| O 24 on the river Tay, returning to Dundee after a war patrol. Note the open doors (beam) of the external-traversing torpedo tubes. |
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For additional photos and information please check the 'related pages list' at the bottom of this page.
1937
12 Nov 1937: K XXIV is laid down at the R.D.M. shipyard in Rotterdam.
At some stage (exact day/year unknown) during the construction the K XXIV is renamed O 24.
Exact period unknown: , future commander of O 24 and future Prime Minister of The Netherlands, is one of the officers inspecting the construction of O 24.
1940
Exact period unknown: , future commander of O 24 and future Prime Minister of The Netherlands, is one of the officers inspecting the construction of O 24.
18 Mar 1940: O 24 is launched.
Check out the O 24 1940 photo special for photos of her launch and trials.
10 May 1940: Germany attacks the Netherlands.
O 23 and O 24 are transferred to the Lekhaven docks and camouflaged. In order to keep them out of the hands of German paratroopers.
Naval HQ in 's-Gravenhage reports to the boats that the can not escape to England because the Germans have mined the Waterweg with magnetic mines.
13 May (12 May is incorrect) - 1 June 1940: O 24 is under the command of Ltz. I .
12 or 13 May (12 May is probably incorrect) 1940: O 24 is commissioned to the Royal Netherlands Navy, still uncompleted and not having been tested in any trials.
12 or 13 May - 15 May 1941: O 24 sails from Rotterdam to Portsmouth (England) in order to escape from the invading German forces. She has to submerge during the trip because of German airplanes. Numerous leaks occurred during the dive, as the boat was still uncompleted. O 24 is unarmed, there is not a single torpedo or any piece of deck gun ammo on board.
Although the engines have not been running they decide to go full speed immediately. On the Waterweg they cut through a barrier using the submarines sharp net cutter.
Because the boat is still too light the O 24 has taken numerous copper weights on board in order to make it possible for her to submerge (something that not has been tested at all). Later in the U.K. the copper is sold to the English, who make ships screws out of them.
Off Goeree-Overflakkee it turns out they have miscalculated the amount of copper needed. When submerging the O 24 sinks "like a brick" and hits bottom. Van Erkel stays cool and thinks this a nice and save position and orders the crew to go to sleep.
During the night the boat starts leaking. No large leaks, but enough to get worried about. The bilge pumps can not handle it because they are stalled after sucking up junk from the bilges. The compressed air system is also leaking. Van Erkel decides to surface.
On the surface they are immediately spotted by a German Messerschmitt. Luckily the plane is out of bombs but she does strafe the O 24 several times. No one is injured.
May/Jun/Jul - Aug 1940: O 24 is completed at the John Thornycroft shipyard in Southampton.
14 July 1940 - 3 Mar 1942: O 24 is under the command of Ltz. I .
14 Aug 1940: The O 24 is completed and departs from the Southampton (England).
14/15/16 Aug - 22 Aug 1940 : O 24 is based at Portsmouth (England) for a period of exercising/trials/training (off Portsmouth), she also takes supplies and torpedoes on board.
22 Aug 1940 at 19:00 hrs - the morning of 25: The O 24, escorted by HMS Malonine, departs from Portsmouth (England) and sails via Plymouth (England) to the west coast of Scotland.
25 Aug 1940 between 08:00 and 12:00 hrs: The O 23 arrives in Rothesay (Scotland) and moors alongside the submarine tender HMS Cyclops of the .
25 Aug - 11 Sept 1940: This period is used for exercise and training off the west coast.
Together with HMS Breda the O 24 conducts launch exercises (practice torpedoes).
Torpedoes are calibrated (after being fired) at Arrochar (Loch Long, Scotland).
The "measured mile" speed is recorded at Arrochar (Loch Long, Scotland).
All equipment is checked for the amount of noise they generate.
At the "range" of Helensburgh (Scotland) the strength of the magnetic field of O 24 is determined.
3 Sep 1940: At Rothesay (Scotland) the O 24 is wiped and visited by Captain R.L.M. Edwards (Captain S) and several of his guests.
