John Louis Karel Hoeke, RNN
| Born | 28 Dec 1893 | Semarang (Java), Dutch East Indies | |
| Died | 31 Mar 1944 | (50) | Wallington, England, U.K. |
| Ranks
Decorations |
Warship Commands listed for John Louis Karel Hoeke, RNN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HNMS Van Kinsbergen (U 93) | kapitein-luitenant ter zee (Cdr.) | Sloop | 29 Aug 1939 | 18 Aug 1941 |
| HNMS Colombia | kapitein-luitenant ter zee (Cdr.) | Submarine Depot Ship | 18 Aug 1941 | 27 Feb 1943 |
Career information
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Events related to this officer
Sloop HNMS Van Kinsbergen (U 93)
20 Aug 1940
On 20 August 1940 observers from the US Navy attended a demonstration of the Bofors 40 mm AA gun in the triaxial twin-mount Hazemeyer configuration aboard the Van Kinsbergen. The performance convinced them to adopt the gun as US Navy standard. (1)
11 Dec 1940 (position 24.55, -83.15)
HrMs Van Kinsbergen (Cdr. J.L.K. Hoeke, RNN) intercepts the German merchant vessel Rhein (6031 GRT, built 1926) west of the Florida Strait in position 24°55'N, 83°15'W. Unfortunately before the German ship can be captured it is set on fire by her own crew. The wreck is sunk later that day by the HMS Caradoc (Capt. J.S. Bethell, RN).
Submarine Depot Ship HNMS Colombia ()
5 Jan 1942
Around 1600A/5, the submarine tender HrMs Colombia (Capt. J.L.K. Hoeke, RNN) departed Dundee for Greenock. She was subsequently joined by the destroyer HMS Vortigern (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Howlett, RN) and escort destroyer HMS Vimiera (Lt.Cdr. A.A. Mackenzie, RNR).
These escorts were relieved around 0910A/6, by the destroyers ORP Blyscawica (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) W.R. Francki) and HMS Skate (Lt. F.P. Baker, DSC, RN). The original escort then proceeded to Scapa Flow where they arrived around 1000A/6.
Around 0930A/7, ORP Blyscawica and HMS Skate parted company with HrMs Colombia which subsequently proceeded up the Clyde arriving at Greenock later the same day.
The destroyers continued on towards Liverpool where they arrived around 1600A/7. (2)
31 Mar 1942
Around 1030F/31, HrMs Colombia (Capt. J.L.K. Hoeke, RNN) departed Colombo for the Gulf of Mannar. She is to proceed there as it is expected the Japanese are going to attack Ceylon and to do not get caught in Colombo harbour during the expected air attacks. With her were also HrMs Willem van der Zaan (Lt.Cdr. G.P. Küller, RNN), HrMs K XI (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Deketh, RNN), HrMs K XIV (Lt. J.H. Geijs, RNN) and HrMs K XV (Lt.Cdr. Baron C.W.T. van Boetzelaer, RNN).
They remained there at anchor until shortly after midnight during the night of 6/7 April 1942 when they set course to return to Colombo where they arrived around mid-afternoon on 7 April 1942. (3)
18 Aug 1942
HrMs Colombia (Capt. J.L.K. Hoeke, RNN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for East London. It had originally been intended to sent her to Simonstown but it was decided to sent her to East London instead to ovoid congestion at Simonstown as the submarine tender required some room to tend to submarines which were to come alongside for that purpose.
She arrived at East London around 1055B/24. It appears she had not been escorted during her passage [altough an air escort in South African waters seems likely though.] (4)
Sources
- Personal communication
- ADM 53/116700 + ADM 199/418 + ADM 199/423 + ADM 199/2235 + Logbook of ORP Blyscawica (in Polish language)
- ADM 53/116181 + File 2.12.03.6053 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands) + File 2.12.03.7071 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
- ADM 199/653 + ADM 199/2248 + ADM 199/2550
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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