NAVYPEDIA

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Abraham Crijnssen

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Jan van Amstel	A	499	P. Smit, Rotterdam	3.1936	27.8.1936	3.1937	sunk 8.3.1942
Pieter de Bitter	B	500	P. Smit, Rotterdam	3.1936	29.10.1936	5.1937	scuttled 6.3.1942
Abraham Crijnssen	C, 8.1946- MV1, 1950- M801	712	Gusto, Schiedam	3.1936	22.9.1936	5.1937	to Australia 8.1942 - 5.1943, gate vessel A925 1952
Eland Dubois	D	713	Gusto, Schiedam	3.1936	24.10.1936	6.1937	scuttled 8.3.1942
Willem van Ewijck	E	506	P. Smit, Rotterdam	1936	22.2.1937	7.1937	sunk 8.9.1939
Pieter Florisz	F, 8.1946- MV4, 1950- M804	507	P. Smit, Rotterdam	11.1936	11.5.1937	9.1937	scuttled 14.5.1940, returned by Germany 8.1946, gate vessel A926 1952
Jan van Gelder	G, 8.1946- MV3, 1950- M803	714	Gusto, Schiedam	10.1936	27.3.1937	9.1937	to United Kingdom 3.1943 - 5.1945, gate vessel A927 1952
Abraham van der Hulst	H	715	Gusto, Schedam	11.1936	31.5.1937	10.1937	scuttled 14.5.1940
Abraham van der Hulst (ex-Willem van Ewijck)	MV2, 1950- M802	547	P. Smit, Rotterdam	1940	16.4.1940	8.1940 // 8.1946	captured incomplete by Germany (M552), returned 5.1945, gate vessel A928 1952

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	460
Displacement full, t	585
Length, m	55.8 pp 56.8 oa
Breadth, m	7.80
Draught, m	2.00
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 VTE, 2 Yarrow boilers
Power, h. p.	1600
Max speed, kts	15
Fuel, t	oil 110
Endurance, nm(kts)	4700(11)
Armament	1 x 1 - 75/52 SA Nr.2, 2 x 2 - 12.7/90, 40 mines, mechanical minesweeping gear Abraham van der Hulst (ii): 3 x 1 - 20/65 C/38, mechanical minesweeping gear
Complement	45

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Largest and most numerous Dutch purpose built minesweepers. Design was developed on the basis of A class minesweeper with significantly increased dimensions and intended for service both in mother country waters, and in colonies. The successful ships as which most significant lack bad conditions of habitability were considered. With the Second World War beginning the order for 4 ships was given out, but only one ship was laid down; in the beginning of 1940 2 more ships were ordered, but their building did not begin.

Modernizations

1942 - 1943, Abraham Crijnssen, Jan van Gelder: - 1 x 1 - 75/52, 2 x 2 - 12.7/90; + 1 x 1 - 76/40 12pdr 12cwt QF Mk I/II/V, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

late 1940s, all survived: were armed with 1 x 1 - 75/55 SA Nr.2, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Mk IV, 40 mines, mechanical minesweeping gear

Naval service

Willem van Ewijck was lost 8.9.1939, having mined on Dutch defensive minefield. Also Jan van Gelder was simultaneously mined, but she was salvaged and repaired. Jan van Gelder 26.3.1943 was transferred to RN and returned in 1945. Since 1950 she was used as netlayer, stricken in 1961.

Pieter Florisz and Abraham van der Hulst were scuttled at Enkhuizen 14.5.1940; they were salvaged by Germans and commissioned by Kriegsmarine as M551 and M553. Incomplete Willem van Ewijck (ii) was captured by Germans on a slipway and completed as M552. M553 was lost 20.8.1944; others two have been returned to the Netherlands in 1945, M551 has received a former name Pieter Florisz, and M552 was renamed Willem van Ewijck. Pieter de Bitter 6.3.1942 was scuttled at Surabaya. Eland Dubois 8.3.1942 was scuttled at Madura. Jan van Amstel 6.3.1942 was damaged by Japanese aircraft at Surabaya and 8.3.1942 sunk by Japanese destroyers at Madura. Abraham Crijnssen since 26.8.1942 till 5.5.1943 was transferred to RAN; in 1996 she was transferred to a naval museum in Den Helder.



Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.