4 Sep 1940: At Rothesay (Scotland) the O 24 is inspected by Vice Admiral Max Horton (Flag Officer Submarines).
5 Sep 1940: O 24 conducts a torpedo launch exercise. During this exercise Kapt.ltz. () is also on board.
11 Sep 1940 at 23:00 hrs: The O 24, escorted by Z 6, departs from Rothesay (Scotland).
Mid Sep 1940 - Feb 1941: O 24 is attached to the in Dundee and is under British operational control.
11/12 Sep 1941: O 23 looses contact with her escort and ends up in the middle of a convoy.
12/13 Sep 1940: O 24 spends the night in Stornoway (Scotland).
13 Sep 1940: O 24 sails via the Pentland Firth (Scotland) to the Scottish east coast.
14 Sep 1940 at 11:00 hrs: O 24 and Z 6 arrive in Dundee (Scotland). O 24 moors at the King George V wharf. All extra spare parts are offloaded and the O 24 is prepared for her first (work-up) war patrol. At Dundee only the watches remain on board, the rest of the crew is housed onshore.
20 Sep - 2 Oct 1940: O 24 patrols the North Sea. No attacks are made.
20 Sep 1940 at 18:10 hrs: The O 24 departs from Dundee.
22 Sep 1940: O 24 arrives in her work-up patrol area, the North side of Doggersbank. Normally the first war patrol of a sub is in an area (work-up patrol area) with very low enemy activity.
30 Sep 1940 at 02:50 hrs: The O 24 briefly spots a light off the port bow (distance about 1000 meters). The submarine immediately tries to intercept the contact, but she does not succeed and when day breaks the give up.
30 Sep 1940 at 10:00 hrs: O 24 spots an airplane and dives to a depth of 30 m.
30 Sep 1940 at 12:50 hrs: The crew spots a floating mine (British) and they try to sink it with rifle fire, they do not succeed.
30 Sep 1940 at 16:20 hrs: O 24 spots an airplane and dives to a depth of 30 m.
1 Oct 1940 at 20:00 hrs: The O 24 leaves her patrol area.
2 Oct 1940 between 08:00 and 12:00 hrs: O 24 arrives in Dundee (Scotland).
18 Oct - 1 Nov 1940: O 24 patrols off Norway. One ship is attacked.
18 Oct 1940 at 16:00 hrs: The O 24 departs from Dundee (Scotland) and sails to her "waiting" area 60°00'N-02°28'E. O 24 is ordered to an area off Kors Fjord, the northern entrance to Bergen (Norway).
23 Oct 1940: O 24 is ordered to patrol 18 nm off the Norwegian coast because the British Intelligence Service reported that German forces were sailing from the north towards the Skagerrak.
24/25 Oct 1940: O 24 is ordered to patrol off Holmengraa, the southern entrance to Bergen (Norway).
O 24 only spots some A/S trawlers (patrolling Kors Fjord) and airplanes. During this patrol in turned out that the listening devices (a German project that was completed with British parts !) were not functioning properly since the spotted trawlers were not heard properly.
29 Oct 1940 at 09:00 hrs: O 24 suddenly (listening devices were not functioning correctly) spots a Norwegian freighter (1200 t) at 3500 mtr. Two torpedoes are fired but the freighter changes her course and the torpedoes miss their target. Because of the A/S trawlers and airplanes the O 24 does not pursuit the freighter.
30 Oct 1940 at 18:00 hrs: O 24 leaves her patrol area.
1 Nov 1940: O 24 arrives in Dundee (Scotland).
16 Nov - 29 Nov 1940: O 24 patrols off Norway. No attacks are made.
16 Nov 1940 at 14:30 hrs: The O 24 departs from Dundee (Scotland) and sails to her "waiting".
18 Nov 1940: O 24 arrives in her "waiting" area at 59°30'N-03°14'E. She is ordered to an area off Stavanger (Norway).
19 Nov 1940: The patrol area of O 24 is moved south. At daybreak O 24 finds herself (too) close to Egersund. Five AS trawlers are nearby, two are only 1500 mtr away, so the O 24 moves further away from the coast. The trawlers follow the submarine, but after an hour the O 24 manages to get away.
