HNLMS K XV

K XV in the Dutch East Indies, 1935
History
Netherlands
Name	K XV
Builder	Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij
Yard number	RDM-168 [1]
Laid down	31 May 1930
Launched	10 December 1932
Commissioned	30 December 1933
Decommissioned	23 April 1946
Fate	Sold for scrap, December 1950
General characteristics
Class & type	K XIV-class submarine
Displacement	771 long tons (783  t) (surfaced) 1,008 long tons (1,024 t) (submerged)
Length	242 ft 6 in (73.9 m)
Beam	25 ft (7.6 m)
Draft	12 ft 9 in (3.9 m)}
Propulsion	2 × 1,600  bhp (1,193  kW) diesel engines 2 × 430 bhp (321 kW) electric motors
Speed	17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) (surfaced) 9 kn (17 km/h; 10 mph) (submerged)
Range	10,000  nmi (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) (surfaced) 26 nmi (48 km; 30 mi) at 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) (submerged)
Test depth	260 ft (79 m)
Complement	38
Armament	4 × 21 in (533 mm) bow torpedo tubes 2 × 21 in (533 mm) stern torpedo tubes 2 × 21 in (533 mm) external traversing torpedo tubes 1 x single 88 mm (3.5 in) deck gun 2 x single 40 mm (1.6 in) AA guns

K XV was one of five K XIV-class patrol submarines built for the Royal Netherlands Navy during the 1930s for colonial service. Completed in 1933, the boat spent the bulk of her career in the Dutch East Indies. During the Pacific War, K XV made 13 war patrols; many of which were intelligence operations. The boat was taken out of service in 1946.

Design and description

The K XIV-class submarines were designed to patrol the waters of the Dutch East Indies. The boats had a length of 242 feet 6 inches (73.9 m) overall, a beam of 25 feet (7.6 m) and a draft of 12 feet 9 inches (3.9 m). ^[2] They displaced 771 long tons (783 t) on the surface and 1,008 long tons (1,024 t) submerged. ^[3] The submarines had a crew of 38 officers and enlisted men. ^[4]

For surface running, the boats were powered by two 1,600- brake-horsepower (1,193 kW) MAN diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 430-horsepower (321 kW) electric motor. They could reach 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) on the surface and 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) underwater. ^[2] On the surface, the boats had a range of 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) and 26 nmi (48 km; 30 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) submerged. ^[4] The submarines had a diving depth of 260 feet (79 m). ^[5]

The K XIV class was armed with eight 21-inch (530 mm) torpedo tubes. Four of these were in the bow and two tubes were in the stern. The other pair were on a rotating mount amidships. The boats carried a total of 14 torpedoes. ^[4] They were also armed with a 88-millimeter (3.5 in) deck gun and two single 40-millimeter (1.6 in) Bofors AA guns. ^[5]

Construction and career

Sister ships K XVI and K XV photographed together at sea

K XV was ordered on 30 May 1929 and laid down on 31 May 1930 at the shipyard of Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij in Rotterdam. The boat was launched on 10 December 1932 and commissioned on 30 December 1933. ^[6]

During the Pacific War, K XV damaged a Japanese oil tanker in 1942 and sank a small patrol ship in 1944. Most of her war patrols in the service of Allied intelligence agencies. She survived the war and was decommissioned on 23 April 1946. ^[6]

References

1. "Bouwnummer RDM-168, Hr. Ms. "K XV", 1933, onderzeeboot". RDM-archief (in Dutch).
2. Bagnasco, p. 239
3. Roberts, p. 391
4. van Willigenburg, p. 62
5. Noppen, p. 28
6. "HNMS K XV of the Royal Dutch Navy". uboat.net. Retrieved 23 June 2025.

Bibliography

• Bagnasco, Erminio (2018) [1977]. Submarines of World War Two: Design, Development and Operations. Naval Institute Press. ISBN   978-1-68247-384-9.
• Lenton, H. T. (1968). Royal Netherlands Navy. Navies of the Second World War. Macdonald & Co.
• Mark, Chris (1997). Schepen van de Koninklijke Marine in W.O. II (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN   90-6013-522-9.
• Noppen, Ryan K. (2020). The Royal Netherlands Navy of World War II. New Vanguard. Vol. 285. Osprey Publishing. ISBN   978-1-4728-4191-9.
• Roberts, John (1980). "The Netherlands". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Conway Maritime Press. pp. 385–396. ISBN   0-85177-146-7.
• van Willigenburg, Henk (2010). Dutch Warships of World War II. Lanasta. ISBN   978-90-8616-318-2.