Gouvernementsmarine

Organisation:

Dienst der Scheepvaart

Dienst der Bebakening en Kustverlichting

Gouvernementsmarine

Dienst der Gewestelijke Vaartuigen

These three services were meant to execute tasks on request of the government of the Dutch East Indies. The Dienst der Scheepvaart was the umbrella organization and although faulty, it was usually called Gouvernementsmarine. It comprised among other things transporting small amounts of cargo and persons over short distances in the Archipelago ( for larger amounts there were the ships of the KPM ), making good maps of the Dutch Indies waterways, seas and countless bays, to undertake action against smugglers, slavery and piracy. The three services weren't strictly seperated and it happened that ships served with services other than they organicly belonged. This service was mobilized just before Germany attacked Poland in September 1939. This meant that it had to hand over several ships to the Navy. The crews stayed on board, but their tasks were modified, mostly to support the seagoing fleet and to guard the numerous seaways between the islands in the Archipelago. It's clear that her potential wasn't big enough. Rigel was suitable for laying mines, five ships were converted into seaplanetenders (Sirius, Fazant II, Reiger, Arend and Poolster), one into a submarine-depotship (Zuiderkruis, already occured pre-war, 1937-1939) and one into a repair ship (Castor) to support the naval base at Soerabaja. The Poolster later also served as a MTB-mothership. I've included a list of the ships used during WW II. This list does not include the lightships or smaller ships of the Dienst der Gewestelijke vaartuigen.

These ships are ordered by the year in which they entered service. The Zuiderkruis was the only one which escaped to Ceylon in March 1942.

Related links

Ships of the Gouvernements Marine photo special

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