HNLMS Douwe Aukes

Career (Netherlands)
Name: HNLMS Douwe Aukes
Namesake: Douwe Aukes
Builder: Gusto shipyard, Schiedam
Laid down: October 28, 1919
Launched: January 23, 1922
In service: November 2, 1922
Out of service: February 1, 1960
General characteristics
Class and type: Douwe Aukes class minelayer
Displacement: 687 tonnes
Length: 54.8
Beam: 9.0
Draught: 3.2
Propulsion: 1170 hp
Speed: 12.8 knots
Complement: 60 men
Armament: 1 x 2 12.7 mm machine gun
1 x 6.5 mm machine gun
87 mines (1921 type)

HNLMS Douwe Aukes (ML 1, N 81) was a minelayer of the Royal Netherlands Navy. She was built in the Gusto shipyard at Schiedam as the lead ship of the Douwe Aukes class, and one of her early commanders was Eugène Lacomblé.

Contents

Service

Second World War

On 14 May 1940 the Douwe Aukes fled to the United Kingdom, picking up survivors from the sinking of the Johan Maurits van Nassau during the crossing.[1] She was first stationed at Falmouth alongside her sister ship Van Meerlant and the HNLMS Medusa.,[2] and then at Sheerness. From 29 April 1941 she was lent to the Royal Navy for anti-aircraft duties on the eastern English coast. She was also active in the D-Day landings.[3] She was returned to the Dutch navy in 1945.

Post-war

Post-war, the Douwe Aukes acted as a depot ship for the Mine Service, then from 1959 as accommodation for the Mine Service at Hellevoetsluis. She finally left service in 1960.

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