near the Fiji Islands. This ridiculous speculation and ensuing publicity provoked Hans C. Besançon, Jr., the son of the lost boat's commander and himself a retired officer of the Royal Netherlands navy, to undertake a crusade to find his father's resting place and disprove the grotesque fabrications of his detractors.

 

Although the naval authorities declined to provide financial backing for Besançon, they were able to offer some useful information. In 1981 a treasure diver from Singapore, Michael Hatcher, reported having located a sunken Dutch submarine in the South China Sea. Wrecks in the area had become well known to local fisherman who were attracted by the abundant marine life around the sunken ships, only to have their nets snagged on underwater obstructions. Pursuing this lead, Besançon contacted Hatcher and in May 1982 they moored over the wreck and sent divers down. The divers reported that the submarine had sunk deeply into the mud bottom, but they were able to recover the steering wheel from the exposed bridge. When its serial number was checked against naval records, the boat was positively identified as K XVII.

Yet there was still a mystery: the wreck lay well north of the reported location of the Japanese mine line.  The missing pieces of the puzzle were provided nine years later by researchers in the Netherlands and Japan. Records disclosed that a Dutch flying boat had sighted TATSUMIYA MARU on 6 December and caused her to turn back prematurely. Before reversing course, however, she had laid her mines about 18 miles north of the assigned position. The remains of K XVII lay exactly within the relocated minefield north of Tioman.

Besançon's quest and its findings had attracted considerable public attention, so when a Swedish diver, Sten Sjöstrand, reported finding another sunken submarine in 1995 that he suspected to be Dutch, the naval authorities were interested. Initiating a search for family members of the men lost on O 16, they organized an expedition to examine the wreck.

This time Besançon was joined by his fellow retired naval officers, H.O. and A.P. Bussemaker, sons of the boat's lost commander. The Dutch group also included an official naval observer, Ltz 1 J.M. van Zee, and two journalists. The Navy also contributed funds, photographic and video equipment, charts of the area, and blueprints and identification photos of the submarine. The hulk was quickly located at a depth of 53 meters (about 75 feet) some nine miles east of K XVII in the same Japanese mine line, draped in fish nets and with a gaping hole forward of the bridge. Details of the boat's layout confirmed it to be O 16, and the divers removed the steering wheel and some other fittings for retention as official evidence and historical mementos.

The brothers Bussemaker then dropped a memorial wreath on the wreck and van Zee offered a brief prayer on behalf of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The case of the two lost submarines was finally closed (video1/2/3).

Footnote 1: This article is base largely on the book Hr.Ms. K XVII en Hr.Ms. O 16. by Dr. P.C. van Royen et al of the Instituut voor Maritime Historie, 's-Gravenhage.

Footnote 2: Japanese records confirm that the O 16 sank three ships in shallow water at Patani: Tosan Maru (8666 T), Kinka (or Kinkasan) Maru (9306 T), and Asosan Maru (8811 T). All were salvaged and sunk later during the war.  Dutch sources have also claimed Sakura Maru (7170 T) and Ayata (or Ayatosan) Maru (9788 T) for O 16, but Japanese sources say these ships were only damaged by aircraft at Kota Bharu. Japanese and Allied records for that period are extremely sketchy and often inconsistent, leaving some doubt as to the actual events.

Footnote 3: K XII is credited with sinking Toro Maru (1939 T) although some sources assign that ship to O 16. The British claim that Taizan (or Taisan) Maru (3525 T) was also sunk at Kota Bharu by K XII (one writer credits K XIII), but Japanese records fail to confirm any damage there.

Footnote 4: Naval Staff History Second World War, Submarines, Vol. 3, Operations in Far Eastern Waters. London: Historical Section, Admiralty, 1956.

Footnote 5: Van Royen identifies the second minelayer as the CHOSE MARU, but that ship is not listed in "Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869-1945" by Jentschura, Jung, & Mickel, a standard reference.

Footnote 6: Dull, Paul S. "A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy (1941-1945). Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1978 (third printing 1982).