(O 24 speeds up to more than 5 kts because the skipper knows the German listening devices can not track down a sub that is doing over 5 kts)19 Nov 1940 after dark: O 24 spots three planes (navigation lights on) that are heading for Obrestad airfield.
25 Nov 1940: The patrol area of O 24 is moved (exact order date unknown) north east to the area 59°00'N-03°50'E (off Stavanger, Norway).
Before daybreak a ship is spotted at 1800 mtr. The ship suddenly changes its course and heads straight for the O 24, the submarine has to break off the attack in order to prevent a collision. The tanker (100 mtr long) does not spot the submarine and continues her new course. Because of the high speed of the tanker (17 kts) the O 24 has to break off the pursuit. A deck gun attack is also impossible because of the rough seas.
After reading the patrol report commented that the O 24 should have radioed in the enemy contact.28 Nov 1940 at 18:00 hrs: O 24 leaves her patrol area.
29 Nov 1940 at 12:45 hrs: O 24 arrives in Dundee (Scotland) and moors alongside depot ship HMS Ambrose.
Nov or Dec 1940: O 24 conducts torpedo firing exercises. English torpedoes are used instead of the Dutch type torpedoes.
13 Dec 1940: O 24 leaves for Rosyth (Scotland).
14 Dec 1940: O 24 sails to the Grangemouth (Scotland) for a refit.
Dec 1940 -13 Mar 1941: O 24 is refitted at the Grangemouth shipyard.
1941
Dec 1940 -13 Mar 1941: O 24 is refitted at the Grangemouth shipyard.
Feb or 2 Apr 1941 - Dec 1941: O 24 is attached to the 8th Flotilla in Gibraltar and is under British operational control.
Between 13 and 17 Mar 1941: The O 24 is wiped at Rosyth (Scotland).
17 Mar 1941 at 09:15 hrs: O 24 arrives in Dundee (Scotland).
?17,18,19? Mar 1941: Because the O 24 will be transferred to the Mediterranean she is painted dark blue (customary in the RN).
19 Mar 1941 at 12:20 hrs - 21 Mar 1941 at 18:30 hrs: O 24 departs from Dundee (Scotland) and sails to Rothesay (Scotland). She is escorted by HMS Wellington.
21 Mar 1941 at 18:30 hrs: The O 24 arrives in Rothesay (Scotland) and moors alongside depot ship HMS Cyclops.
21 Mar - 2 Apr 1941: O 24 transits from the U.K. to Gibraltar and patrols the Bay of Biscay. No ships are attacked.
22 Mar 1941: The "measured mile" speed of O 24 is recorded at Inch Marnock Water.
22 Mar 1941 at 20:30 hrs: O 24 departs from Rothesay for her transit to Gibraltar / patrol in the Bay of Biscay. She is escorted by HMS Shemara until Wolf Rock.
The patrol area of O 24 is the Bay of Biscay. The submarine will be part of the so called 'Iron Ring' off Brest harbour (France). This 'Iron Ring' should prevent the German battle cruisers Gneisenau, Scharnhorst and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen from leaving port.
26 Mar 1941 between 16:00 and 20:00 hrs: O 24 arrives in her patrol area. The area is in the south western part of the Bay of Biscay, 45°26'N-07°58'W, off Bordeaux.
27 Mar 1941: O 24 is ordered to a new patrol area, 90 nm west of her original patrol area.
30 Mar 1941 between 20:00 and 24:00 hrs: O 24 leaves her patrol area, because fuel is getting low.
2 Apr 1941 at 09:30 hrs: O 24 arrives in Gibraltar and moors alongside depot ships HMS Maidstone.
15 Apr - 23 Apr 1941: O 24 patrols the Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic Ocean. No attacks are made
14 Apr - 29 Apr 1941: O 24 patrols the Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic Ocean. No attacks are made.
