HNLMS Orion was a steamship of the Dienst der bebakening en kustverlichting.[3][4][1] The ship was built in the Dutch East Indies and served as an inspection vessel (Dutch: inspectievaartuig).[5] Later the ship was rebuilt and transferred to the Government Navy, which used it as a hydrographic survey vessel.[6]

Orion
History
Netherlands
NameOrion
Operator
Ordered1911
BuilderMarine Etablissement te Soerabaja
Launched9 March 1912
Commissioned1 August 1912
FateSunk on 22 January 1942 by HNLMS K XVIII in the Bay of Balikpapan
General characteristics [1][2]
TypeSteamship
Displacement1,062 t (1,045 long tons)
Length55.92 m (183 ft 6 in)
Beam9.03 m (29 ft 8 in)
Draught3.76 m (12 ft 4 in)
Propulsion
  • 1,380 hp (1,030 kW)
  • 2 x Water pipe boilers
Speed14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Capacity
  • 240 m3 (8,500 cu ft) fuel storage
  • 152 m3 (5,400 cu ft) cargo space
Crew71

Design and construction

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Orion was ordered in 1911 at the Marine Etablissement te Soerabaja in the Dutch East Indies.[5] The ship was launched on 9 March 1912 and commissioned into the Dienst der bebakening en kustverlichting on 1 August 1912.[2][7] The Dutch engineer R.G. Leegstra was responsible for the design of Orion.[5][8] The cost of building Orion was estimated at 271.700 Dutch guilders.[2]

Orion was frequently repaired throughout its career because of various defects.[9]

Service history

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In 1916 Orion was used to experiment with a different type of coal by testing if it could be used to power steam boilers.[10][11]

Government Navy

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On 1 October 1920 Orion was taken out of service of the Dienst der bebakening en kustverlichting and rebuild at the Marine Etablissement te Soerabaja.[6] After being rebuild the ship was transferred to the Government Navy and stationed in 1921 at Tandjong Priok.[6]

In 1924 two ship's boats of the Orion collapsed near Koeaia Peudada.[12]

In 1926 Orion was extensively repaired at the Droogdok Maatschappij Tandjong Priok.[9][13]

In December 1929 Orion searched in the Java Sea for a reef that had been spotted a month earlier by a captain of the KPM.[14] During the search the ship was joined by two Dornier Do J Wal flying boats.[15]

In 1934 the commander of the Orion, Ph.A.C.Th. Knijff, was awarded the De Ruyter Medal for his service.[16] Under his command a better waterway had been found near Samarinda and he successfully used a new method to do hydrographic research.[17][18]

Second World War

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At the start of the Second World War Orion had already been decommissioned and was used as a light ship at Balikpapan.[19]

On 22 January 1942 Orion was sunk by the Dutch submarine K XVIII in the Bay of Balikpapan to make access to Balikpapan more difficult for the invading Japanese.[1][20]

Notes

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c Mark (1997), p. 172.
  2. ^ a b c Backer Dirks (1986), Vol. II, p. 192.
  3. ^ "De Landvoogd". Bataviaasch Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 27 September 1918.
  4. ^ Backer Dirks (1986), Vol. II, pp. 192-193.
  5. ^ a b c "Het inspectievaartuig "Orion."". De Sumatra Post (in Dutch). 22 April 1915.
  6. ^ a b c Backer Dirks (1986), Vol. III, p. 58.
  7. ^ "Indische Scheepsbouwers: De Orion te Water gelaten". De Expres (in Dutch). 11 March 1912.
  8. ^ "Een nieuwe stoomer van stapel". Deli Courant (in Dutch). 11 March 1912.
  9. ^ a b "De "Orion"". Algemeen handelsblad voor Nederlandsch-Indië (in Dutch). 5 January 1929.
  10. ^ "Proeven met ombilinkolen". Het Nieuws van den Dag (in Dutch). 2 June 1916.
  11. ^ "Proeven met ombilinkolen". Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant (in Dutch). 29 May 1916.
  12. ^ "Sloepen omgeslagen". Haagsche Courant (in Dutch). 1 August 1924.
  13. ^ "Onverantwoordelijke geldverspilling". De Indische Courant (in Dutch). 17 November 1926.
  14. ^ "Op zoek naar een rif: Met behulp van vliegmachines". De Indische Courant (in Dutch). 30 November 1929.
  15. ^ "Op zoek naar een rif". De Koerier (in Dutch). 5 December 1929.
  16. ^ Backer Dirks (1986), Vol. III, pp. 64-65.
  17. ^ "Toekenning zilveren De Ruyter-medaille". De Koerier (in Dutch). 29 May 1934.
  18. ^ "De De Ruyter-Medaille: Toegekend aan gezaghebber "Orion"". De Indische Courant (in Dutch). 30 May 1934.
  19. ^ von Münching (1978), p. 162.
  20. ^ Backer Dirks (1986), Vol. III, p. 59.

References

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  • Mark, Chris (1997). Schepen van de Koninklijke Marine in W.O. II (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN 90-6013-522-9.
  • von Münching, L.L. (1978). Schepen van de Koninklijke Marine in de Tweede Wereldoorlog (in Dutch). Alkmaar: Alk. ISBN 90-6013-903-8.
  • Backer Dirks, F.C. (1986). De Gouvernements marine in het voormalige Nederlands-Indië in haar verschillende tijdsperioden geschetst: 1861-1949 (in Dutch). Vol. II. Weesp: De Boer Maritiem. ISBN 90-228-1883-7.
  • Backer Dirks, F.C. (1986). De Gouvernements marine in het voormalige Nederlands-Indië in haar verschillende tijdsperioden geschetst: 1861-1949 (in Dutch). Vol. III. Houten: De Boer Maritiem. ISBN 90-228-1884-5.