HMAS K9

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The HMAS K9 was a Dutch submarine which was used by the Royal Australian Navy for training purposes during World War II. Prior to entering service with the RAN the submarine had served with the Royal Netherlands Navy for 19 years as the K-IX.

The Netherlands submarine K-IX was ordered on 27 June 1917, launched on 23 December 1922 and was commissioned in the Royal Netherlands Navy on 21 June 1923. The K-IX was based in the Netherlands East Indies from 13 May 1924. By the outbreak of the Pacific War the K-IX was out of commission but was returned to active service in March 1942. Following the fall of the Netherlands East Indies the K-IX escaped to Fremantle, Western Australia, arriving on 13 March 1942.

In May 1942 the Dutch government offered the K-IX to the Royal Australian Navy for use in anti-submarine warfare training. This offer was accepted and the K-IX arrived in Sydney for repairs on 12 May. On 31 May the K-IX was damaged by a torpedo explosion during the Attack on Sydney Harbour. The K-IX was decommissioned from the Royal Netherlands Navy on 25 July 1942 and following extensive repairs was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy as the HMAS K9 on 22 June 1943.

Due to the boat's poor mechanical condition the HMAS K9 saw little service with the RAN and spent most of its time in commission under repair. The K9 was badly damaged by a battery explosion on 22 January 1944. Due to a lack of spare parts the submarine was decommissioned on 31 March 1944. Following her decommissioning the K9 re-entered Dutch service as an oil lighter. The K9 was washed ashore near Seal Rocks, New South Wales on 8 June 1945 while under tow to Merauke in Dutch New Guinea and was stripped for scrap.

References

• Submarines Association of Australia The Pioneers
• Dutchsubmarines.com The Submarine K IX