15 Apr - 23 Apr 1941: O 24 escorts convoy HG 59 (Gibraltar - U.K.) until 45°N.
14 May - 22 May 1941: O 24 escorts convoy HG 62 (Gibraltar - U.K.) until 45°N.
22 May - 29 May 1941: O 24 escorts convoy OG 62 (U.K. - Gibraltar) until 45°N.
7 June - 23 June 1941: O 24 patrols the Ligurian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea.
7 June 1941 at 21:00 hrs: O 24 departs for her next war patrol. Her patrol area will be "Area D". This is the Northern part of the Tyrrhenian Sea, between the island Elba and the Gulf of Genoa (both Italy).
11 June 1941: O 24 arrives in her patrol area. The O 24 patrols West of the Gorgona Island and Capraia Island.
12 June 1940: O 24 closes in to the Italian coast. At a distance of 5 miles off the coast the submarine patrols between Secchi di Vada and Port Baratti.
12 June 1941 between 05:00 and 08:00 hrs: In these hours the O 24 spots four merchants of approximately 1500 tons. Two are sailing on a Northern course and two on a Southern course. Because of the distance the O 24 can not attack any of these ships. A small schooner (+/- 500 tons) is also spotted but because of her small size the commander of O 24 decides not to attack.
12 June 1941 at 09:50 hrs: O 24 spots a ship at a distance of 6 miles and bearing 350º. The ships is sailing an Eastern course. Later it turns out that this ship is the fully loaded Italian tanker Fianona. At 10:20 hrs the ship changes course 6 degrees to starboard and the distance to the submarine reduces, which enables O 24 to set up for the attack.
The speed of the target is estimated at 10 knots and at 11:07 hrs, at a distance of 1500 meters, two Dutch (probably type V 53) torpedoes and one torpedo are fired. The Mark IV breaches the surface several times. The tanker probably spots the torpedo and a minute after firing she suddenly changes course.
Although the target has changed course the O 24 is still in a good firing position. Therefore the commander fires an other , which unfortunately breaches the surface again and the target can avoid being hit again.
The commander does not trust his torpedoes anymore and decides to use the deck gun. The O 24 has no information on the armament of the tanker and there for she sails at high speed on different courses during the surface action. At first the commander is under the impression that the tanker responses with heavy guns, but later he concludes that the tanker is only armed with 2 machine guns. The 'heavy sound' is just the echo (against the mountains) of O 24's own deck gun.
Soon the tanker is hit several times. But she does not come to a stop and even tries to escape close to the coast on a Northern course. At 11:49 hrs the commander decides to fire a torpedo once again. O 24 fires a from one of her aft tubes. The target changes course at the same moment the torpedo is fired and the torpedo breaches the surface twice. The result is an other wasted torpedo.
At 11:50 hrs the last deck gun shell is fired and the tanker comes to a stop. It has already been noticed that the tanker is much deeper in the water, but it looks like the crew is still not taking any measures to abandon the ship.
At 11:55 hrs the commander decides to fire an other torpedo. This sixth ! torpedo breaches the surface 5 times but the tanker is unable to take evasive acting and is hit amidships. The torpedo hit is followed by a big explosion and heavy smoke. At the same moment it is noticed that the crew abandons the tanker in two boats.
At a speed of 17 knots the O 24 heads for sea and after 15 minutes the commander sees the tanker capsizing over portside. Position 43°08'N-10°30'E, South of Livorno (Italy), in waters of about 80 meters. In 2003 a wreck diver reports that it seems (he is not sure) the aft part of the vessel has been hit.
Although the battle was witnessed by two fishing boats and one trawler (which returned to the harbour) there where no enemy airplanes spotted during and after the battle.
Tanker Fianona. Date (probably pre-war) and place unknown. (Photo: © Collection AUSMM) In Sept 2003 Claudio Nassi reports: ......The Fianona sunk in shallow water (35 meters) and was dismantled by Italian divers, from 1946 to 1955, to rescue the sheets-steel and the coal storage and, not last, because the wreck was dangerous for sailing.........