Footnote 7: Garfield, Brian in collaboration with "Christopher Creighton", "The Paladin: A novel based on fact". New York: Simon & Schuster, ca 1980. Van Royen identifies the other book as: Creighton, Christopher.  "Operatie JB: Het laatste grote geheim van WOII". London/Amsterdam, 1996.

Pictures: All pictures are added to the article by the webmaster.

From: The Submarine Review, Jan 1999.

By CDR John D. Alden, USN (Ret). Webmaster remarks to footnote 5: According to a JMSDF source (letter from 1981)  only 1 vessel laid the line of mines. In the British Naval Staff History it is written that Chose Maru and Tatsumiya Maru where ordered to lay mines East of Malaya. But Chose Maru turned back when the ships were spotted and shadowed by British aircraft on the morning of 6 Dec. Tatsumiya Maru went on and laid a minefield off Pulo Tioman, off the coast Johore. Van Royen writes that Tatsumiya Maru was disturbed once again (this time by a Dutch plane) and therefore laid her mines 30 miles more North (where the Dutch subs where hit by mines).  Chose Maru is probably a typo. It is almost sure the correct name is Chosa Maru, this boat was eventually sunk by the O 24 on 20 Aug 1943.

Source: http://www.dutchsubmarines.com/specials/special_lost_submarines.htm

 

Final note by Piet van Warmerdam: I have edited this article by removing a few duplicate entries, spelling and punctuation errors. The original can still be read by copying and pasting the above URL into your web browser. This is for me highly emotional because of my indirect involvement through my father having been involved. I have heard him talk about it on several occasions when he came home between patrols. He knew these men. My father was transferred to the Cruiser Hr. Ms. Java on January 1941 from the submarine O19 because of his promotion to Adjudant. 

 

Cheers,

 

[Tallshiptragic]

A great and thorough narrative Piet. We've spoken previously in the past while you were building your large sub about my uncle Carel Van well Groeneveld. If you remember he was a Lt. Cdr in the RNN and in command of KXVIII and briefly KXIV before returning to KXVIII between the years 1939 and 1942 finally being killed in action in Surabaya while sabotaging the ammunitions depot so as to not allow them to fall into the hands of the Japanese.  Keep up the great work!

[Canute]

Piet, thanks for your research. It amplifies the incidents covered by Cox in his book. I look forward to your work.

[Piet]

Thank yo Anton and Ken for your response and kind words.

 

Yes, Anton I remember your comments about your uncle Carel van Groeneveld who served on the K XVIII. I don't know whether I send you a photo of the crew and few pics with the K XVIII at sea. I like to do so here and if you already these then let this serve as a memorial to the folks here.

 

Hi Ken, welcome. Yes, Cox goes into a lot of detail, more so then any other historian. I have a draft from his book before it was published and a good section was left out of his final published book, which I have. In that missing section my father was mentioned by a survivor. No problem for me at this time, I know he didn't survive but his name lives on with me. When I am going to build the Java model I'll have lot more to tell.

 

The crew of the K XVIII, time unknown.

 

Hr. Ms. K XVIII approaching Soerabaja Naval base of the KM (Royal Navy, Netherlands)

 

Hr. Ms. K XVIII at sea.

Cheers,

[Piet]

Okay folks a little trivia. This may be something not many people know, even the Dutch among us. If you have taken the time to visit my O19 build log or remember me showing the "blood vlag" of the O19, the O16 also had a "blood vlag." The real and original blood vlag of the O19 is on display on the USS Cod, which is moored in Cleveland, Ohio.

So, what is this "blood vlag" anyhow? The tradition goes back to the 17th Century Dutch fleet. It was traditionally a red flag with an arm holding a sword. It meant as a sign to the other ships that he is attacking and to follow.

This tradition has been abandoned by the surface fleet but not the submarine service. All boats have their own blood vlag or blood flag in English.

 

I like to show a replica of the O16 blood vlag and also a few pics with one on a painting.

Enjoy.

 

Replica of the O16 blood vlag

 

17th Century blood vlag

Blood vlag on a Dutch ship during the battle near Elseneur in the Sont between the Dutch and Swedish fleet, 8 November, 1658. Painting by Peter de Velde.

