© 2007-2010 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall
Revision 2
25 August 1927:
Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Laid down at Burgerhout's Scheepswerf en Machinefabriek, as an Admiralen-class destroyer.
14 November 1929:
Launched and named Hr.Ms. BANCKERT (BK).
14 November 1930:
Completed and commissioned in the Royal Netherlands Navy. J. C. H. H. Mackay is the Commanding Officer. [1]
12 January 1931:
Departs Nieuwediep for the West Indies.
16 January 1931:
Arrives at Lisbon, Portugal.
20 January 1931:
Departs Lisbon.
22 January 1931:
Arrives at Las Palmas, Canary Islands.
26 January 1931:
Leaves Las Palmas.
2 February 1931:
Arrives at Port of Spain, Trinidad.
5 February 1931:
Departs Port of Spain.
7 February 1931:
Arrives at Willemstad, Curaçao, to serve as ‘station ship’.
19 November 1931:
Departs Curaçao for the Netherlands.
21 November 1931:
Arrives at Port of Spain.
23 November 1931:
Departs Port of Spain.
25 November 1931:
Arrives at Paramaribo, Surinam.
30 November 1931:
Departs Paramaribo.
7 December 1931:
Arrives at Porto Grande, St. Vincent.
8 December 1931:
Departs Porto Grande.
17 December 1931:
Arrives at Nieuwediep.
1 February 1932:
An unknown officer assumes command.
2 May 1933:
J. B. H. Blom assumes command. [1]
3 July 1933:
Departs Nieuwediep for Scotland.
7 July 1933:
Arrives at Invergordon.
12 July 1933:
Departs Invergordon.
14 July 1933:
Arrives at Nieuwediep.
1933:
R. P. van de Wetering de Rooij assumes command.[1]
14 December 1933:
Departs Nieuwediep for the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) with sistership Hr.Ms. VAN NES via Tunis, Alexandria, Port Said, Suez, Perim (an islet in the Bab al Mandab Strait) and Colombo.
25 January 1934:
Arrives at Sabang, Sumatra.
1934:
Departs Sabang for Tandjong Priok, Batavia, (Jakarta).
1934:
Arrives at Tandjong Priok.
1934:
Departs Tandjong Priok.
1934:
Arrives at Surabaya.
16 January 1935:
G. J. Verwijnen assumes command. [1]
December 1936:
An unknown officer assumes command.
24 August 1939:
Following ever-rising tensions in Europe, the Dutch Army in the Netherlands starts its pre-mobilization. There is no mobilization in the NEI yet, but surveillance is tightened. BANCKERT joins gunboat SOEMBA, submarine K-XV, "Goevernementsmarine" ship REIGER and another Goevernementsmarine ship and a group of flying boats to form the ‘Sunda Strait Guard Service’, based at Tandjong Priok, that covers the eastern part of the Archipelago.
30 September 1940:
Luitenant ter zee der 1e klasse (LTZ I) L. J. Goslings assumes command.
10 May 1940: The German invasion of the Netherlands:
Of 19 German merchant ships in the NEI, 18 are captured after a PTT telegraph operator withholds a coded German telegram, dated 9 May directed at these ships’ captains. Only SS SOPHIE RICKMERS is scuttled and sunk by her crew.
BANCKERT begins convoy escort duties in the NEI and Southwest Pacific waters.
March 1941:
Destroyers BANCKERT and PIET HEIN and submarine K-XVII start training with British units near Singapore. [2]
June 1941:
Following rumors of a Japanese transport fleet escorted by warships in Chinese waters, Dutch ships are concentrated at the Gulf of Sukadana, Borneo.
By the end of the month, BANCKERT and light cruiser Hr.Ms. DE RUYTER, destroyers PIET HEIN, submarines K-XVII, K-XVIII, supply ship JANSSENS and tanker TAN 8 are present.
17 November 1941:
Surabaya. BANCKERT, PIET HEIN, K-XI, K-XII and K-XIII are undergoing their half-yearly maintenance at the ‘Marine-Etablissement’ (Navy maintenance facility) when an order is issued to accelerate the work so that the ships will be on a 48-hour notice from 28 November onward.
6 December 1941:
Japanese convoys are sighted near Indochina. Together with DE RUYTER, WITTE DE WITH, KORTENAER, PIET HEIN and submarines O-19 and O-20, BANCKERT is ordered to guard the straits of the Lesser Sunda Islands between Bali and Poeloe Pantar (Alor Islands).
