List of Dutch military equipment of World War II

The following is a list of Dutch military equipment of World War II which includes artillery, vehicles and vessels. World War II was a global war that was under way by 1939 and ended in 1945. On 10 May 1940, Nazi Germany, which aimed to dominate Europe, attacked the Dutch as part of their war with France. By 12 March 1942 the Dutch mainland and all their major colonies were controlled by Germans and Japanese. Dutch power was not restored until final Axis collapse in 1945. This list covers the equipment of armed elements centered on Royal Netherlands Army and Royal Netherlands East Indies Army, but not the "Free Dutch Army", which was equipped completely by foreign (Allied) powers.

Knives and bayonets

ModelBlade lengthFrom:Comments
Dagger or swordvariable-officers, NCOs
M.95 bayonet24.5 cm1886fitted on Dutch Mannlicher rifles and carbines

Small arms

Pistols (manual and semi-automatic)

TypeBase modelMakerRoundsCartridgeFrom:ProducedWeightComment
FN Model 1910#VariantsFN Model 1910FN and Colt Firearms7.32 ACP (7.94×25mm)1910?0.59 kgsemi-automatic
FN Model 1922FN Model 1910FN and Colt Firearms6.380 ACP (9×25mm)1922?0.7 kgsemi-automatic
MAS 1873 revolverMAS 1873 revolverChamelot-Delvigne611mm French Ordnance (11.46×30mm)1873?1.04 kgfor support units
Mauser C96Mauser C96Mauser, Hanyang Arsenal107.63×25mm Mauser1899?1.13 kgDutch East Indies only
  • Borchardt-Luger pistol (Dutch East Indies only)
  • M30 Luftwaffe drilling shotgun (usage unclear) this is no pistol

Automatic pistols and submachine guns

TypeBase modelMakerRoundsCartridgeFrom:ProducedWeightComment
MP 28 IIMP 18Haenel507.63×25mm Mauser193924204.18 kgsergeant weapon in single cavalry regiment in Dutch East Indies[1]
Thompson submachine gun M1928Thompson submachine gunSavage Arms and others200(extended mags) .45 ACP (11.43×23mm)19422000 4.9 kgOnly Dutch colonies, some may be not delivered [2]

Rifles

TypeBase modelMakerRoundsCartridgeFrom:ProducedWeightComment
Dutch Mannlicher M1895Gewehr 1888Steyr-Mannlicher56.5×53mmR18954700003.95 kgalso 8 derived carbine models
M1941 Johnson rifleM1941 Johnson rifleIver Johnson, FMA10.30-06 Springfield1941~10004.31 kgonly in Dutch East Indies

Grenades and grenade launchers

See also: Dutch hand grenades

GrenadeIntroducedTypeWeight, gcomments
Schokhandgranaat?fragmentation900impact fuse
Dooshandgranaat?fragmentation65smallest grenade ever in service (see also V40)
Eihandgranaat No.1?fragmentation600used by Germans as "handgranate 312 (h)"
Eihandgranaat No.2?fragmentation765imported Mills No. 23, rod-type rifle launcher
Eihandgranaat No.3?concussion215used by Germans
Hexiet Rookhandgranaat?smoke500used by Germans as "333(h)"
Gashandgranaat?tear gas~800
Ronde handgranaat1906fragmentation1065colonial army only
Geweergranaat1915concussion~420colonial army only, hand-thrown version of Veldhandgranaat
Veldhandgranaat1917fragmentation650long handle, colonial army only
Offensieve handgranaat No.21928concussion650paper&wood body, colonial army only, imported from USA
Offensieve handgranaat No.3 (US Mk.3)1941concussion310paper&steel body, colonial army only

Machine guns

Infantry and dual-purpose machine guns

The Dutch army in 1940 was in the process of converting their machine guns to standard 7.92×57mm Mauser cartridge. Exact numbers of machine guns converted is unknown.

