Jan van Brakel
Jan van Brakel was in fact a repeat of the earlier Nautilus-class minelayer and fishery cruiser, and was also meant to fulfill the same dual purpose. Her designed speed was a firm 15 knots, suitable to keep up with most merchant ships as an escort, but the lack of asdic, depthcharges and a good AA-battery made escorting a merchant ship barely useful. Later both elements of defence were strengthened and modernized. She served during the most part of WW II as an escort, first on the British east coast, from early 1942 in the Caribbean. She returned to the UK in late 1944 and from there to Holland after the German surrender in 1945. From 1950 she was classified as a surveying vessel, later as a frigate.
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| Jan van Brakel in 1936, probably during her trials |
| Construction details | |
| Name | Jan van Brakel |
| Dockyard | Koninklijke Mij "De Schelde", Vlissingen |
| Dockyardnumber | 201 |
| Ordered | November 19 1934 |
| Laid down | May 23 1935 |
| Launched | February 8 1936 |
| Commissioned | June 25 1936 |
| Pennant no | M-24 M-80 (WW II) PE-1 (15 June 1946) P-5 (21 January 1947) F-816 (1952) A-906 (post August 1957) |
| Status | Escaped to the UK from Holland May 14 1940 and subsequently served as a convoy escort on the eastern coast. Sent to the Dutch West Indies in April 1942 where she was engaged in escorting the GAT-TAG-convoys. Returned to the UK in late 1944 and she was modified as a mothership for the 203rd minesweeper flotilla. Left for the Dutch East Indies on October 10 1945 and served there as a mothership and surveyvessel in New Guinea. Stricken August 1 1957 and used (and expended?) as a targetship off Biak. |
| Specifications | |
| Displacement | 740 t / 995 t |
| Crew | 65 |
| Dimensions | 54.80 (pp) 58.70 (oa) x 10,01 x 3,28 (min) 4,0 (max) m |
| Armament* | 2 x 75 mm No.2 1 x 37 mm** 4 x .50 MG (2x2) |
| Added AA during WW II | 2 x 75 mm*** 4 x .50 mm Colt MG**** |
| Mines | 60 |
| ASW | Asdic submarine detection gear depthcharges |
| Radar | Type 286-M added 1941 Replaced by Type 271 Mk III in late 1942 |
| * Van Brakel was rebuilt as frigate in 1952 with armament of 1 x 105 mm, 1 x 40 mm, 4 x 20 mm ** Apparently removed during WW II *** These were British-built 12-pounders, which in turn were replaced by two American 75 mm guns in 1943 **** Replaced by six 20 mm Oerlikons in November 1943. |
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| Propulsion details | |
| Boilers | 2 Yarrow 3 drum |
| Machinery | 2 Triple-expansion-engines |
| Performance | 1600 IHP |
| Shafts | 2 |
| Bunkerage | 72 tons oil |
| Max Speed | 15 knots* |
| * later with all the additional weight from guns and equipment, speed was reduced to 13,5 knots. | |
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