HNLMS K XI

HNLMS K XI was the first of three K XI-class submarines of the Royal Netherlands Navy, built to serve as a patrol vessel in the Dutch colonies.

Ship history

K XI was built by the Fijenoord shipyard at Rotterdam. Before departing for the Dutch East Indies she sailed on an exhibition tour to the Baltic Sea along with the submarine O 8, the pantserschip Marten Harpertzoon Tromp and Jacob Van Heemskerck, and the torpedo boats Z3 and Z5. During the tour the ships visited ports in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland.

Finally, on 15 October 1925, K XI, under the command of First Lieutenant G.E.V.L. Beckman, departed for the Dutch East Indies. During the first part of the voyage to Tunis, Prof. Dr. F.A. Vening Meinesz was on board in order to conduct gravity measurements. On 28 December 1925 K XI arrived in Sabang.

World War II

From the German attack on the Netherlands in 1940 until the moment Japan declared war, K XI operated out of Surabaya. In early 1941 K XI was part of the 2nd Division of the Dutch East Indies Submarine Flotilla, with K X, K XII and K XIII. From 8 December 1941 to 23 January 1942, K XI fell under British operational command and conducted patrols east of Malaya.

Royal Netherlands Navy

The Royal Netherlands Navy (Dutch: Koninklijke Marine, Royal Navy) is the navy of the Netherlands. Its origins date back to the Eighty Years' War (1568–1648) the war of independence from the House of Habsburg who ruled over the Habsburg Netherlands.

During the 17th century the navy of the Dutch Republic (1581–1795) was one of the most powerful naval forces in the world and played an active role in wars against England, France, Spain and several other European powers. The navy of the later Batavian Republic (1795–1806) and Kingdom of Holland (1806–1810) played an active role in the Napoleonic Wars, though mostly dominated by French interests. After the establishment of the modern Kingdom of the Netherlands (founded 1815) it served an important role in protecting Dutch colonial rule, especially in Southeast Asia, and would play a minor role in World War II, especially against the Imperial Japanese Navy.

After World War II, the Royal Netherlands Navy has taken part in expeditionary peacekeeping operations.