The search for O-13, still on patrol

[Kloef]

This topic is to inform you about the last missing Dutch Submarine , the O-13 and the recent developments taking place.

O-13 was reported missing while patrolling the North Sea in June 1940, and the real story as to what has happened still needs to be uncovered. There are different versions to the truth, she ran on a seamine, others believe she collided with a Polish submarine who deliberatly tried to ram it mistaking the O-13 for a German U-boot. The Polish submarine 'Wilk' did ram something but it's not certain if this was O-13.

The search for O-13 continues to this day, after the war the whole known patrol area measuring 100Km by 360KM was sweeped and sweeped again by sonar and other instruments, but finding a small submarine on a seabottom littered with wrecks, fishnetting and more dangerous objects like seamines is a hard task indeed and untill a couple of months ago there was still no evidence or anything indicating the possible final resting place of O-13.

With the help of individuals and commercial offshore industry as well as the fishing industry new information was gathered and data containing markings of dangerous spots all over the patrol area of O-13 were collected. There are now stronger indications as to O-13's whereabouts somewhere in the Northsea and the Royal Dutch Navy is lauching an expedition in October to try to find her, the area is now concentrated in a 25Km by 25Km area, right in the middle of two German Seamine fields constructed in early 1940. There is the possibility those fields were not mapped or wrongly mapped when O-13 left for her final patrol, but this needs to be confirmed.

The wreck of the O-13 will be left untouched as it is a grave for the men who sailed on her, for everyone who has a strong bondage with the Royal Dutch Navy and it's submarines in particular, as well as for the crew's familymembers and enthousiasts from all parts of the world this is very important as she is the last Dutch submarine missing, once she has been located the crew's familymembers (Dutch and British) and the Royal Dutch Navy will perform a ceremony at the wrecks location. There will also be an attempt made to recover an object from the boat.

The Captain, E.H Vorster:




The Crew:


If she's found it will certainly be great news, maybe we can finally find the real reason why she was lost and what happened on that fatefull last patrol. The grief is still there, the tears and emotions are as strong as the day the O-13 was reported missing. Maybe finally the familymembers can find some comfort in at least knowing where their loved ones are and find some rest.


INFORMATION ABOUT O-13:

There is alot of information to be found about the O-13 and i will post some links here, some are Dutch but most are in English so that should be interesting.
At the moment i'm researching alot of information about the O-13 and i will share this with you in this topic in the weeks to come once the expedition is underway.

This link is probably the most complete website about O-13, and also in English:

http://home.hccnet.nl/f.rienstra/Rienstra/O13%20en.html

Information about the Boat and it's crewmembers:
http://www.onderzeeboot.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&It emid=74

An article from the Daily Mail:
http://www.stillonpatrol.nl/wp-conte...-september.pdf


This link is from the website 'commitee of victims family members Submarines' :
http://www.onderzeeboot.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84:fi nding-o-13&catid=45&Itemid=81


http://www.dutchsubmarines.com/ has alot of information too about the O-13, and is very accurate and detailed.


This topic will be updated on a regular basis, thanks for your attention and keep visiting this topic for more interesting news about the O-13, the last missing Dutch Submarine.