 

[Piet]

Well friends, today I'll have a little update - - - finally. As shown in a previous post that I have started work on the "sail" or the conning tower and have added a few items to it. It may not seem like a lot but understand that I have many other non model building projects to do. 

What's shown in this update actually took place over a few days.

 

Okay, so I cemented the 6 doors to the sides of the lower part of the con and the handholds to the same sides as well as to the "bath tub" aka the bridge. As the CA was curing I also prepped both of the 40 mm AA guns but decided to wait with cementing them on till the railings were put on. I figure it is easier to put the railings on first, that way I have some maneuvering room. 

 

And in trying to remove one of the guns from it's mold base using a jeweler's saw, my holding hand slipped and knocked the barrel off. Rats - - grumble, grumble. Quickly with a pair of tweezers and a tiny drop of CA I managed to cement it back on. Hmmm, error numero duo but after carefully cleaning the excess cement off it should look acceptable, especially when painted.

 

Here are a few pics.

 

This shows the sail / con with the pertinent parts to be attached. That funky green strip on the bottom of then pic is a sanding stick I picked up at Hobby Lobby. It has a fine and a course side to it and is flexible. It worked really great. The nail clipper and tweezers are the other tools I used.

 

Here, on the starboard side, most of the handholds and doors have been cemented on. The one for the periscope tube housing is still to go on yet. The extra CA cement will be removed by scraping with a #11 blade and finished with that sanding stick.

 

Here is the port side.

 

The con seen from the top.

 

 

This is that poor little 40 mm AA gun with its broken off barrel.

 

Both AA guns side by side. The one on the right is the repaired one, ready to be dressed.

 

Here is one of tine two AA guns on the tip of my finger indicating its small size. Not in PE but resin.

 

This is it for now. Next will be the hand railings on the forward and rear parts of the con and cementing the two AA guns in place.

 

Cheers,

 

 

[Piet]

Another small update on the O16. Before tackling the railing on the con I wanted to finely cement the deck torpedo launcher doors to the hull. Instead of closing the launcher area off on both sides I cemented one closed and cemented the other door laying down so we can peek inside and see the launcher. I relity they fold down inboard to lay against stops on top of the pressure hull.

This was actually done in to time so I decided to complete the display board. I cut a piece of boxwood to 1/16 inch thick by 9 1/4 by 1 1/8 inch to cover my poplar base piece nicely. Glued and clamped it to set to cure overnight.

In the meantime I cut two 1/8 inch pins of bamboo to place the model on. Originally I thought to turn two mooring bollards to set the model on and actually started to make one on my Unimat lathe but on a visit to Hobby Lobby and browsing along the isles I found some really nice brass beads that would fit. Well, okay, not quite mooring bollards but it saved me a lot of time.

 

Today was a rainy day with T-storms, thus ideal to spend some time on the display board. I cleaned a little excess glue off, sanded it down and applied a coat of warm satin Colonial maple stain. Rubbed it in real good and applied a second coat on it and repeated step, let it dry.

I drilled two 1/8 inch holes into the bottom of the sub and when the stain dry enough to handle I also drilled two 1/8 inch holes into the display board at the appropriate places.  Glued the pins in, put the brass beads on and placed the O16 on it. I'm really happy with the way it looks.

 

If youns don't mind I like to add e few pics of the O16's interior as well.

 

Deck torpedo launcher door installed in the closed position, port side.

 

Deck torpedo launcher door installed in the open position, starboard side.

 

1/16 inch boxwood plank glued and clamped.

 

The finished display board.

 

Bamboo mounting pins installed with the brass beads on them.

 

The O16 temporarily placed on the board with the con also temporarily placed on her.

 

Forward torpedo room.

 

 

Crew quarters.

 

Officer's quarters.

 

Central control room on port side. This is located below the bridge inside the main hull.

 

Engine room.

Aft torpedo room with galley.

Enjoy.

