HNLMS Triton (A828)
| History | |
|---|---|
| Japan | |
| Name | Matsunura Maru (also spelled Matsanoura Maru) |
| Builder | Harima Dockyard & Shipbuilding Co., Kure, Japan |
| In service | October 1941 |
| Fate | transferred to the Netherlands as war trophy in September 1946 |
| Netherlands | |
| Name | Triton |
| Acquired | September 1946 |
| In service | 3 May 1948 |
| Identification | A 828 |
| Fate | transferred to Indonesia in 1953 |
| Indonesia | |
| Name | Triton |
| Acquired | 1953 |
| Identification | 926 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | |
| Displacement | 1,040 t (1,020 long tons) |
| Length | 55.7 m (182 ft 9 in) |
| Beam | 9.14 m (30 ft 0 in) |
| Draught | 3.55 m (11 ft 8 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 6.5 knots (12.0 km/h; 7.5 mph) |
| Armament | 2 x 20 mm machine guns |
HNLMS Triton was a auxiliary ship that served between 1948 and 1953 in the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN).[1] She was built in Japan originally for the Imperial Japanese Navy as Matsunura Maru (also spelled Matsanoura Maru).[1][2] After the Second World War Matsunura Maru was transferred to the Netherlands as war trophy and renamed Triton.[3] During her service in the RNLN she was at first used as tug and salvage ship.[4] Later, after 1950, she was used to train divers.[5] In 1953 Triton was transferred to Indonesia and assigned the pennant number 926.[5]
Design and construction
Triton was built at Harima Dockyard & Shipbuilding Co. in Kure, Japan.[6] She was originally named Matsunura Maru (also spelled Matsanoura Maru) and served in the Imperial Japanese Navy as salvage ship.[7] After being transferred to the Netherlands and entering service in the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN), she was also used as salvage ship and as tug.[6] Triton had a displacement of 1,040 tons and a pulling power of atleast 75 tons.[8][3] When it came to measurements, she had a length of 55.7 metres (182 ft 9 in), a beam of 9.14 metres (30 ft 0 in) and a draught of 3.55 metres (11 ft 8 in).[8]
Armament
Triton was armed with two 20 mm machine guns.[6]
Propulsion
Triton was equipped with a single boiler and a triple expansion engine that could produce 520 kilowatts (700 hp).[8] This allowed her two propellers to reach a maximum speed of 6.5 knots (12.0 km/h; 7.5 mph).[8]
Service history
As Matsunura Maru
Matsunura Maru entered into service of the Imperial Japanese Navy in October 1941.[5]
At the end of the Second World War Matsunura Maru was used as evacuation ship for prisoners of war.[7] In this role she transported people from Batavia to Japan.[7] Eventually the ship was discovered in the waters of the Dutch East Indies by the RNLN.[2] This led to Matsunura Maru being towed to Kali Mati at Tandjong Priok, after the Japanese crew were ordered to abandon the ship.[3] Soon after, in September 1946, she was officially transferred to the Netherlands as war trophy and renamed Triton.[3]
As Triton
Before entering into service of the RNLN, Triton was first overhauled at the Marine-Etablissement Soerabaja.[3] This was necessary since the Japanese crew had sabotaged the ship before abandoning her.[3] Eventually it took until 3 May 1948 before Triton entered into service of the RNLN.[2]
On 19 June 1948 Triton left Tandjong Priok to journey towards Belawan to remove wrecks from the harbor.[9] To perform this duty she towed a 75 tons floating sheerleg with her.[4]
Citations
- ^ a b van Amstel (1991), pp. 107-108.
- ^ a b c Meeldijk (1948), p. 157.
- ^ a b c d e f Steenmeyer (1948), p. 192.
- ^ a b "Belawan-haven wordt schoongemaakt". Nieuwe Courant (in Dutch). 23 June 1948.
- ^ a b c van Amstel (1991), p. 108.
- ^ a b c "Hr.Ms. Triton. ex-Matsunoura Maru". Onze Marine Vloot (in Dutch).
- ^ a b c Steenmeyer (1948), p. 191.
- ^ a b c d van Amstel (1991), p. 107.
- ^ "Hr.Ms. „Triton" naar Belawan-Deli". Het Dagblad (in Dutch). 21 June 1948.
Bibliography
- van Amstel, W.H.E. (1991). De schepen van de Koninklijke Marine vanaf 1945 (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN 90-6013-997-6.
- Meeldijk, D., ed. (1948). "Marinenieuws in 't kort". Onze Vloot (in Dutch). Vol. 4, no. 8. Rotterdam: Wyt. pp. 157–159.
- Steenmeyer, Daan (1948). "Met de bok op stap: Hr. Ms. bergingsvaartuig „Triton"". Onze Vloot (in Dutch). Rotterdam: Wyt. pp. 191–192.