ABC-class auxiliary minesweepers

These minesweepers were in fact small craft of the "Dienst der Gewestelijke Vaartuigen", known as "police cruisers". Before the war, they were used to transport small amounts of cargo and government officials, for fishery inspection and to counter smuggling. After the invasion of the Netherlands, these six craft were requisitioned and converted to auxiliary mineweepers. Their sweeping capabilities were limited to moored mines.

Ceram (Scanned from Backer Dirks, see sources. Source unknown)

Construction details
Name Dockyard Commissioned (GM) Pennant
Alor Droogdok Mij, Tandjong Priok 1938 HMV 2
Aroe Droogdok Mij, Tandjong Priok 1938 HMV 1
Bantam Droogdok Mij, Tandjong Priok 1938 HMV 4
Bogor Droogdok Mij, Tandjong Priok 1938 HMV 3
Ceram Droogdok Mij, Tandjong Priok 1938 HMV 5
Cheribon Droogdok Mij, Tandjong Priok 1938 HMV 6

Specifications
Dutch navy Japanese navy
Displacement 145 tons
Crew 17
Dimensions 29,30/31,60 x 5,45 x 1,84 m
Armament 2 x 37 mm
2 x .30		 1 x 47 mm
1 x 13 mm
1 x .30
ASW - 32 depthcharges

Propulsion details
Machinery 1 Werkspoor diesel engine
Shafts 1
Performance 300 hp
Max Speed 12 knots

Histories
Alor Destroyed in Tandjong Priok on March 2, 1942
Aroe Destroyed in Tandjong Priok on March 2, 1942.
Bantam Destroyed in Tandjong Priok on March 2, 1942. Salvaged by Japanese and commissioned on August 10, 1943 as auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 117. Torpedoed and sunk by the submarine USS Hardhead on July 23, 1945, position 08.10 S. - 115.29 E.
Bogor Destroyed in Tandjong Priok on March 2, 1942.
Ceram Rescued 38 survivors from the merchant vessel Sloet van de Beele in February 1942. Destroyed in Tandjong Priok on March 2, 1942.
Cheribon Destroyed in Tandjong Priok on March 2, 1942.

Sources and related links
Sources
F. Bertijn "Voor een veilige zee" (1982)
F. Bertijn "60 jaar mijnendienst" (1966)
A.J. Vermeulen "De schepen van de Koninklijke Marine en die der gouvernementsmarine 1814-1962 (1962)
F.C. Backer Dirks "De Gouvernements Marine in het voormalige Nederlands-Indie 1861-1949, volume 3 (1986)
Chr. Mark "Schepen van de Koninklijke Marine in W.O. II" (1997)

Related links (please report any broken links)
The official chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II - July, 1945

April 30, 2006 Revised data

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