Member of Class
 Boat
K XII		 Sister Ships
K XI, K XII, K XIII

 

K XII. Date and place unknown (Photo: © Collection  www.DutchSubmarines.com). K XII. (Photo: © Collection www.DutchSubmarines.com)..

Check out the K boats 1920-30s photo special for more K XII related images.

 

1921

3 Sep 1921: K XII is ordered.

1923

9 Jan 1923: K XII is laid down at the Fijenoord shipyard in Rotterdam.

1924

15 July 1924: K X II is launched.

1925

19 May 1925: K X II is commissioned to the Royal Netherlands Navy.

19 May 1925 - 31 Mar 1927: K XII is under the command of Ltz. II  / Ltz. I  .

17 Aug 1925: The commander of K XII, Ltz. II  , is promoted to Ltz. I

1926

19 or 29 Sep - 29 Dec 1926: K XII departs from Nieuwediep (Netherlands) and sets sail to the Netherlands East Indies via the Suez Canal.

29 or 30 Dec 1926: K XII arrives in Soerabaja (Dutch East Indies).

1927

31 Mar 1927 - ?: K XII is under the command of ?

1930

19?? - 1 Mar 1930: K XII is under the command of ?

1931

According to H.M. van Bemmelen his files: Mid April 1931- 1 June 1931 K XII is under the command of .

1 June - 1 Sep 1931: K XII is under the command of Ltz. I  .

1 Sep - 26 Sep 1931: K XII is under the command of ?

26 Sep 1931 - 10 Feb 1932: K XII is under the command of Ltz. I  .

1932

10 Feb - 1 Nov 1932: K XII is under the command of ?

1 Nov 1932 - 8 Jan 1934: K XII is under the command of Ltz. I  .

1934

8 Jan - 9 Oct 1934: K XII is under the command of ?

9 Oct - 1 Nov 1934: K XII is under the command of Ltz. II  .

1 Nov 1934 - ? 1935: K XII is under the command of ?

1935

29 Oct 1925 - ? 1936: K XII is under the command of Ltz. II  .

1937

14 Jun 1937 -  25 Oct 1937: K XII is under the command of Ltz. I  .

25 Oct 1937 - 17 Jan 1938: K XII is under the command of Ltz. II  .

1938

17 Jan 1938 - ? 1938: K XII is under the command of ?

6 Sep 1938: To celebrate the fact that Queen Wilhelmina is 40 years head of state a fleet show is held in Soerabaja. Twenty navy ships and three Gouvernementsmarine vessels sail past the Commander Naval Forces V.Adm. Ferwerda, French V.Adm. Le Bigot and East-Java Governor Ch.O. van der Plas, who are all on board the Rigel.
 
The following submarines participate in the fleet show: K XVIII, K XVII, K XV, K XIV, K XIII and K XII.

1939

29 July 1939 - 20 Sep 1941: K XII is under the command of ?

Sep 1939 - Dec 1941: K XII is part of the "operations for enforcing neutrality".

1940

10 May 1940: Germany attacks the Netherlands.

1941

20 Sep 1941 - 15 July 1942: K XII is under the command of Ltz. I  .

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

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

7 Dec - 16 Dec 1941: K XII patrols the South China Sea, two ships are attacked.

8 Dec 1941: K XII is under the operational command of the Commander in Chief Eastern Fleet.

12 Dec 1941: There are several versions of what ship was sunk by K XII on the 12th

1) - According to several sources, including John Aldens book 'US Submarine attacks during WWII including Allied submarine attacks in the pacific theatre' 2nd edition, K XII 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 Hisashi Noma) The Japanese Toro Maru (Photo: © Collection Hisashi Noma)

 

2) But the original Dutch logs report to have sunk a large 8000t ship, the ms Toro Maru being only 1939t. The Dutch also reported the vessel was a modern merchant with clipper type stern, 2 masts and a wide+short funnel. Unfortunately the Dutch did not report any name.

3) According to Author Hisashi Noma of the book 'Japanese Merchant ships at War' and to the official Japanese Navy Operation Records book, the K XII sunk the Japanese troopship Awajisan Maru. This ship participated in the Kota Bahru landing on 8th December and was later abandoned as the result of fire caused by bombing by from British Hudson bombers. According to Hisashi Noma the Dutch description matches perfectly with the Awajisan Maru.