GunFire rate, RPMEffective rangeCartridgeFrom:ProducedWeightComment
Lewis gun M.205508006.5×53mmR and 7.92×57mm Mauser1917950013 kgoccasional AA gun
Vickers machine gun4752000.303 British (7.7×56mmR) and 7.92×57mm Mauser191230023 kgoccasional AA gun,basis for aircraft guns
MG 08 Spandau heavy machine gun (M.25)47520007.92×57mm Mauser190845269 kgoccasional AA gun, obsolescent
Schwarzlose MG M.07/12 heavy machine gun (M.8)49013007.92×57mm Mauser1905224841.4 kg

Artillery

Infantry mortars

ModelCaliberMax. rangeFromProducedWeight, kgfire rate, RPMComment
Stokes mortar81mm800191536047.1725heavy recoil, therefore difficult to fire from improvised positions

Field artillery

ModelCaliberMax. rangeFromProducedWeight, kgfire rate, RPMComment
Krupp 7.5 cm Model 1903 (7-veld)75mm6000190430410798partly license-built or upgraded to Siderius Model 02/04
Krupp light field gun M1878 (8-staal)84mm3500187810815172.5
12.5cm Krupp medium field gun125mm8500187810834501.5former fortress gun, upgraded in the 1920s
12.5cm Krupp heavy field gun150mm880018787247001former fortress gun, upgraded in the 1920s
10.5 cm Cannon Model 1927 (10-veld)105mm1650019265236507
Krupp 105mm field gun L30 M1905105mm92501912228356
120 mm Krupp howitzer M1905 (12 lang 12)120mm580019125011252
10.5 cm leFH 18105mm106751939819855imported, training-only
Bofors 12 cm M. 14 (12 lang 14)120mm605019181016103
BL 6-inch 30 cwt howitzer (15 lang 15)152.4mm840019183036902only extended-range version
15 cm sFH 13 (15 lang 17)149.1mm860019184422503war reparations from Germany

Fortress and siege guns

See [3] for geographic distribution of coastal defenses and fortresses in continental Netherlands. The listing below do include both army and land-based Navy weapons, but do not include 47mm guns, which are counted as anti-tank guns.

  • Bofors 37 mm, 45 or 50 calibers barrel length : 23 pieces, of them 12 imported and 11 license-produced
  • 75mm guns, 40 calibers barrel length : 63 pieces (2 distinct Krupp types, 5000m range, rapid-fire)
  • 120mm guns, 40 calibers barrel length : 18 pieces (2 distinct Krupp types, 12500m range, 9 RPM fire rate)
  • 149.1mm or 152.4mm guns, 30 calibers barrel length: 5 (type unknown)
  • 149.1mm or 152.4mm guns, 35 calibers barrel length: 6 (type unknown)
  • 149.1mm or 152.4mm guns, 40 calibers barrel length: 21 (Krupp guns, 14200m range, 9 RPM fire rate)
  • 240mm guns, 30 calibers barrel length: 11 (Krupp guns of the 19th century, 8000m range, 0.25 RPM fire rate)

Infantry guns

ModelCaliberMax. rangeFromProducedWeight, kgfire rate, RPMComment
Krupp light field gun M1894 (6-veld)[4]57mm500018942107005.5used also as anti-tank

Anti-tank guns

ModelCaliberPenetration 1Penetration 2Muzzle speedMax. rangeFromProducedWeight, kgfire rate, RPMComment
Bohler 47mm gun47mm58mm@100m43mm@500m630700019353803155also very effective as infantry gun
HIH Siderius 47mm casemate gun47mm50mm@1000m750250019318130018semi-automatic[5]
Artillerie Inrichtingen 47mm casemate gun47mm50mm@1000m750250019326013009low-cost alternative to Siderius gun

Anti-tank weapons (besides anti-tank guns)

Anti-aircraft weapons

Light anti-aircraft guns

ModelCaliberEff. alt.FromProducedWeight, kgfire rate, RPMComment
MG 08 Spandau heavy machine gun (M.25)7.92mm1300190845269475obsolescent, also infantry heavy machine gun
Vickers machine gun (M.18)7.7mm1300191230023475also infantry heavy machine gun
Bofors 40 mm gun L/60 (4 tl)40mm41001932461981120light/medium AA gun
3.7 cm Flak 18/36/37/43 L/5737mm4200193632000150no ammunition during war
Oerlikon 20 mm cannon L/70 (2 tl. No.1)20mm13001939120363285planned main light AA gun
Cannone-Mitragliera da 20/77 (Scotti) (2 tl. No.2)20mm914193935227.5250substitute for Oerlikon gun
Hispano-Suiza HS.40420mm1100193930~400700probably too lightly build barrel resulting in poor accuracy

