Men Men
G.B.M. van Erkel		 OZD emblem

 

#2057
 
Gerardus Bernardus Michael van Erkel
 
April 25th 1906, Amsterdam † February 1st 1998, Doorn

         
Ranks V.Adm. G.B.M. van Erkel, 17 August 1963 (Photo: © Collection M.M. van Erkel) Decorations
Adsp. Dordrecht NL. 3 1960, 17 Aug
Adelborst year 1923 ON. 4 1951, 17 Mar
Ltz. III 1926, 18 Aug   1956, 30 Apr
Ltz. II 1928, 18 Aug BL. 2 1940, ? May
Ltz. I 1937, 13 May   1941, ? June
Kapt.ltz. 1947, 1 Mar OHK. 3 1950, 14 Aug
Kaptz. 1951. 1 Feb OV. 1 1950, 15 May
Commo. 1954, 18 Aug  XXXV  
Commo. 1955, 1 Dec DSO
Sbn. 1956, 1 Jun  
V.Adm. 1960, 25 Jul  
Retirement  1964, 1 Apr  
   
         
Submarine Commands
Hr.Ms. "O 6"   1935 - 1936, 13 January
Hr.Ms. "O 13"   1937, 1 September - 1938
Hr.Ms. "O 15"   1938, 27 August - 1938, 16 December
Hr.Ms. "O 24" 1940, 13* May - 1940, 1 June
Hr.Ms. "O 23"   1940, 1 June - 1940, 28 September
Hr.Ms. "O 23"   1940, 20 November - 1941, 13 November
 * 12 May is also reported but is probably incorrect.

Chronology
1935 - 1936, 13 January   Cdt. Hr.Ms. "O 6"
1937, 1 September - 1938   Cdt. Hr.Ms. "O 13"
1938, 27 August - 1938, 16 December   Cdt. Hr.Ms. "O 15"
1939       In charge of the construction "O 21"-class submarines
1940, 13* May - 1940, 1 June   Cdt. Hr.Ms. "O 24"
1940, 1 June - 1940, 28 September   Cdt. Hr.Ms. "O 23"
1940, 20 November - 1941, 13 November   Cdt. Hr.Ms. "O 23"
1941, ? December - 1943, 27 February Chief Officer submarine tender Hr.Ms. "Colombia"
1943, 24 December - 1944, 21 February on board light cruiser Hr.Ms. "Heemskerck"
1947, 17 June - 1947, 26 August Senior Naval Officer at Belawan (Sumatra)
1947, July       C.O. landing East-coast Sumatra during 1st policing action
1947, 1 September - 1948, 14 April   Cdt. Naval Base Udjung at Soerabaja
1948, December     C.O. landing Glondong (North-coast East Java) during 2nd policing action
1948, December       C.O. landing Djambi (Sumatra) during 2nd policing action
1949, 1 April - 1950, 18 February   Cdt. destroyer division East Indies
1950, 1 September - 1953   Overseeing construction of cruiser Hr.Ms. "De Zeven Provinciën"
 and was scheduled for also overseeing the construction of Hr.Ms. "Tromp"
1953, 17 December - 1954, 29 June Cdt. cruiser Hr.Ms. "De Zeven Provinciën"
1954, 18 August - 1956, ?1 March   Chief Staff CDZ at Den Helder
1956, ? March - 1960, ?   Flag Officer Education at the Ministry of Navy at 's Gravenhage
Post WWII? - ?   Ministry of the Navy at 's Gravenhage
1960 - 1964   Cdt. Allied Naval Forces Central Europe
 * 12 May is also reported but is probably incorrect.

World War II submarine operations
Attacks ≈  4    
Sunk   1 ship ≈ 4.371 tons
Damaged   1 ship ≈ 5.479 tons
Mine laying   -    
Recon missions   -    
Special ops   -    

Civilian career        
1965, mid - 1967, April   Delegated board member firma De Hoop at Rotterdam

Related articles
'Een goed zeeman die niet bang was' - De Opmaat - 1998, April

Notes
Nickname: "Père" (father in French), he was named so after becoming a father for the first time. Later on kept this nickname for being a good commander.
Son of J.G.L.C. van Erkel (T.1033).
Father of B.R. van Erkel (#4728), M.M. van Erkel (#5426), C.G.M. van Erkel and Ch.A. van Erkel.
1931, 29 April (Antwerpen) married S.A. Hanbury

 

H.R.H. Prince Bernhard inspecting Dutch submariners. Dundee, 24 Sep 1940. On the Prince his right is G.B.M. van Erkel. (Photo: © Collection M.A. van der Hoeden).

H.R.H. Prince Bernhard inspecting Dutch submariners. Dundee, 25 Sep 1940. On the Prince his right is G.B.M. van Erkel. (Photo: © Collection  M.A. van der Hoeden).

 G.B.M. van Erkel on the aft deck of the cruiser Hr.Ms. De Zeven Provinciën, 1954. (© Collection/courtesy C.G.M. van Erkel).

G.B.M. van Erkel on the aft deck of the cruiser Hr.Ms. De Zeven Provinciën, 1954. (Photo © Collection/courtesy C.G.M. van Erkel).

 

 

Do you have additional info ? Please email us.

Edited by co-webmaster Michael A. van der Hoeden.

Main sources: C.G.M. van Erkel; M.M. van Erkel; Opmaat Apr 1998; Various editions of the 'Gedenkboek Adelborsten Opleiding' and 'Naamboek Officieren'.

 

 

 

 

 

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