Artillery Instruction Ship Van Kinsbergen

This sloop was meant to replace the old cruiser Gelderland in her duties to train gunners and fire control personnel for the fleet, and also to replace the sloop Johan Maurits van Nassau when the latter was in need of repair or refit in Holland. In May 1940, the ship was in the Dutch West Indies, and served with the British America and West Indies station. After the outbreak of war between the United States and Germany, submarines started to prowl the sealanes, and Van Kinsbergen was pressed into service as an escort vessel, for which she was not really suited. As such, she however served well, and survived the war.

Click to enlarge
Van Kinsbergen at sea in October 1944. (Collection National Archives, Washington, USA)

Construction details
Name Van Kinsbergen
Dockyard Rotterdamsche Droogdok Mij, Rotterdam
Dockyard number 201
Authorized December 10, 1936
Laid down September 11, 1937
Launched January 5, 1939
Commissioned August 24, 1939
Status Detailed history
Pennant nos U-93 (WW II)
K.425 (WW II)
N-3 (May 1945)
F-804 (Oct. 1950)
A-876 (Nov. 11 1955)

Specifications
Displacement (standard/full) 1760 / 2388 tons
Crew 183 (increased to 220)
Dimensions 100,2 x 11,6 x 3,4 m
Armament (as completed) 4 x 120 mm No.6
4 x 40 mm Bofors
4 x .50 MG
2 x 75 mm training guns
Alterations during WW II 2 x 40 mm Bofors removed
1 x 75 mm removed
4 x 20 mm Oerlikon added.
Armament since 1951* 2 x 105 mm HA/LA
4 x 40 mm
2 x 20 mm
Radar British Royal Navy Type 271 (surface warning) added 1942
United States Navy Type SF added 1944
ASW 1940: depth charge racks added
1942: 8 depthcharge mortars added
new racks added for 52 depthcharges
Type 128 C asdic added
1945: 2 mouse-traps added **
* One source says this change in armament occured in 1941. Photo evidence however shows that her weaponry did not change until her reclassification to frigate.
** Mousetraps were basically racks with rockets, which could be fired to an area ahead of the ship (in the same manner as the more successful "Hedgehog"). These projectiles would sink and detonate on contact with a submarine or at a certain depth. The original Hedgehog projectiles were used, but with a slow-burning propellant. I presume Van Kinsbergen had a Mk. 22 set, which means two racks with rails for four projectiles each.

Propulsion details
Boilers 2 Yarrow
Machinery 2 Stork geared turbines
Performance 17000 hp
Max speed 25,5 knots
Bunkerage 696 tons oil
Range 5790 nm @ 14,5 knots
7228 nm @ 8 knots
Shafts 2

Related links
Van Kinsbergen photo special
Mk.20 and 22 "Mousetrap" (external link)

Last updated December 14, 2004

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