Tanker Fianona. Date (probably WWII) and place unknown. (Photo: © Collection Claudio Nassi) 30 miles off the coast, approximately in the middle between Gorgona Island and Capraia Island, the bow torpedo tubes are reloaded.
12 June 1941 at 21:30 hrs: Under the cover of the pitch-black night the O 24 sails (surfaced) on a N-W course in the direction of Genoa (Italy).
12 June 1941 at 23:00 hrs: O 24 sinks the Italian auxiliary patrol/as vessel V121/Carloforte (143t). The submarine uses her deck gun and demolition charges. Position: 43°45'N-09°20'E, 36nm north west of Gorgona.
We are still looking for a photo of this target. Do you have one ? Then please contact us at webmaster@dutchsubmarines.com.
17 June 1941 at 6:50 hrs: O 24 attacks an Italian tanker. The torpedoes miss their target. Position: Off La Spezia.
7 June - 23 June 1941: O 24 patrols the Atlantic Ocean. No attacks are made.
8 July - 13 July 1941: O 24 escorts convoy HG 67 (Gibraltar - U.K.) until 45°N.
14 July - 18 July 1941: O 24 escorts convoy OG 67 (U.K. - Gibraltar) until 45°N.
28 July - 15 Aug 1941: O 24 patrols the Ligurian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea.
6 Aug 1941 at 6:32 hrs: O 24 sinks (torpedo attack) the Italian merchant steamer ms Bombardiere. The Dutch commander reported 5000t, but the Bombardiere was only 613t. Position: 41°47'N-12°06'E, Tyrrhenian Sea. For unknown reasons, the official Italian position is that Bombardiere was sunk by O 21 and not by the O 24.
The 613 tgr ms Bombardiere was built in 1918, and belonged to the Soc. An. Trasporti Industriali of Livorno. She was registered with the Maritime Compartment of Genova, ledger #2197 and never taken up by the Navy, but was leased to the War Ministry.
We are still looking for a photo of this target. Do you have one ? Then please contact us at webmaster@dutchsubmarines.com.
7 Aug 1941 at 17:10 hrs: O 24 attacks an unknown sailing vessel, the torpedo('s) miss the target. This attack is not reported by Dutch sources.
7 Aug 1941 at 21:30 hrs: O 24 sinks the Italian motor/sailing schooner ms Margherita Madre (296t) by gunfire. Position: 41°23'N-12°28'E, 15nm off Anzio.
We are still looking for a photo of this target. Do you have one ? Then please contact us at webmaster@dutchsubmarines.com.
12 Aug 1941 at 10:20 hrs: O 24 attacks (by use of torpedoes) an Italian schooner. The attack is unsuccessful. Position: Ligurian Sea.
28 Aug - 16 Sep 1941: O 24 patrols the Ligurian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea.
6 Sep 1941 at 32:35 hrs: O 24 uses torpedo('s) and her deck gun to attack the Italian motor trawler A5 Carla (built 1903, 347t). The Carla is an anti-aircraft guard ship Position: 43°45'N-09°21'E, off La Spezia. The torpedo misses its target but the O 24's gunfire forces the vessel ashore and she becomes a total loss.
Official Italian source report that the vessel's name is V63 Carla and that the motor trawler was requisitioned as a vigilance-ship.
We are still looking for a photo of this target. Do you have one ? Then please contact us at webmaster@dutchsubmarines.com.9 Sep 1941 at 17:12 hrs: O 24 sinks (one torpedo fired) the Italian freighter SS Italo Balbo (5114t). Position: 42°47'N-09°57'E, 10nm West of Cape Serre.
We are still looking for a photo of this target. Do you have one ? Then please contact us at webmaster@dutchsubmarines.com.
1 Oct - 23 Oct 1941: O 24 patrols the southern part of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
13 Oct 1941 at 17:35 hrs: O 24 attacks an escorted Italian tanker. The torpedo('s) miss their target.
30 Nov - 23 Dec 1941: O 24 patrols the southern part of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
11 Dec 1941 at 13:30 hrs: O 24 attacks a unknown German submarine, but the U-boat sights the torpedo wakes and evades the attack.