8 December 1941:
At 0630, in a radio speech the Governor-General of the NEI, Jonkheer (esquire) Alidius W. L. Tjarda van Starkenborgh-Stachouwer, announces the declaration of war between the Netherlands and Japan. [3]
10 December 1941:
Surabaya, Java. BANCKERT departs with light cruiser Hr.Ms. TROMP and destroyer Hr.Ms. PIET HEIN to guard Sape Strait between Sumbawa and Flores.
13 December 1941:
South China Sea. Several small Japanese convoys are sighted apparently heading towards Java.
15 December 1941:
Java Sea. BANCKERT, PIET HEIN and TROMP rendezvous with light cruiser Hr.Ms. DE RUYTER to engage the convoys, but later reports indicate the convoys seem to be heading for British Borneo. The Dutch warships break off.
17 December 1941:
BANCKERT, PIET HEIN and TROMP head for Sampit Bay, South-Borneo to refuel.
24 December 1941:
Arrives at Surabaya.
26 December 1941:
BANCKERT, DE RUYTER, PIET HEIN and TROMP depart Surabaya for Tandjong Priok to reinforce the escort of one of the many convoys bound for Singapore. Two days earlier Japanese mines were found in the Western Waterway, so BANCKERT and the destroyers take the Eastern Waterway. The larger DE RUYTER has to use the Western Waterway, but chooses a part of it never used before, and which was swept twice for the occasion by Minesweeper Division IV. The mines probably had been laid by one or more submarines; they were discovered because two of them had been laid too high and became visible. [4]
1 January 1942:
Sunda Strait. BANCKERT, PIET HEIN, De RUYTER and TROMP join the escort of convoy BM-9A that left Bombay for Singapore on 21 Dec ‘41 transporting the 45th Indian Infantry Brigade, the first large troop reinforcement. BM-9A consists of British troop transports DEVONSHIRE, LANCASHIRE, ETHIOPIA, VARSOVA and RAJULA escorted by light cruisers HMAS HOBART (F), HMS GLASGOW, DRAGON, DURBAN, destroyers HMAS VAMPIRE, HMS JUPITER, ENCOUNTER and two patrol boats.
2 January 1942:
BANCKERT, PIET HEIN, De RUYTER and TROMP are detached to Java.
3 January 1942:
The convoy arrives safely in Singapore.
4 January 1942:
Sunda Strait. Destroyers BANCKERT and PIET HEIN and light cruisers HrMs De RUYTER and TROMP join the escort of convoy BM-9B that departed Bombay on 22 Dec '41 carrying vehicles and stores for the 45th Indian Infantry Brigade. BM-9B consists of British transports MEDINA, RISALDAR, RAJPUT, JALAJARAN, and MADURA escorted by light cruiser HMS DANAE (F), destroyers HMS ELECTRA, EXPRESS and STRONGHOLD and two Australian minelayers.
5 January 1942:
BANCKERT, PIET HEIN, DE RUYTER and TROMP are detached to Java.
6 January 1942:
The convoy arrives safely in Singapore.
10 January 1942:
Sunda Strait. Destroyers BANCKERT and PIET HEIN and light cruisers Hr.Ms. DE RUYTER and TROMP join the escort of convoy DM-1 that departed Durban, South Africa, on 24 Dec '41 carrying the 53rd Infantry Brigade Group, No. 232 squadron RAF, 6th Heavy and 35th Light AA regiments and the 85th Anti-tank regiment. It also carries 50 crated Royal Air Force Hawker “Hurricane” fighters of Nos. 17, 135, 136 and 232 squadrons. Convoy DM-1 consists of British transports NARKUNDA, AORANGI, SUSSEX, Dutch transport ABBEKERK and American SS MOUNT VERNON escorted by cruisers HMS EMERALD (F), EXETER and DURBAN, destroyers HMAS VAMPIRE, HMS JUPITER, ENCOUNTER and Indian patrol boat HIMS JUMNA.
13 January 1942:
The convoy arrives safely in Singapore.
14 January 1942:
BANCKERT and destroyer PIET HEIN spot and explode floating mines. Later that day, light cruiser Hr.Ms. DE RUYTER takes radical evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision with a mine, but the maneuvers damage her steering gear. BANCKERT, PIET HEIN, DE RUYTER and light cruiser Hr.Ms. TROMP return to Tandjong Priok.
