# K-class sloop

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The **K class** was a class of three [sloops](/source/Sloop-of-war) designed in the late 1930s to replace the aging [*Brinio*-class gunboats](/source/Brinio-class_gunboat) of the [Royal Netherlands Navy](/source/Royal_Netherlands_Navy). Originally seven ships were planned of which three ships were laid down and two more ordered (which were canceled after the German invasion). Still incomplete at the start of the [German invasion of the Netherlands](/source/Battle_of_the_Netherlands) and not yet launched, the ships were found undamaged by the German forces. The [Kriegsmarine](/source/Kriegsmarine) ordered the completion of *K1*, *K2* and *K3*, then commissioned them for service in Norwegian and German home waters. After the war only *K3* entered Dutch service as the [*Van Speijk*](/source/HNLMS_Van_Speijk_(K3)).

## Construction

*K1* and *K3* were laid down at the P. Smit Jr, Rotterdam shipyard in 1939. *K2* was laid down at Gusto N.V., Schiedam shipyard also in 1939. Still incomplete at the start of the German invasion of the Netherlands and not yet launched, the ships were found undamaged by the German forces and the Kriegsmarine ordered the completion of *K1*, *K2* and *K3*. *K1* was launched on 23 November 1940. Both *K2* and *K3* were launched in 1941 on 28 June and 22 March. The ships were commissioned in 1941 and 1942.

## Service history

The ships saw service in Norwegian and German home waters. *K1* sank near [Aarhus](/source/Aarhus) on 5 May 1945. *K2* was found in [Horten](/source/Horten) in 1945 and towed back to the [Delfzijl](/source/Delfzijl) where she sank by accident in November of that year. The ship was raised the next year on 26 July and towed to [Den Helder](/source/Den_Helder) where she was sold for scrap in October 1947 after inspection. After the war only *K3* entered Dutch service as the [*Van Speijk*](/source/HNLMS_Van_Speijk_(K3)) after she was repaired at the Rijkswerf at Amsterdam. The ship was sold for scrap 29 August 1960.

## Ships

Name Builder Laid down Launched Completed Fate K1 P. Smit Jr., Rotterdam 2 August 1939 23 November 1940 2 October 1941 Captured by the Germans in May 1940. Sunk on 5 May 1945 by the Royal Air Force K2 Gusto Shipyard, Schiedam 1939 28 June 1941 14 November 1942 Captured by the Germans in May 1940. Heavily damaged by an aerial torpedo 9 October 1944, towed back to port. Sold for scrap October 1947. K3 P. Smit Jr., Rotterdam 23 June 1939 22 March 1941 2 February 1942 Captured by the Germans in May 1940. Found after the war and returned to the Royal Netherlands Navy on 18 July 1946. Sold for scrap 29 August 1960 K4 P. Smit Jr., Rotterdam - - - Cancelled by the Royal Netherlands Navy when Germany invaded the Netherlands in May 1940. K5 P. Smit Jr., Rotterdam - - - Cancelled by the Royal Netherlands Navy when Germany invaded the Netherlands in May 1940.

## References

- Gardiner, Robert & Chesneau, Roger (eds.) (1980). *Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946*. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
- Lenton, H.T. (1968). *Royal Netherlands Navy*. Navies of the Second World War. London: Macdonald & Co.
- Mark, Chris (1997). *Schepen van de Koninklijke Marine in W.O. II* (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN 90-6013-522-9.
- van Willigenburg, Henk (2010). *Dutch Warships of World War II*. Emmen: Lanasta. ISBN 978-90-8616-318-2.
- von Münching, L.L. (1978). *Schepen van de Koninklijke Marine in de Tweede Wereldoorlog* (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN 90-6013-903-8.

## External links

- [Description of class](http://www.netherlandsnavy.nl/Kclass.htm)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [K-class sloop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-class_sloop) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-class_sloop?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.