Could it be there was an early deployment of Sunderlands and Beouforts? Then all is right with this enjoyable story.
Flight of the Koning der Nederlanden.
- Thread starter sharlin
- Start date
Could it be there was an early deployment of Sunderlands and Beouforts? Then all is right with this enjoyable story.
sharlin
Banned
The resources spent won't be much its just some plate steel or iron and a bit of welding, most of it can be locally sourced and with 4174's resourcefulness. The 11 inch guns are not much different from those fitted to the Monitor or Verginia, save them being more modern breach loaders. They don't even fire a HE shell 
That's a good ending, glad to see how things worked out. I will second the general comments that this would make a good movie - I have the sense that if this had actually happened, then it certainly would have spawned a film in the post-war era!
Anyways - good work sharlin. I look forward to following any other writing you do on this site.
Anyways - good work sharlin. I look forward to following any other writing you do on this site.
The resources spent won't be much its just some plate steel or iron and a bit of welding, most of it can be locally sourced and with 4174's resourcefulness. The 11 inch guns are not much different from those fitted to the Monitor or Verginia, save them being more modern breach loaders. They don't even fire a HE shell
If they could fire an HE shell, then I would recommend stripping away all the office space and re-arming the fore turret, just for security. As it is, you could still do that, but it would be less effective unless used against relatively light ships.
Could be a nasty shock for anything getting too close, really.
I also agree with the movie mentions.
I also agree that if Hollywood makes it, it would have starred John Wayne, and would have included them encountering a Japanese invasion fleet heading for India, which the 4 ships of this convoy would have attacked and sunk, thus single handedly saving India from invasion and conquer by the Japanese (plus the ships and crews wouldn't have been Dutch/Indonesian, they would have been American, selflessly risking their lives and ships to get innocent civilians out of harms way
I also agree that if Hollywood makes it, it would have starred John Wayne, and would have included them encountering a Japanese invasion fleet heading for India, which the 4 ships of this convoy would have attacked and sunk, thus single handedly saving India from invasion and conquer by the Japanese (plus the ships and crews wouldn't have been Dutch/Indonesian, they would have been American, selflessly risking their lives and ships to get innocent civilians out of harms way
Bollywood? I can just see the dance scene now, two dozen or so dancers in a line on the flying boat's wing....
And movie would have 4 hours.Bollywood? I can just see the dance scene now, two dozen or so dancers in a line on the flying boat's wing....
Bollywood? I can just see the dance scene now, two dozen or so dancers in a line on the flying boat's wing....
Movies out of India do tend to have a lot of dancing and musical scenes, don't they?
"It is amazing that you made is so far, Captain, but...where did you get the dancing girls?"
sharlin
Banned
I'm sure they are freeze dried, just add water for instant dance routine.
And if you folks want to read about Unit 4174's ongoing exploits which this piece was written for have a look here:
http://francefightson.yuku.com/forums/101/APOD-Fiction
and read the Collated Whiff of Powder which I did NOT write.
And if you folks want to read about Unit 4174's ongoing exploits which this piece was written for have a look here:
http://francefightson.yuku.com/forums/101/APOD-Fiction
and read the Collated Whiff of Powder which I did NOT write.
Wow!
Bravo sir, that is a quality read. As to the movie issue, the modern Incarnation of Hollywood is not adverse to using " Off Shore Talent " ( British, Irish, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, European, Latin American, Ect. ) so it depends on who options the script...Steven Spielberg & Tom Hanks could be good...Michael Bay & Mel Gibson. AAAAhhhhh!!!!!
Bravo sir, that is a quality read. As to the movie issue, the modern Incarnation of Hollywood is not adverse to using " Off Shore Talent " ( British, Irish, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, European, Latin American, Ect. ) so it depends on who options the script...Steven Spielberg & Tom Hanks could be good...Michael Bay & Mel Gibson.
AAAAhhhhh!!!!! sharlin
Banned
.Michael Bay & Mel Gibson.
HERESY! A++ HERESY! *BLAM*
That would be a dark and evil combination indeed, Gibson and Baysplosion.... *shudders*
Darkness in man's heart.
YIKES!!!! Or Gasp! PREQUELS! NNOOO!!!
When you stare into the Abyss, sometimes it stares back at you...and makes sequels...
YIKES!!!! Or Gasp! PREQUELS! NNOOO!!! 
Awe inspiring...
This feels like it could have happened...a tale to inspire awe in the war and post-war years. Could you let us know how that great ship fared after teh war? I'd love to see her sail to The Netherlands in the late 1940's for an overhaul, and restoration...a monument to her brave crew for all times...
This feels like it could have happened...a tale to inspire awe in the war and post-war years. Could you let us know how that great ship fared after teh war? I'd love to see her sail to The Netherlands in the late 1940's for an overhaul, and restoration...a monument to her brave crew for all times...
sharlin
Banned
Flight of the Koning der Nederlanden – Poscript.
After her assignment to the strength of Force 4174 and rapid refit the Koning had three busy years sailing up and down the Indian coastline to the widely dispersed costal escort groups and fast attack boat squadrons acting as a mobile repair yard, supply ship and dock all in one.
Sailing with a mixed Dutch, English and Indian crew the ‘White Lady of the Coast’ carried thousands of tonnes of fuel, ammunition and supplies for the duration of the war.
Although she never saw action she did help save lives, saving the crew of a torpedoed tanker that had been in their lifeboat for two days. There was also a close call in May 1943 when a Japanese submarine was attacked by motor gun boats roughly an hour ahead of her current position.
