HNLMS Rigel (1931) explained

HNLMS Rigel was a multi-purpose steamship of the Government Navy that could also be used as minelayer and as yacht for the Governor-general of the Dutch East Indies.^{[1] [2]} The ship was militarized in 1939 and taken into service of the Royal Netherlands Navy, where it served as minelayer between 1939 and 1942.^{[3] [4]}

Design and construction

Rigel was built in the Netherlands at the Nederlandsche Dok Maatschappij.^[5] The ship's construction began on 3 March 1930, it was launched on 7 March 1931 and commissioned into the Government Navy on 6 November 1931. The costs of building the ship was estimated to be 1.080.000 Dutch guilders, which was considered to be quite low for this type of ship.^{[6] [7]}

The ship was equipped with a double set of rails on her deck that could carry a total of 150 mines.^[8] After being militarized in 1939 Rigel also got equipped with a ASDIC installation between 1940 and 1941.^[9]

Service history

In April 1938 Rigel towed the hydrographic survey vessel Hydrograaf to Soerabaja after it had lost a propeller.^{[10] [11]}

Second World War

Between 1939 and 1942 Rigel laid down mines in the waters of the Dutch East Indies. Starting in August 1939 the ship was made ready to mine the Westervaarwater near Soerabaja.^[12] In December 1941 it mined the access waters to Tandjong Priok.^[13] A few months later, in February 1942, Rigel laid down mines together with the HNLMS Krakatau at the coast of Madoera.^[14]

On 2 March 1942 Rigel was scuttled by its crew and used as blockship at the northern port entrance of Tandjong Priok.^[15]

In March 1944 the ship was lifted and partly restored by the Japanese. After Japan surrendered in 1945 the ship was found and handed over to the Dienst van Scheepsvaart (DvS).^[16]

In 1951 the ship was transferred to the Indonesian Navy.

Notes

Citations

References

• Book: Mark, Chris . 1997 . Schepen van de Koninklijke Marine in W.O. II . Dutch. Alkmaar . De Alk . 90-6013-522-9.
• Book: von Münching, L.L. . 1978 . Schepen van de Koninklijke Marine in de Tweede Wereldoorlog . Dutch. Alkmaar . Alk . 90-6013-903-8.
• Book: Bosscher, Ph.M. . 1986 . De Koninklijke Marine in de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Dutch. 2: Indië tot en met 8 maart 1942.. Franeker . Wever . 90-6135-372-6.
• Book: Raven . G.J.A. . 1988 . De kroon op het anker: 175 jaar Koninklijke Marine . Dutch. Amsterdam . De Bataafsche Leeuw . 90-6707-200-1.
• Book: Roetering . B. . 1997 . Mijnendienst 1907-1997 90 jaar: feiten, verhalen en anekdotes uit het negentigjarig bestaan van de Mijnendienst van de Koninklijke Marine . Dutch. 90-90-10528-X.

Notes and References

1. News: . 5 June 1934. De "Rigel": Ondergaat kostbare verbouwing.. Algemeen handelsblad voor Nederlandsch-Indië . Dutch.
2. Bosscher (1986), p. 36.
3. von Münching (1978), p. 72.
4. News: . 29 June 1953. Nieuw opnamevaartuig Hydrografische Dienst: Zeekaarten moeten doorlopend herzien worden . De Vrije Pers . Dutch.
5. News: . 5 September 1931. Gouvernementsstoomschip "Rigel": Proeftochten. . Algemeen Handelsblad . Dutch.
6. News: . 21 February 1931. Gouvernements scheepsbouw in Holland. . Soerabaijasch handelsblad . Dutch.
7. News: . 18 February 1931. De "Rigel". Soerabaijasch handelsblad . Dutch.
8. News: . 4 January 1932. Van mijnenlegger tot gouvernementsvaartuig: De "Rigel" naar Indië vertrokken . De Locomotief . Dutch.
9. Bosscher (1986), p. 149.
10. News: . 13 April 1938. Hydrograaf heeft averij: Schroef verloren . De Avondpost . Dutch.
11. News: . 14 April 1938. Opleidingsvaartuig verloor een schroef . Nieuwe Haarlemsche Courant . Dutch.
12. Roetering (1997), p. 34.
13. News: . 1 July 1953. Oude mijnenlegger voor hydrografische dienst . Het nieuwsblad voor Sumatra . Dutch.
14. Roetering (1997), p. 35.
15. Bosscher (1986), p. 327.
16. Raven (1988), p. 181.