HNLMS L 9609 (1954)
| History | |
|---|---|
 Dutch New Guinea | |
| Name | Kais |
| Builder | Arnhemse Scheepsbouw Maatschappij, Arnhem, Netherlands |
| Laid down | 1 June 1954 |
| Launched | 4 September 1954 |
| Commissioned | 18 October 1954 |
| Fate | Sold to the Royal Netherlands Navy |
| History | |
 Netherlands | |
| Name | L 9609 |
| Acquired | 1960 |
| Commissioned | 4 June 1960 |
| Nickname(s) | Klep 9[1] |
| Fate | Sold to a Curaçaoan transport company |
| History | |
 Curaçao | |
| Name | Elizabeth |
| Fate | Last seen in 1991 at a Curaçaoan scrapyard |
| General characteristics [2] | |
| Type | Landing craft |
| Displacement | 415 long tons (422 t) |
| Length | 46.01 m (151.0 ft) |
| Beam | 11.25 m (36.9 ft) |
| Draught | 2.70 m (8.9 ft) |
| Installed power | 2 × 300 hp (220 kW) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 8.5 kn (9.8 mph; 15.7 km/h) |
| Complement | 22 |
| Armament |
|
HNLMS L 9609 was a landing craft of the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN).[3] She was originally built in 1954 for the Netherlands New Guinea Petroleum Company and named MS Kais.[4] In 1960 the RNLN bought the ship and stationed her at Biak in Dutch New Guinea. Later she was also stationed in Curaçao before being decommissioned in 1969.[5] After her service in the RNLN the ship served as pontoon for a local transport company in Curaçao and was named Elizabeth.[6]
Design and construction
L 9609 was built in 1954 for the Netherlands New Guinea Petroleum Company at the Arnhemse Scheepsbouw Maatschappij in Arnhem, Netherlands.[5] She was laid down on 1 June 1954, launched on 4 September 1954 and commissioned as MS Kais on 18 October 1954.[2] The ship was designed as a landing craft and initially used for transport of materials that were related to the extraction of petroleum around Sorang in Dutch New Guinea.[7] For this purpose she had a large lowerable ramp at the bow, which allowed materials to be easily transported aboard and ashore.[1] The landing craft had a displacement of 415 tons and a crew of 22 persons.[2] When it came to measurements, she had a length of 46.01 metres, a beam of 11.25 metres and a draught of 2.70 metres.[2] Furthermore, she was equipped with two Kromhout diesel engines that could each produce 300 horsepower, for a total of 600 hp.[8] This allowed the craft to reach a maximum speed of 8.5 knots.[2]
Conversion
After being transferred to the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) in 1960 and renamed L 9609, she was modified in Mankwari.[9] During her modification the landing craft was equipped with two 20 mm machine guns and she was painted according to the RNLN color scheme.[2][9]
Service history
In January 1964 L 9609 performed sea trials after being repaired.[10]
In 1965 L 9609 took part in several landing exercises with the Netherlands Marine Corps, RNLN and Netherlands Naval Aviation Service in the Dutch Caribbean to practice Amphibious warfare.[11][12][13]
In February 1970 an advertisement was placed in the newspaper Amigoe di Curaçao, which stated that people could bid on the former L 9609 until 14 March 1970.[8] In addition, there would also be viewing days at the Parera Naval Base on 2, 3 and 4 March for those that were interested in bidding on the landing craft.[8]
The landing craft was last seen in 1991 at a Curaçaoan scrapyard while partially sunken.[9]
Citations
- ^ a b Ronald Verstraten (12 April 1989). "Reünie van een vergeten groep: oud Nieuw-Guinea-gangers komen bijeen in vlissingen". de Stem (in Dutch).
- ^ a b c d e f van Amstel (1991), p. 127.
- ^ Raven (1988), pp. 188-189.
- ^ van Amstel (1991), pp. 127-128.
- ^ a b Raven (1988), p. 189.
- ^ Smit (2021), p. 26.
- ^ Smit (2021), pp. 21-22.
- ^ a b c "Verkoop marine goederen". Amigoe di Curaçao (in Dutch). 28 February 1970.
- ^ a b c Smit (2021), p. 22.
- ^ "Landingsvaartuig mariniers gerepareerd". Amigoe di Curaçao (in Dutch). 29 January 1964.
- ^ "Kolonel Boerma maakt kennis met mariniers: Toeristen staan pal voor Aruba". Amigoe di Curaçao (in Dutch). 17 March 1965.
- ^ "Publiek op eerste rang bij amfibische oefening". Amigoe di Curaçao (in Dutch). 10 December 1965.
- ^ "Rijkseenheidboulevard zonder verzet op de vijand veroverd". Amigoe di Curaçao (in Dutch). 13 December 1965.
Bibliography
- van Amstel, W.H.E. (1991). De schepen van de Koninklijke Marine vanaf 1945 (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN 90-6013-997-6.
- Smit, J.E., ed. (November 2021). "Grauwe klep: De hachelijke zeereis van Hr. Ms. L 9609 van Nieuw-Guinea naar Curaçao" (PDF). Marineblad (in Dutch). Vol. 131, no. 7. pp. 21–26.
- Raven, G.J.A., ed. (1988). De kroon op het anker: 175 jaar Koninklijke Marine (in Dutch). Amsterdam: De Bataafsche Leeuw. ISBN 90-6707-200-1.