The only casualty suffered by the Koning der Nederlanden was the unfortunate death of her Chief Engineer Marcus Steiner from a heart attack during a voyage to Colombo. He was buried with military honours at the Armed forces graveyard in Colombo.
When the War came to an end so did the Koning der Nederlanden’s duty. Still considered part of the Dutch Navy, just on loan to the Royal Navy there were discussions what to do with the old ship. Due to her fame there was a call to preserve her but lack of funds saw this come to naught and the ship remained in Indian waters, moored up where once battleships and cruisers had filled the harbour, standing as lonely and slowly rusting sentinel.
In 1959 a petition was started to save the Koning from both sinking and rusting by both from her crew and her surviving Officers. Felix Jansen the ships Second in Command from her flight from Batavia to the end of the war had retired to Rotterdam after the War was the driving force behind this petition.
Using what contacts he had in the armed forces as well as the British Navy and Indian Navy he pushed for her preservation. It took the publication of the book by the son of Captain Lindermann about the battle for Java and the ships escape being unexpectedly popular to the point that there was talk of a movie starring John Wayne as Captain Lindermann in the works. But Lindermann’s family politely refused the offer of a movie based on the book when they read the first scrip and said it was a ‘disservice to the ship, her passengers, crew and commander.’
In 1963 a crane ship sailed to Colombo to collect her sole passenger, the Koning der Nederlanden for her last voyage. Not to the breakers but to Amsterdam where she would be preserved. It really was an 11th hour save, the ship was in a terrible condition after being uncared for after the war and local authorities wanted to remove and scrap or scuttle her before she sank in the harbour. It took until 1976 and many thousands of guilders and man hours, mostly by volunteers to restore the ship to her original condition at the time of her commission in 1877
The ship was opened to the public in 1977 just in time for her hundredth anniversary and she was opened by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands who said.
“This ship embodied the spirit of Holland in its darkest times, small, underestimated, but never beaten.”
The HMNLS Koning der Nederlanden has been moored ever since at the Dutch National Maritime Museum along with the replica of the East Indiaman sailing ship Amsterdam.
She is open to visitors every day and is one of few remaining examples of ships from her era in the world and indeed is the only surviving Coles turreted ship in the Western Hemisphere. Her original 11 inch guns were re-mounted in their turrets as were her original engines, both had been put in storage by the Royal Navy during her refit.
After her assignment to the strength of Force 4174 and rapid refit the Koning had three busy years sailing up and down the Indian coastline to the widely dispersed costal escort groups and fast attack boat squadrons acting as a mobile repair yard, supply ship and dock all in one.
Sailing with a mixed Dutch, English and Indian crew the ‘White Lady of the Coast’ carried thousands of tonnes of fuel, ammunition and supplies for the duration of the war.
Although she never saw action she did help save lives, saving the crew of a torpedoed tanker that had been in their lifeboat for two days. There was also a close call in May 1943 when a Japanese submarine was attacked by motor gun boats roughly an hour ahead of her current position.
The only casualty suffered by the Koning der Nederlanden was the unfortunate death of her Chief Engineer Marcus Steiner from a heart attack during a voyage to Colombo. He was buried with military honours at the Armed forces graveyard in Colombo.
When the War came to an end so did the Koning der Nederlanden’s duty. Still considered part of the Dutch Navy, just on loan to the Royal Navy there were discussions what to do with the old ship. Due to her fame there was a call to preserve her but lack of funds saw this come to naught and the ship remained in Indian waters, moored up where once battleships and cruisers had filled the harbour, standing as lonely and slowly rusting sentinel.
In 1959 a petition was started to save the Koning from both sinking and rusting by both from her crew and her surviving Officers. Felix Jansen the ships Second in Command from her flight from Batavia to the end of the war had retired to Rotterdam after the War was the driving force behind this petition.
Using what contacts he had in the armed forces as well as the British Navy and Indian Navy he pushed for her preservation. It took the publication of the book by the son of Captain Lindermann about the battle for Java and the ships escape being unexpectedly popular to the point that there was talk of a movie starring John Wayne as Captain Lindermann in the works. But Lindermann’s family politely refused the offer of a movie based on the book when they read the first scrip and said it was a ‘disservice to the ship, her passengers, crew and commander.’
In 1963 a crane ship sailed to Colombo to collect her sole passenger, the Koning der Nederlanden for her last voyage. Not to the breakers but to Amsterdam where she would be preserved. It really was an 11th hour save, the ship was in a terrible condition after being uncared for after the war and local authorities wanted to remove and scrap or scuttle her before she sank in the harbour. It took until 1976 and many thousands of guilders and man hours, mostly by volunteers to restore the ship to her original condition at the time of her commission in 1877
The ship was opened to the public in 1977 just in time for her hundredth anniversary and she was opened by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands who said.
“This ship embodied the spirit of Holland in its darkest times, small, underestimated, but never beaten.”
The HMNLS Koning der Nederlanden has been moored ever since at the Dutch National Maritime Museum along with the replica of the East Indiaman sailing ship Amsterdam.
She is open to visitors every day and is one of few remaining examples of ships from her era in the world and indeed is the only surviving Coles turreted ship in the Western Hemisphere. Her original 11 inch guns were re-mounted in their turrets as were her original engines, both had been put in storage by the Royal Navy during her refit.
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Originally I wasn't going to do a poscript for her but it seemed suitable
Well I for one appreciated it. Gave closure and allowed us readers to have a happy moment seeing her admired by a nation for duty.