 

Cheers,

 

 

[CDW]

Very nice progress. The display board is beautifully done, and the beads give it a great finished look. Will try to remember and incorporate that idea in the future.

 

Speaking of weather, we've had about five straight days of rain here in Tampa and some thunder storms as well. Not real heavy rains, but much needed and enough to give the ground a good soaking, helping to replenish the aquifer. 

[popeye the sailor]

very nice Piet..........some very good progress and quite a narration you gave on her history.........Bravo!  

[PacificCrossRoads]

Hi Piet.
Check your mail...

[Jim Lad]

She's really coming along well, Piet!

 

John

[Piet]

Thanks to those who clicked the like button.

Thank you Craig for your kind comment on my little display board. It's simple so as not to draw the attention away from the model. Yeah, we sure can use the rain here and  don't mind mowing the grass - - - much.

 

Hey Denis, thanks for your approval. I think that the added information helps to keep this still living history alive, at least for a short time.

 

Yes, Boris, I checked my mail and watched that video on Hr. Ms. Java wreck. Thanks for sending it. I'll contact you via PM.

 

Hi John, good seeing you here. Yeah, she's coming along but slowly. So many other things come in between to allow me little time on the model.

 

More to come soon.

 

Cheers,

[CDW]

Once upon a time, there was a WW2 US submarine on display here in Tampa. I climbed aboard to see it and was shocked how small and tight the quarters. I think it would take a special person to serve aboard a sub for a long period of time and keep their sanity. 

I wonder, did they have maximum size requirements (height and weight) for submarine duty, similar to the limits placed on pilots?

We had some aircraft in our fleet of equipment before I retired. One was a Beech King Air Commander. Our pilot invited me to sit in the co-pilots seat and take the controls when we got airborne. The fit was so tight and cramped for me, I had to pass as it was far too uncomfortable and closed in.

[Piet]

Yes Craig, they were cramped for sure. I am not aware that trey had height limits for the crew. My father was 1.95 meter tall and lanky, just like me, although I am only 5 ft 8 or 1.76 meter tall. A few years ago I visited the USS Cod in Cleveland, Ohio with my grandson. We got a private tour by the director of the submarine museum, very nice. That boat is close 98% seaworthy, according to the director. That is the sub that came to the rescue of my father's former sub, Hr. Ms. O19.

From the stories I have read about the O19 crew rescued by the Cod in July 10 of 1945, she was rather spacious, compared to the Cod that is. As a young lad of 6 my father took me on board of the O19 in 1940, just before his promotion and I was in total awe over all the gauges, knobs and wheels. Of course to a small boy everything seemed spacious.

 

Being small, lanky and light weight I have no problems fitting in the "driver's" seat of general aviation aircraft. I have flown most everything from a single seat home-build airplane to the Boeing 757. The Beech King Air is a nice airplane and have flown its bigger cousin, the model 99 and 1900. It almost seems that when I strap myself into an airplane I become part of it. Actually, the DC-9, MD 80 are cramped in the cockpit and so are other commercial airplanes. When I managed and partly owned an aircraft repair facility in New Jersey most of my customers asked me to test fly their airplanes, plenty of free airtime, I loved it.

 

And here I am building model ships - - - and loving it. I'm done designing, fixing and flying them.

 

Cheers,

[Piet]

First some good news though. My 6 month check at the dermatologist this morning showed no sign of melanoma cancer. I guess i am doing something right. He set me on an annual followup.

Okay, now for a small update. Well, small is relative. The following update took place over a few days, due to other chores and a goof-up on my part.

 

I cemented the extended AA gun position platforms to the deck of the con, the aerial antenna support bridge in the "bathtub" or bridge, the bow net cutters, the trim planes and gun deck railings. The last item I screwed up and had to remake them, was just not thinking

The pictures below will explain everything. Again, it's a good thing that Boris included an extra sheet of PE.

 

Here are the AA gun deck extensions cemented on. Ready for the railings.

 
Here I have preformed the railings - - not taking the platforms in.

 

Here we have the famous "oh @&$*&^" moment when I saw my dumb oversight. Soooooh - - back to the drawing board.