Dec 1941 - 3rd quarter 1942: O 24 is refitted in the U.K.
7 Dec 1941: The USA declares war on Japan after Japanese forces attack Pearl Harbour. Approximately 7 hours after the attack the Netherlands also declares war on Japan.
14 Dec 1941: Japanese planes bomb Tarempah (Anambas Islands) which is Netherlands East Indies territory.
27 Dec 1941: Japanese invaders occupy Tambelan Islands, Dutch territory, between Borneo and Singapore.
1942
21 Jan 1942: O 24 arrives in Dundee (Scotland) for a refit.
3 Mar 1942 - 25 Oct 1944: O 24 is under the command of Ltz. I .
20 Jul 1942: O 24 departs from Dundee (Scotland) and sails via Simon's Town (South Africa) to Colombo.
Aug 1942 - Dec 1943: O 24 is based in Colombo and is under British Eastern Fleet operational control.
20 August, or 21 Aug 1942 according to S-A sources: O 24 is fired on by the American ship Narbo at 25°00'S-00°05'30E and heads for Simon’s Town (South Africa) for minor repairs.
24 August 1942, in the afternoon: O 24 arrives in Simon’s Town (South Africa).
7 Sep 1942: O 24, escorted by Free French Sloop Commandant Dubuc, sailes from Simon’s Town on completion of repairs. She exercises with SAAF on passage. These exercises are very beneficial as most of the SAAF aircrew at that time have never seen a submarine.
9 Sep 1942: O 24, and her escort, arrive in East London (South Africa).
25 Oct 1942 - 16 Nov 1942: O 24 patrols the Strait of Malacca.
1 Nov 1942: O 24 attacks a Japanese freighter. The attack is unsuccessful.
6 Nov 1942: O 24 attacks a Japanese freighter. The attack is unsuccessful.
6 Dec - 24 Dec 1942: O 24 patrols off northwest Sumatra. No attacks are made.
12 Dec 1942: O 24 lands the NEFIS shore party "Troemoen" on the west coast of Atjeh. The shore party is under the command of Major H.G.C. Pel (KNIL army) and consists of ten men.
1943
14 Jan - 24 Jan 1943: O 24 patrols off the Andaman Islands. No attacks are made.
19 Jan 1943: O 24 lands the British Army (SOE) shore party 'Bunkum I' on the Andaman islands. The party consists of six men.
Read the book for a detailed description of this (and many other) secret SOE operation.
7 Feb - 26 Feb 1943: O 24 patrols the Strait of Malacca.
13 Feb 1943: O 24 attempts unsuccessfully to land a shore party on the coast of Lhoksemawe, north coast of Sumatra (near Lhoksemawe). The shore party, which is under the command of Kap. W.J. Scheepens (KNIL army), consists of seven secret agents.
21 Feb 1943: O 24 sinks a Japanese freighter by gun fire.
Non-Dutch sources identify this target as the Japanese freighter ss Bandai Maru (165t). Position: 07°50'N-98°09'E, off Salang island. Sometimes the ships name is spelled as Bandar Maru
According to some Dutch sources this could also have been the 4147t Bandai Maru (built 1921, home port Kobe). But this vessel was renamed to Setsuyo Maru in 1937 and was (alleged) torpedoed on Oct 4 1942 by the USS Greenling.
A 509 ton Bandai Maru also existed. But she was sunk (hit a mine) on Sept 22 1946.
The Dutch commander reports the target as being 3000-4000 tons. It seems highly unlikely the vessel was actually 165 tons. The commander also reported an other position: 07°52'N-98°16.2'E instead of 07°50'N-98°09'E. The two positions are about 7 nm apart.
We are still looking for a photo's of ss Bandai Maru, Bandar Maru and Setsuyo Maru. Do you have one ? Then please contact us at webmaster@dutchsubmarines.com.
16 Mar - 29 Mar 1943: O 24 patrols off the Andaman Islands. No attacks are made.
21 Mar 1943: O 24 lands the British Army (SOE) shore party 'Bunkum II' on the Andaman islands. The party consists of 10 men. O 24 also successfully contacts agents of shore party 'Bunkum I'.