26 January 1942:
Vice Admiral (later Admiral) Conrad E. L. Helfrich, CINC, Dutch East Indies Navy, receives a report of a enemy ships off western Borneo, near Api passage. Helfrich orders light cruisers Hr.Ms. JAVA and TROMP with destroyers BANCKERT and PIET HEIN to destroy the convoy, but later reports indicate the Japanese force consists of only one freighter and many very small vessels. The Dutch warships retire.
2 February 1942:
The American-British-Dutch-Australian Command (ABDACOM) orders the formation of an Allied Striking Force, commanded by Schout-bij-nacht (Rear Admiral) Karel W. F. M. Doorman, of which BANCKERT becomes part.
3 February 1942:
Bunda Roads, Madura Island (near Surabaya), Java. BANCKERT is in Rear Admiral Doorman’s Striking Force. Doorman is in tactical command of the force comprised of light cruisers Hr.Ms. DE RUYTER (F) and Hr.Ms. TROMP, heavy cruiser USS HOUSTON (CA-30), light cruiser MARBLEHEAD, old USN destroyers STEWART, EDWARDS, BARKER, BULMER, PAUL JONES, WHIPPLE and PILLSBURY and Dutch destroyers Hr.Ms. BANCKERT, PIET HEIN and VAN GHENT.
4 February 1942:
At midnight, Doorman leads his Striking Force out after receiving a report of a Japanese fleet in the southern end of Makassar Strait. They steam for Bandjermasin, southern Borneo, where a Japanese ship-born invasion from Balikpapan is expected. At 0935, off the eastern Kangean Islands, 37 twin-engine bombers are reported departing Kendari, Celebes for Surabaya. At 0949, four formations of nine bombers appear from the east. At 0954, nine bombers attack the two American cruisers, but this and another attack are beaten off with no damage suffered.
The third attack focuses on Captain Arthur G. Robinson’s USS MARBLEHEAD. Three bombs put her aft turret out of action and cause heavy damage. MARBLEHEAD settles by the bow and lists to starboard, but can still make 25 knots. HOUSTON takes one hit that disables her No. 3 aft 8-inch turret
At 1225, Doorman orders all ships westward. At 1415, Doorman orders MARBLEHEAD and HOUSTON, escorted by STEWART and EDWARDS, to proceed to Tjilatjap (south Java) for repairs.
5 February 1942:
HOUSTON arrives at Tjilatjap.
6 February 1942:
MARBLEHEAD, suffering from rudder damage, arrives steering by her engines. BANCKERT and all destroyers also arrive. A leak in MARBLEHEAD's bow is temporarily repaired by lifting her bow into an 8000-ton drydock, the largest dock present, that cannot accomodate the whole cruiser. DE RUYTER and TROMP arrive on 8 February.
14 February 1942:
At dusk, Admiral Doorman's Striking Force departs Oosthaven (Bandar Lampung) on the southern tip of Sumatra for the Gaspar Straits to intercept the Japanese Palembang invasion convoy. Doorman steams westward to a point north of Sunda Strait with his Striking Force now consisting of DE RUYTER (F), JAVA, TROMP, heavy cruiser HMS EXETER and light cruiser HMAS HOBART and destroyers Hr.Ms. BANCKERT, VAN GHENT, PIET HEIN and KORTENAER and USS BARKER (DD-213), JOHN D. EDWARDS (DD-216), PARROTT (DD-218), BULMER (DD-222), STEWART (DD-224) and PILLSBURY (DD-227).
An attack is planned against the Japanese forces, which are expected to be off Banka and/or Billiton. BANCKERT is sent ahead to serve as a radio beacon for the force near small islets slightly N of the Sunda Strait. Once the Force passes the Strait, she is to join them. Later that night, the Force enters the dangerous Stolze Strait between Banka and Billiton, the Dutch destroyers leading in line-abreast formation.
15 February 1942:
At about 0430, during transit of the Stolze Strait, LTZ I (LtCdr) P. Schotel’s Hr.Ms. VAN GHENT, the starboard-most ship, grounds accidentally on Bamidjo reef between Banka and Billiton island at 03-05S, 107-21E. There are no casualties, but a fire starts in VAN GHENT's forward boiler room. The smoke alerts the other ships that avoid the reef. At 0800, the crew is ordered off to BANCKERT. Throughout the day, both destroyers' crews recover a lot of valuable equipment (e.g. torpedoes, gyros, parts of the Asdic). At about 1700, the aft part of VAN GHENT is blown up and BANCKERT fires four salvos into her bow. BANCKERT takes VAN GHENT's entire crew back to Surabaya.