Heavy anti-aircraft guns

ModelCaliberEff. alt.FromProducedWeight, kgfire rate, RPMComment
Krupp gun 6 tl57mm250019162171803obsolescent
Krupp gun 7 tl75mm330019161579805obsolescent
QF 3-inch 20 cwt (8 tl)76.2mm375019173599017
Krupp gun (10 tl)94mm680019253~100007.5may be prototypes related to QF 3.7-inch AA gun development
Vickers Model 1931 (7.5 tl no.1)75mm8500193581282512partially license-built, had a fire-control mechanical computer
Skoda AA gun (7.5 tl no.2)75mm650019409420025model unclear

Vehicles

Tankettes

Carden Loyd Mk IV tankette - 5 tankettes used in Battle of the Netherlands

Tanks

Armored cars

VehicleDevelopedProducedArmament
L181 (M-36) 19361237mm Bofors cannon and 3x7.92mm Lewis machine gun
L180 (M-38) 19381437mm Bofors cannon and 3x7.92mm Lewis machine gun
M39 Pantserwagen 19391237mm Bofors cannon and 3x7.92mm Lewis machine gun
Morris CS91936313.97mm Boys anti-tank rifle and 7.7 mm Bren light machine gun
Alvis Strausser AC3D 1938 12 a 12.7 mm Colt-Browning MG in the turret and a 6.5 mm watercooled Vickers on the left of the driver
M3A1 Scout Car 1941 40 two .30-caliber and one .50-caliber machine gun.

Engineering and command

  • L180 (M-38) - 2 of 14 armored cars are built as command cars (dummy main gun made of wood)

Trucks

All numbers are for European part of Dutch armed forces.

  • horses 30000
  • Trado 1200 - mostly for towing artillery and 1 motorized light infantry division
  • DAF-139 amphibious truck (prototype testing at outbreak of war)
  • Ford Model AA 380 - in AA units
  • Ford GP - in Dutch East Indies cavalry units
  • Vickers utility tractor - 50 deliverd to the KNIL. Used for training and towing anti tank guns.
  • Praga TIII/3 Artillery Tractor - 1 prototype delivered to the KNIL.

Passenger cars

  • unknown models (~70-140 total) for carrying officers

Motorcycles

  • unknown model (at least 840 in 2 motorized cavalry regiments)

Miscellaneous vehicles

  • bicycles (at least 1500000)

Royal Netherlands Navy

At moment of German attack 10 May 1940 the Dutch European Navy comprise a 50 vessels:

  • 1 light cruiser
  • 3 coastal defense ships
  • 10 destroyers
  • 12 minelayers
  • 4 minesweepers
  • 6 submarines
  • 14 auxiliary and light vessels

Also, the 31 various vessels were under construction. Of these, 6 there eventually completed in England and 21 in Nazi Germany.

Destroyed or scuttled during Battle of the Netherlands:

  • Destroyer Van Galen [Rotterdam, by a Stuka attack] - contradictory data!
  • Destroyer escort Christiaan Cornelis (scuttled after being damaged by coastal artillery)
  • Destroyer escort Z3 (scuttled)
  • Destroyer escort G16 (scuttled)
  • Gunboat Johan Maurits (sank by Luftwaffe aircraft)
  • Gunboat Friso (sank by Luftwaffe aircraft)
  • Gunboat Brinio (scuttled)
  • Gunboat Braga (scuttled)
  • Gunboat Helfring (scuttled)
  • Gunboat Freyr (scuttled)
  • Minelayer Hydra
  • Minelyaer Bulgia
  • Minesweeper Abraham van Hulst (heavily damaged by Luftwaffe aircraft attack and scuttled)
  • Minesweeper Pieter Floriszoon (scuttled)
  • Minesweeper M III
  • Submarine O 12 (scuttled)
  • Coastal defense ship IJmuiden (scuttled)

Escaped to England during Battle of the Netherlands:

