Pacific ships
HNLMS Abraham Crijnssen

RNN · MS

Abraham Crijnssen

Photos and infoCrew stories
Afloat

Jan van Amstel-class minesweeper. Werf Gusto launched her in 1936 and the Royal Netherlands Navy commissioned her on 26 May 1937. In March 1942 Anthonie van Miert brought her out of Surabaya disguised with foliage, the last ship to escape Java. The Royal Australian Navy commissioned her on 28 September 1942 under Arthur Irwin Chapman and handed her back on 5 May 1943. She stayed in Australian waters through the rest of the war. Taken out of service in 1961. She is a museum ship at Den Helder.

TypeMinesweeper (MS)
BuilderWerf Gusto, Schiedam
Launched1936-09-22
Commissioned1937-05-26
FateAfloat. She was not sunk. Transferred to the Royal Australian Navy on 26 August 1942 and commissioned as HMAS Abraham Crijnssen on 28 September 1942. Returned to the Royal Netherlands Navy on 5 May 1943. Taken out of service in 1961. She is preserved at the naval museum in Den Helder.
Command
  • Poortman, Bernardus Commanding officer from 2 September 1939; Relieved on 20 March 1941
  • van Rentergem, Johannes Abraham Agelink Commanding officer from 20 March 1941; Relieved on 3 October 1941
  • van Miert, Anthonie Commanding officer from 3 October 1941; Took her out of Surabaya on 6 March 1942 and brought her to Australia; Relieved on 25 August 1942
  • Chapman, Arthur Irwin Commanding officer from 28 September 1942, when the Royal Australian Navy commissioned her; Had her for the Bass Strait contact on 26 January 1943; Handed her back on 5 May 1943
  • Lebeau, Joseph Remy Louis Commanding officer from 5 May 1943, when she returned to the Royal Netherlands Navy; Relieved on 8 July 1944
  • Tiel, Klaas Gerrit Commanding officer from 8 July 1944; Relieved on 20 March 1945
  • Dobbenga, Sies Commanding officer from 20 March 1945; Had her when she left Sydney on 7 June 1945 towing K IX; Relieved on 19 February 1946

Laid down, displacement, length, beam, draft, speed, and complement are not stored for each hull, so this table leaves them out.

No. 32 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force. HMAS Abraham Crijnssen underway, 10 February 1943, while the Royal Australian Navy had her as an anti-submarine escort. Australian War Memorial 300069. Public domain.

The pictures on this page are the originals.

Command

BPPoortman, BernardusCommanding officer from 2 September 1939Relieved on 20 March 1941JRvan Rentergem, Johannes Abraham AgelinkCommanding officer from 20 March 1941Relieved on 3 October 1941AMvan Miert, AnthonieCommanding officer from 3 October 1941Took her out of Surabaya on 6 March 1942 and brought her to AustraliaRelieved on 25 August 1942ACChapman, Arthur IrwinCommanding officer from 28 September 1942, when the Royal Australian Navy commissioned herHad her for the Bass Strait contact on 26 January 1943Handed her back on 5 May 1943JLLebeau, Joseph Remy LouisCommanding officer from 5 May 1943, when she returned to the Royal Netherlands NavyRelieved on 8 July 1944KTTiel, Klaas GerritCommanding officer from 8 July 1944Relieved on 20 March 1945SDDobbenga, SiesCommanding officer from 20 March 1945Had her when she left Sydney on 7 June 1945 towing K IXRelieved on 19 February 1946

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