HNLMS Douwe Aukes

History
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 × 2 12.7 mm machine gun 1 × 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.

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.

Notes

1. scheepvaartmuseum.nl :: Maritieme Kalender: 14 mei
2. naval-history.net :: Royal Navy Ships, 10 June 1940
3. scheepvaartmuseum.nl :: Maritieme Kalender: 6 June

Sources

• Mark, C. Schepen van de Koninklijke Marine in W.O. II Alkmaar: De Alk bv, 1997 94-103