  • Light cruiser Sumatra
  • Destroyer escort Z5
  • Destroyer escort Z6
  • Destroyer escort Z7
  • Destroyer escort Z8
  • Destroyer escort G13
  • Destroyer escort G15
  • Gunboat Flores
  • Gunboat Gruno
  • Minelayer Willem van der Zaan
  • Minelayer Medusa
  • Minelayer Van Maerlant
  • Minelayer Douwe Aukes
  • Minelayer Nautiles
  • Minelayer Jan van Brakel
  • Minesweeper Jan van Gelder
  • Torpedo boat TM51
  • Submarine O9
  • Submarine O10
  • Submarine O13
  • Light-cruiser Jacob van Heemskerck (under construction at outbreak of war)
  • Destroyer leader Isaac Sweers (under construction at outbreak of war)
  • Submarine O21 (under construction at outbreak of war)
  • Submarine O22 (under construction at outbreak of war)
  • Submarine O23 (under construction at outbreak of war)
  • Submarine O24 (under construction at outbreak of war)
  • Many tugs, pilot boats and patrol boats

Captured by the Germans:

  • Minesweepers MI (sunk and raised by Germans)
  • Minesweepers MII (sunk and raised by Germans)
  • Minesweepers MIV (sunk and raised by Germans)
  • Gunboat Tyr
  • Gunboat Balder
  • Gunboat Hadda (unarmed at outbreak of war)
  • Gunboat Thor (unarmed at outbreak of war)
  • Minelayer Vidar
  • Torpedo workship Vidar
  • Submarines O8
  • Submarine O11
  • Coastal defense ship Gelderland
  • Coastal defense ship Hertog Hendrik
  • Cruiser De Zeven Provincien (under construction, not used by Germans)
  • Cruiser Eendracht (under construction, not used by Germans)
  • Destroyer leader Tjerk Hiddes (under construction, scrapped by Germans)
  • Destroyer leader Gerard Callenburgh (under construction, damaged and repaired by Germans)
  • Destroyer leader Philips van Almonde (under construction, scrapped by Germans)
  • Submarine O25 (under construction, finished by Germans)
  • Submarine O26 (under construction, finished by Germans)
  • Submarine O27 (under construction, finished by Germans)
  • 6 Minesweepers (under construction, names not assigned, all used by Germans)
  • Tanker (under construction, name not assigned, finished by Germans)
  • 10 Fast attack craft (E-boats) (under construction, names not assigned, all finished and used by Germans in Mediterranean)

Royal Netherlands East Indies Navy

At moment of Japanese attack 7 December 1941 the Dutch East Indies Navy comprise a 78 vessels, most of them were destroyed during defense of Java island:

  • 3 light cruisers
  • 7 destroyers
  • 15 submarines
  • 7 minelayers
  • 11 minesweepers
  • 35 auxiliary or small ships (of them 8 tankers)

Task Force One (Doorman; off Paternoster Island)

Task Force Two (Sunda Strait en route Singapore)

NEI Submarine Flotilla (at Surabaya)

Submarine Division 1

  • SS O-16 (Karimata Strait)
  • SS K-XVII (north of Singapore)
  • SS K-XVII

Submarine Division 2

  • SS K-IX
  • SS K-XI (north of Singapore)
  • SS K-XII (north of Singapore)
  • SS K-XIII (north of Singapore)

Submarine Division 3

  • SS K-XIV (South China Sea)
  • SS K-XV (South China Sea)
  • SS K-XVI (South China Sea)

Submarine Division 4

  • SS O-19 (South China Sea)
  • SS O-20 (South China Sea)

Mine Service (at Surabaya)

  • CM Gouden Leeuw (at Tarakan)
  • CM Prinz Van Oranje
  • CM Krakatau
  • CM Pro Patria (at Palembang)
  • CM Serdang
  • CM Willem van der Zaan (Lingga)
  • CM Rigel

Minesweeper Division 3

  • AMc Alor
  • AMc Aroe
  • AMc Bantam
  • AMc Bogor
  • AMc Ceram
  • AMc Cheribon

Minesweeper Division 4 (at Surabaya)

  • AMc Djember
  • AMc Djombang
  • AMc Djampea
  • AMc Enggano
  • AMc Endeh

Torpedo Division (at Surabaya)

  • PT TM-4 to TM-15 (12 vessels)
  • Tanker AO Aldegonda
  • Tanker AO Benakat (4763 tons, 10 knots)
  • Tanker AO Djirak (4325 tons, 10 knots)
  • Tanker AO Josefina
  • Tanker AO Juno (2741 tons, 9 knots)
  • Tanker AO Paula (2700 tons, 12 knots)
  • Tanker AO Pendopo (7150 tons, 10 knots)
  • Tanker AO Petronella
  • AT Kraus
  • AT Pief
  • AT Gina
  • AT Jules
  • AT Nolly
  • AT Tata
  • AT Flip
  • AT Rolf
  • AT Hector
  • AT Paul
  • AT Teddy
  • AR Moeara Boelian
  • AH Op Ten Noort

Aircraft

The Dutch before war have an extensive aircraft industry, but most of the aircraft produced were exported and not counted here.