22 Mar 1943: O 24 takes members of the shore parties 'Bunkum I' and 'Bunkum II' back on board at the Andaman coast.
23 Mar 1943: O 24 conducts a reconnaissance mission to the Sandy islands.
24 Mar 1943: O 24 delivers supplies for the shore parties 'Bunkum I' and 'Bunkum II' at the Andaman coast.
Read the book for a detailed description of this (and many other) secret SOE operation.
12 Apr - 15 Apr 1943: O 24 patrols off north west Sumatra. No attacks are made.
17/19/20 Apr 1943: O 24 lands and takes on board the shore parties 'Valour' and 'Matriarch'. 'Valour' consisted of two British Army men and 'Matriarch', which was under the command of Kap. W.J. Scheepens (KNIL army), consisted of six men. 17th of April at the coast of Troemoen, 19th at Meulaboh and the 20th at Koela Trang.
11 May - 31 May 1943: O 24 patrols the Strait of Malacca.
15 May 1943: O 24 conducts a reconnaissance mission to the Bay of Sabang.
19 May 1943: O 24 attacks a Japanese freighter. The attack is unsuccessful.
24 May 1943: O 24 lands the SOE shore party 'Gustavus I' at the coast of the Sembilan islands. The shore party consists of one British officer and five Chinese men.
Read the book for a detailed description of this (and many other) secret SOE operation.
30 July - 29 Aug 1943: O 24 patrols the Strait of Malacca.
19 Aug 1943: O 24 attacks a Japanese tanker. The attack is unsuccessful.
20 Aug 1943: O 24 sinks the Japanese ms Chosa Maru (2538gwt). O 24 fires four torpedoes of which one hits the target. Position: 05°09'N-100°10'E, south of Penang along the Malayan Peninsula.
The Chosa Maru is an aux. gunboat/minelayer (converted passenger steamer). She is built in 1921 for NYK (2,538t) , requisitioned in Sep 10 1940, converted to gunboat on same date, converted to gunboat/minelayer April 10 1941, assigned to 9th Base Force (Camh Ranh Bay), removed mine gear January 10 1942, reassigned to 10th Base Force (Singapore) February 10 1942.
We are still looking for a photo of ms Chosa Maru. Do you have one ? Then please contact us at webmaster@dutchsubmarines.com.
She is assigned to the 10th Special Base Force (Singapore) at the time of her sinking.
12 Sep - 3 Oct 1943: O 24 patrols the Strait of Malacca. No attacks are made.
20 Sep 1943: O 24 contacts agents of previous SOE 'Gustavus' shore parties. They also transfer personnel and supplies to a Junk off the Sembilan islands. This SOE operation is called 'Gustavus IV'.
Read the book for a detailed description of this (and many other) secret SOE operation.
25 Oct - 15 Nov 1943: O 24 patrols the Strait of Malacca.
31 Oct 1943: O 24 attacks a Japanese freighter. The attack is unsuccessful.
2 Nov 1943: O 24 contacts agents of previous SOE 'Gustavus' shore parties. They also transfer personnel and supplies to a Junk off the Sembilan islands. This SOE operation is called 'Gustavus V'.
Read the book for a detailed description of this (and many other) secret SOE operation.
3 Nov 1943: O 24 attacks a Japanese cruiser. The attack is unsuccessful.
20 Dec 1943: O 24 sails from Colombo, via the Mediterranean Sea / Atlantic / Bermuda, to Philadelphia (USA). During this voyage she also escorts some Italian submarines.
?Dec 1943 - Apr 1944: O 24 is refitted (4 yearly maintenance) in Philadelphia.?
1944
21 Jan - 29 Jan 1944L O 24 is in Gibraltar and because the planned Atlantic transit the hull is painted Ocean gray and the decks black.