 

Here you see that I made a jig of the deck gun area for both the forward and aft decks. Bending the new railing pieces went off without a hitch.

 

The aft AA gun deck railing received the same treatment.

 

 Forward gun deck railing ready to be cemented on after a final adjustment.

 

Aft gun deck railing ready to be cemented on after minor adjustments.

 

Both railings cemented on.

 

The bow net cutters and trim planes cemented in place.

 

This is a photo of the actual O16 on the slipway showing the trim planes.

 

Another shot of the O16 bow with trim planes installed.

 

Sure hope you like it so far. More to come soon. The plan is to cement the sail or conning tower to the hull, cement the torpedo loading crane support frames and the deck cannon on.

 

Cheers,

 

[CDW]

Those jigs were a great idea for shaping your railings. 

[amateur]

Hi Piet,

 

that is certainlygood news from your doctor!

 

Jan

[Jim Lad]

Clever idea with the railing jigs, Piet!  

 

John

[cog]

Good to hear the 6 monthly checkup turned out A OK. I like he jigs, I like the railings even morte. Nice work countryman!!!

[Piet]

Thanks to Craig, Jan, John and Carl for you kind words.

I should put my brain in gear before I do something, the little I have left.

Been too busy today to do anything but tomorrow should be okay to spend a few hours on this poor little model.

 

Cheers,

[Piet]

Thanks everyone for dropping in on my build.

 

It's time for an update, finally.  Now that the sail or conning tower has been cemented to the hull I can now cement the two AA Pom Poms to the con. I also cemented the two torpedo loading gantries and the deck gun to the model. My luck is holding put, no errors this time. I made small dimples in the deck where the gantry post are to be locate so the cement has something more to grab on to. The final positioning of them to 90 degrees to the deck will be done when I install the antenna wires.

I removed the deck railings from the PE sheet in anticipation to cementing them onto the deck. They needed a little dressing op, checking for proper fit. I was going to wait with that till another day but - - - -

Everything went so smooth and in less time then anticipated so I decided to cement the railings on.

 

Below are few pics of the progress and also some photos of them actual O16 for added clarification, and my O19 model.

 

The aft torpedo gantry is cemented on. I strapped the model to the board with some masking tape so I could handle it without fear of it dropping off.

 

The boatswain's mate Ivanna sleeping on the job right on top of my study material. Now I could tell her "you're fired."

 

Here we see both torpedo loading gantries installed, the AA Pom Poms, the deck gun and oh yeah, the forward antenna attaching braces. She's looking more like a sub ready for action. The deck railings are ready to be cemented on.

 

I may have mentioned that the AA guns can be retracted into airtight pressure buns. Here is a pic of my O19 model showing them retracted.

 

And here they are up and ready for action.

 

A was fortunate to be able to get copies of the original build drawing, courtesy of Remco. This shows how it was done. They used a hydraulic lift, simple.

 

Here is a photo of the actual 5.5 cm deck gun used.

 

A photo of the O16 at sea looking aft showing the deck gun, the antenna gantry on the bridge and deck railings.

 

You may be wondering what those rails are for in the deck. Well, the smart Dutch figured that at times they may not have access to shore facilities to load supplies or torpedoes. As with the O19 also loading the 40 mines. They made a little crane that could be bolted together. The tracks are U channels laying in their side and welded to the deck framing and the gantry has small steel dolly wheels that fit nicely in those tracks. I'm still contemplating to make a model of this and add it to my display board of the O19.

 

The deck railings are now ready to be cemented on.

 

Deck railings are cemented on.

 

A few more details to take care of like the periscopes and antenna mast and the antenna wires. After that I'll paint her a nice dark flat grey and place the Dutch national flag on the aft part of the con.  That should be close to final then.

 

Hope youns enjoy it.

 

Cheers,

[popeye the sailor]

excellent progress Piet........the idea of the crane is a perfect idea......you could do a mini diorama of it    a super job on the 016!

[Jim Lad]

Another beautiful job, Piet.  I'm anxiously awaiting the final details.

 

John