Hisashi Noma writes: " . . .Her technical data is: 9,794 grt., length x beam 145 x 19.5 meters, built in 1939 by Tacit. Converted to transport troops with government funding. She was requisitioned by the Army in July 1941 and participated in East coast of Malayan Peninsular landing among 20 troop transports. After disembarking troops on 8th Dec. she was raided by 3 Hudson bombers and was set afire and after towing by two destroyers failed, she was abandoned. I assume when K-XII found her she must have been burnt over. . . ."

The Japanese Awajisan Maru (Photo: © Collection Hisashi Noma) The Japanese Awajisan Maru (Photo: © Collection Hisashi Noma)

So it looks like the K XII torpedoed and sunk the Awajisan Maru.

13 Dec 1941: K XII torpedoes and sinks the Japanese tanker ss Taizan Maru (3525t). Position: Off Kota Bharu near ?Cape Camau?

As often different foreign sources list different data. Some state the attack was in the Gulf of Siam and others state the vessel ran aground in June 1942 or was already sunk in Nov 1941.

We are still looking for a photo of the ss Taizan Maru. Do you have one ? Then please contact us at webmaster@dutchsubmarines.com.

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 - 16 Dec 1941: K XII patrols near the Pahang and Kuantang river (east coast of Malaya).

15 Dec 1941: C-in-C Eastern Fleet reports (#353 0009/15Dec'41) that enemy ladings are taking place, accompanied by war ships, near Pahang River, latitude 003º30N. Later C-in-C Eastern Fleet orders (#360 0330/15Dec'41) that K XVII, K XI, K XIII and K XII are to spread shore course of 270º from their positions.

8 Dec 1941 - Feb 1942: K XII is based at Singapore and is under British Eastern Fleet operational control.

9 Dec 1941:  C-in-C Eastern Fleet orders (#154 1413 9Dec'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 because a large number of transports has been spotted off the coast 05º30'N and 07º30'N (#156 1209-2045).

21 Dec - 27 Dec 1941: K XII patrols west of the Anambas Islands (east of Malaya).

14 Dec 1941: After an unsuccessful attack on a Japanese submarine (possibly the I 56, which possibly attacked the K XVII), the K XII meets the K XVII, which it warns of the Japanese submarine in the area. This is the last recorded contact with the K XVII. She is lost around 21 Dec 1941.

25 Dec 1941: K XII picks up the crew (nine men) of a shot down British Catalina seaplane.

In July 2003 Ivan Martens provided the following information. His source is the book "Bloody Shambles", Volume One by Christopher Shores, Brian Cull and Yasuho Izawa.

This Catalina AH540/Z, pilot F/L R.A. Atkinson, of the 205 Sqn. RAF was shot down by a G3M reconnaissance bomber of Mihoro Kokutai (''1/63D), pilot NAP 1/C Yasuhito Koedaka.

The crew sustained the following injuries: Pilot F/L R.A. Atkinson: Light burns in the face. 2nd pilot P/O S.E. Scales, heavy burns on his body. Navigator P/O D.B. Babineau, heavy burns on his arm. 2nd navigator Sgt Ray Borchers, shot wounds in his chest and left wrist. WOP/AG Sgt Peter Smith, three bullet wounds. AG Sgt E.A. Allen, possibly not on board on the 25th, lightly injured on the 18th. AG Pty Off(A) Jock Heath FAA. The names of the other two are not known.

27 Dec 1941: The survivors are put ashore in Singapore.

14 Dec 1941: Japanese planes bomb Tarempah (Anambas Islands) which is Netherlands East Indies territory.

27 Dec 1941: Japanese invaders occupy Tambelan Islands, Dutch territory, between Borneo and Singapore.

30 Dec 1941 - 11 Jan 1942: K XII patrols the South China Sea. No attacks are made.

1942

19 Jan - 31 Jan 1942: K XII patrols the Makassar strait. No attacks are made.

19 Jan 1942: K XII is back under Dutch operational command.

6 Feb - ?20? Feb 1942: K XII patrols off southeast Sumatra. No attacks are made.

?18? Feb - 3 Mar 1942: K XII is under repair at the Navy yard in Soerabaja.

 

6 Mar - 20 Mar 1942: K XII is the last ship in Soerabaja to flee from the invading Japanese forces. on board are the Naval Commander of Soerabaja and his staff.

20 Mar 1942: K XII arrives in Australia.

20 Mar 1942 - Mar 1944: K XII is based at Fremantle and is under U.S. operational control.

?13 Apr 1942: K XII's Korporaal machinist is killed in a traffic accident. Details on this accident that took place in Perth (Australia) are unknown. He is buried at the Karrakatta General Cemetery in Claremont (Australia). Please email us when you have any additional information.