NamePlace of
manufacture		Primary
role(s)		#
used in Europe		#
used in Indonesia		years in usecomments
Fokker D.XXIDutchfighter3601936-1940
Curtiss P-6 HawkDutch (license)fighter0111930-1942also 3 P-6 were destroyed before war
Curtiss H-75 Hawk (export Curtiss P-36)USfighter0241940-1942model Hawk 75A-7
Brewster B339 (F2A-2 Buffalo)USfighter0711941-1942
Fokker D.XXIIIDutchfighter101939-1940tandem engines, prototype under test at outbreak of war
Fokker D.XVIIDutchfighter/trainer701932-19402 of 7 destroyed on ground at beginning of war
Fokker G.IDutchheavy fighter3501937-1940also 1 Fokker G.I destroyed before war
Fokker G.I(export version)Dutchheavy fighter601940-194024 were produced, but refit was not finished in time
Fokker T.VDutchfighter-bomber1501938-1940also 1 Fokker T.V destroyed before war
Fokker C.VDutchbomber/reconnaissance2801924-1940only 28 of 67 were operational at start of war
Fokker C.VIIIDutchreconnaissance101928-1940land-version (prototype) of seaplane Fokker C.VIII-W)
Fokker C.VIII-WDutchMaritime patrol901928-19405 of 9 fled to England and were scrapped immediately
Fokker C.XDutchbomber/reconnaissance/trainer20131933-1942
Koolhoven F.K.51Dutchtrainer/reconnaissance83381935-1942
Koolhoven F.K.52Dutchfighter/reconnaissance501937-1940also 1 aircraft lost before war
Koolhoven F.K.58Dutchfighter1801938-1940manned by Poles, fought for France (not in Dutch army)
Fokker S.IXDutchtrainer5001935-1942some escaped to England and were scrapped immediately
Bücker Bü 131Germanytrainer0?1935-1942
Curtiss-Wright CW-21BUSinterceptor0241942-194217 ready at start of Japanese attack
Dornier Do J WalDutch (license)Maritime patrol151937-1942most were already scrapped at outbreak of war
Dornier Do 24Dutch (license)maritime patrol0371937-1942replacement for Dornier Wal, imported and license-produced in Netherlands.
Fokker T.IVaDutchMaritime patrol/torpedo bomber0331927-1942
Fokker C.XIDutchscout seaplane4101935-1942operated from Dutch cruisers and destroyers
Fokker C.VIIDutchseaplane trainer0121927-194230 were produced, but 18 in Europe retired before war
Fokker C.XIV-WDutchtrainer/Maritime patrol13111927-194212 were transferred from Europe to Dutch East Indies after war in Europe was lost
Fokker F.XVIIIDutchairliner/Maritime patrol051940-1942stop-gap ASW aircraft, later reverted to airliner
Fokker T.VIIIDutchMaritime patrol1101938-1940some aircraft escaped to England and many captured by Germans
Consolidated PBY CatalinaUSMaritime patrol0481935-194236 Consolidated 28-5 (export PBY-5) and 12 PBY-5A
Martin 139 (export B-10)USBomber01211938-1945Pre-WW2 bomber in Dutch possession
Fokker T.IXDutchBomber101939-1940prototype being repaired at outbreak of war

Cartridges and shells

References

  1. ↑ http://www.overvalwagen.com/KNILCavalry.html
  2. ↑ http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=85&t=153074
  3. ↑ "Coastal artillery [War over Holland - May 1940: the Dutch struggle]". Waroverholland.nl. 1940-05-10. Retrieved 2014-03-08.
  4. ↑ http://www.waroverholland.nl/index.php?page=57-mm-infantry-gun-6-veld
  5. ↑ "HIHSiderius3". Overvalwagen.com. Retrieved 2014-03-08.
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