21 February 1942:
Vice Admiral Helfrich decides to split the Striking Force into an Eastern Force, based at Surabaya, and a Western Force based at Tandjong Priok. BANCKERT is part of the Eastern Striking Force consisting of all Dutch and American ships.
24 February 1942:
Perak harbor, Surabaya. During an an air attack, BANCKERT receives several near-misses. Later, she is docked in a 3500-ton floating dock.[5]
28 February 1942:
Surabaya. While in dock, BANCKERT's stern is badly damaged by a near-miss bomb.
2 March 1942:
LTZ I L. J. Goslings’ Hr.Ms. BANCKERT is not seaworthy and unable to escape the Japanese advance. She is scuttled while in dock by a torpedo from submarine K-XVIII that sinks her and the floating dock.
That same day, USS STEWART (DD-224), Hr.Ms. WITTE De WITH, submarines K-X, K-XIII and K-XVIII are also destroyed to prevent future enemy use as are the facilities at the Marine-Etablissement.
8 March 1942:
Bandung. Governor General Tjarda van Starkenborgh Stachouwer surrenders the Dutch East Indies. BANCKERT’s hulk comes under Japanese control. [6]
20 March 1944:
Raised by the Japanese and repaired at No. 103 Repair Facility at Cavite Naval Base.
20 April 1944:
Reclassified as patrol boat PB-106 and attached to the Kure Naval District.
15 July 1944:
Lt (j. g.) Matsuura Mitsutoshi is appointed CO.
31 July 1944:
Assigned to the Southwest Area Fleet's Second Southern Expeditionary Fleet.
29 March 1945:
End of repairs on paper, but in reality, the work is incomplete.
23 October 1945:
Surabaya. Vice Admiral Shibata Yaichiro, CINC, Second Southern Expeditionary Fleet, surrenders Surabaya to Dutch Forces. PB-106 comes under Dutch control once more. [7]
5 March 1947:
Discarded by the RNN.
September 1949:
Madura Strait, Indonesia. During gunnery exercises, the Dutch Navy uses PB-106 as a target ship and sinks her.
Authors' Note:
[1] The ranks of some of BANCKERT's early COs are unknown at this time, but destroyer COs were usually
Luitenant ter zee der 1e klasse (LTZ I).
[2] Earlier, neither the NEI or her future Allies had been willing to engage in joint training exercises for fear of provoking Japan. Once the war arrived, the lack of combined training proved to be a major disadvantage for the Allies.
[3] The NEI declaration was slightly premature. The Dutch Government in London did not issue the official declaration of war until 10 Dec '41.
[4]This is the only time Japanese mines were discovered in the NEI during the 1941-1942 campaign.
[5] A report states: "The ship was lifted from the water and landed thus, that the aft part was crushed". A plan for a night bombardment of the airfield at Den Pasar, Bali by JAVA and BANCKERT was abandoned the previous day. Included in the plan were a submarine and a flying boat which were to report the fall of shot. Under the plan, BANCKERT was to fire star-shells, so her main battery carried only that type of shell at the time of her loss. For air defense against the high-flying Japanese, she had to rely on a single 75-mm gun.
[6] Tjarda, his wife and daughters were taken prisoner-of-war and put in different POW camps. At war's end, he and his family returned to the Netherlands.
[7] Although Admiral Shibata was a representative of the IJN on 12 Sep '45 at the Municipal Building, Singapore when Japanese forces in the Southern Area formally surrendered to Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia, the IJA and IJN retained military control of Indonesia. Japan agreed to return Indonesia to the Dutch.
On 16 Sep '45, British Rear Admiral Patterson arrived in Jakarta. The mission of British forces was to maintain law and order until the government of the Netherlands East Indies was functioning again. The Dutch asked Patterson to arrest the leaders of Sukarno's revolutionary Republic of Indonesia, but the British refused. The Japanese aided the undermanned British and Dutch in quelling Indonesian fighting and unrest for several more months.
Special thanks go to Mr. Aldert Gritter ("Admiral Gurita") of the Netherlands for his assistance and hard work in producing this TROM. We are also indebted to Ms. Anita M. C. van Dissel of the Dutch Institute for Military History (Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie) for gathering BANCKERT's detailed pre-war movements.
BANCKERT's Dutch wartime history has been produced by Mr. Gritter using Part II of Ph. M. Bosscher's "The Royal Navy in the Second World War" (De Koninklijke Marine in de Tweede Wereldoorlog).
Photo credit goes to IMH via Jan Visser of the Netherlands.
-Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall.
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