15 Apr 1942: The Dutch offer two submarines (complete with crews) to the Royal Australian Navy. The K XII for operational service and the K IX as a training aid for the antisubmarine warfare school.

20 Apr 1942: K XII, together with K IX and the minesweeper Abraham Crijnssen, travel via Adelaide and Melbourne to Sydney for repairs.

30 Apr 1942: The RAN accepts the offer of the two Dutch submarines.

12 May 1942 between 12:00 and 16:00 hrs: K XII, K IX and the minesweeper Abraham Crijnssen arrive in Sydney (Australia).

Middle of May - Aug 1942: K XII is under repair in Sydney at Garden Island (Australian Naval Dockyard).

15 July 1942 - 6 Mar 1943 (1944 is not correct): K XII is under the command of Ltz. II  / Ltz. I  .

The K XII crew commemorating the change of command. 24 of these men were lost when the Abosso was torpedoed. Cockatoo-dock, Sydney, Australia 15 July 1942  (Photo: © G. Tigchelaar, collection D. Tigchelaar). J.H. Mackay.?

3 May 1943: ?Under the command of Ltz. I  ? K XII lands the NEFIS shore party 'Tiger IV' (only one man) at the coast of the Bay of Pangpang, east coast of Java.

4 May 1943: ?Under the command of Ltz. I  ? K XII lands the NEFIS shore party 'Tiger V' (only one man) at the coast of the Bay of Pangpang, east coast of Java.

6 May 1943: ?Under the command of Ltz. I  ? K XII tries unsuccessfully to contact NEFIS personnel at the island of Goa-Goa.

June 1943 - Feb 1944: K XII is used for ASDIC trials/exercises.

1944

10 Mar - 14 Mar 1944: K XII patrols off Fremantle. No attacks are made.

22 Mar 1944: K XII is transferred to Sydney.

12 April 1944: K XII arrives in Sydney.

5 May 1944:  K XII  is paid off and handed over to the disposal commission.

According to some source the K XII retired from active service in May 1944, she was used for training until Sep 1944 and finally decommissioned on 6 Sep 1944. Other source report she was stricken in Sep or Oct 1944 and sold for scrapping.

?? 1944: An attempt was made by the Royal Australian Navy to obtain the K XII which was being used by the US Navy in Fremantle, but this move was opposed by the USN on the grounds that the "K XII was a liability to the war effort."

Check for more information on K XII's war history.

1946

From the Manly Daily: After the war K XII  is sold to private buyers, and later leased to the Manly and Port Jackson Steamship Co. The company moored the sub to a purpose-built berth of Manly harbour pool for public exhibition, charging a shilling admission.

Late 1946, From the Manly Daily 1998:

In the latter part of 1946 a group of business people, called the Sub Syndicate, reached an agreement with the Port Jackson and Manly Steamship Co. under the which the sub was berthed at specially constructed moorings alongside the Manly harbour pool and exhibited to the public, charging a shilling admission.
But Manly Cove is subject to wild weather from the south and the sub was sometimes bashed against its moorings and the harbour pool, causing damage to all three..............continued at 'June 5 1949'.

1949

Winter 1949, From the Manly Daily: Heavy seas buffet the K XII and its berth and it was decided to tow it to the safer water of Neutral Bay.

June 5 1949, From the Manly Daily 1998 and ?:

continued from 'late1946'.........So when Sydney was battered by storms in early June 1949, causing the sub to damage its mooring and endanger the pool, the ferry company decided to tow the sub to safer waters up the harbour.
The tug Warrans begins slowly towing the sub away from Manly harbour pool into a rising southerly swell. But the strength of the wind and the swell causes the towline to break abreast of  Cannae (formerly Flagstaff) Point, and the sub begins drifting towards Smedleys Point.
A second towline is attached but a while later it too brakes and the K XII begins drifting into North Harbour. Attempts are made to attach a third line but they fail and the submarine is carried by the wind and waves broadside towards Fairlight, where it runs aground on the rocks.
Of the four crew members on board one got ashore while the others where taken off by launch..........continued at '2nd half of 1949'.

The wreck of K XII (Photo: © Collection G.D. Horneman) Gerrit Tigchelaar's WWII naval record for more information on K XII's war history.

Check out the K boats 1920-30s photo special for more K XII related images.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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