The Arend class (sometimes referred to as Valk class) was a class of two "opium hunters", meaning fast patrol boats built by the Maatschappij voor Scheeps- en Werktuigbouw Fijenoord in Rotterdam for service with the Government Navy. The class consisted of HNLMS Arend and HNLMS Valk.[1][2]
Arend was be commandeered by the Royal Netherlands Navy while still under construction as there was a shortage of available ships to protect the overseas Caribbean territories. She was therefore slightly modified in design and receive more armor plating. She was returned to the Gouvernements Marine in 1935 once HNLMS Johan Maurits van Nassau had been completed and was be able to take over the role of protecting the Dutch Caribbean.
Valk was employed as designed, as an opium hunter with the Government Navy after entering commission in 1930. During the Second World War, both ships served as patrol ships and seaplane tenders for PBY Catalina aircraft. After the fall of Java, both ships were scuttled by their crews as they were unable to escape to Ceylon or Australia.[3]
Citations
^Mark, Chris (1997). Schepen van de Koninklijke Marine in W.O. II. Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN 978-90-6013-522-8.
^von Münching, L.L. (1978). Schepen van de Koninklijke Marine in de Tweede Wereldoorlog (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN90-6013-903-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
References
Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger, eds. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-146-7.
Lenton, H.T. (1968). Royal Netherlands Navy. Navies of the Second World War. London: Macdonald & Co.
van Willigenburg, Henk (2010). Dutch Warships of World War II. Emmen: Lanasta. ISBN978-90-8616-318-2.