29 Jan 1944: O 24 departs from Gibraltar for a transit to Philadelphia (USA).
10 Feb - 17 Feb 1944: O 24 is at Bermuda.
20 Feb 1944: O 24 arrives in Philadelphia (USA).
Feb 1944 - Mid Aug 1944: O 24 is refitted in Philadelphia (USA).
Late June 1944: The battery of O 21 is installed in the O 24.
Mid Aug 1944: The refit is followed by a 3 week (approximately) work-up in New London (USA).
31 Aug 1944: Her Royal Highness Princess Juliana of the Netherlands inspects the O 24 in New London (USA).
| Royal Highness Princess
Juliana of the Netherlands inspects the O 24. The officer is
probably O 24's commander
.
New London, USA, 31 Aug 1944.(Photo: © Collection Harald Sannes)
More photo's of this visit on the O 24 in WWII photo page. |
P.J.S. de Jong.
De Jong will be the Dutch Minister of defence from 1963 until 1967 and Prime
Minister from 1967 until 1971.
27 Nov 1944: O 24 arrives in Dundee (Scotland) for repairs. A Sperry gyro-compass will be fitted and some small engine defects will be repaired. 26 Dec 1944: O 24 departs Dundee and sails via Scapa Flow, Holy Loch, the Mediterranean and Australia to Batavia (Jakarta, Dutch East Indies). 1945 O 24 arrives in Australia. O 24 is based at Fremantle and is under U.S. operational control. 7 Apr - 28 Apr 1945: O 24 patrols the southwest coast of Sumatra.
8 May 1945: Germany surrenders. 29 May - 20 June 1945: O 24 patrols the Java Sea.
15 Aug 1945: Japan surrenders. Sep 1945: O 24 is based at Tandjong Priok (Batavia/Jakarta). Oct - Nov 1945: O 24 patrols the Sunda Strait.
1946 16 Feb - 8 Apr 1946: O 24 departs from Batavia (Jakarta, Dutch East Indies) and sails via Singapore, Bangkok, Trincomalee (India), Aden (Yemen) and Gibraltar to Rotterdam (the Netherlands).
9 Apr 1946: Her Majesty Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands visits the O 24 in Rotterdam. ? - 1 Dec 1947: O 24 is repaired (major maintenance) at the Naval Yard in Willemsoord (Den Helder). 1947 ? - 1 Dec 1947: O 24 is repaired (major maintenance) at the Naval Yard in Willemsoord (Den Helder). 30 Nov 1947 - 16 Aug 1948: O 24 is under the command of Ltz. II . From now on O 24 is used as a exercise boat for the training of personnel. 1948 ?O 24 is used as a torpedo trial boat? Mar 1948: O 21 sails to the English channel and the Irish Sea for an exercise in ASW. 15 Sep - ?: Together with Zeehond (2) and Hr.Ms. Van Kinsbergen, the O 24 visits Curaçao. Gravity measurements are taken during this trip, these being the first Dutch gravity measurements taken after the war.
16 Aug 1948 - 30 Apr 1949: O 24 is under the command of Ltz. II . 1949 Early Apr 1949: O 24 arrives in the Netherlands and from now on she is used for the training of personnel. 30 Apr 1949 - 23 June 1950: O 24 is under the command of Ltz. II . 1950 23 June - 11 Aug 1950: O 24 is under the command of Ltz. II . 11 Aug 1950 - 16 Nov 1951: O 24 is under the command of Ltz. I . 15 May - 31 Aug: O 24 takes part "Rotterdam Ahoy" exhibition which was held from 12 May to 31 Aug 1950. It is unknown if she was present during the whole exhibition. Check out the page O 21 class 1950s photos for related photos. 1951 16 Nov 1951 - ?7 Jan 1952: O 24 is under the command of Ltz. II . 1952 18 Jan - 29 Jan 1952: O 24 is under the command of Ltz. I . 4 Apr - 16 Apr 1952: O 24 is under the command of Ltz. I . 16 Apr 1952 - 14 Feb 1953: O 24 is under the command of Ltz. II / Ltz. I . 195318 Dec 1953 - 22 Feb 1954: O 24 is under the command of . 1954O 24 is decommissioned.
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