Frans Jan Kroesen, RNN
| Born | 1 Jun 1914 | Den Haag, Netherlands | |
| Died | 27 Jan 1994 | (79) | Bali, Indonesia |
| Ranks
Retired: 4 Apr 1966 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Frans Jan Kroesen, RNN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HNMS O 21 (P 21) | luitenant ter zee 2e klasse (Lt.) | Submarine | 28 Mar 1944 | 18 Oct 1945 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Submarine HNMS O 21 (P 21)
7 Apr 1944
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) departed from Dundee for Holy Loch. (1)
10 Apr 1944
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) arrived at Holy Loch. (1)
28 Apr 1944
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) was docked at Holy Loch. (1)
3 May 1944
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) was undocked. (1)
6 May 1944
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) departed from Holy Loch for St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.
For the daily positions of HrMs O 21 during the passage to the U.S.A. see the map below.
(1)
17 May 1944
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) arrived at St. John's. (1)
20 May 1944
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) departed from St. John's for Halifax. (1)
22 May 1944
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) arrived at Halifax. (1)
23 May 1944
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) departed from Halifax for New London, Connecticut, U.S.A. (1)
25 May 1944
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) arrived at New London. (1)
27 May 1944
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) departed from New London for New York where she arrived later the same day. (1)
28 May 1944
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) departed from New York for Philadelphia where she is to refit at the Navy Yard. (1)
29 May 1944
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) arrived at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. (1)
17 Dec 1944
With her refit completed and after some trials HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) departed from the Philadelphia Navy Yard for New London. (2)
18 Dec 1944
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) arrived at New London for a period of trials and training. (2)
21 Dec 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) conducted exercises off New London, Connecticut, U.S.A. (2)
22 Dec 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) conducted torpedo discharge trials off New London, Connecticut, U.S.A. (2)
23 Dec 1944
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) conducted exercises off New London, Connecticut, U.S.A. (2)
28 Dec 1944
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) conducted exercises off New London, Connecticut, U.S.A. (2)
30 Dec 1944
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) conducted exercises off New London, Connecticut, U.S.A. (2)
31 Dec 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroessen, RNN) conducted attack exercises off New London, Connecticut, U.S.A. with USS Burke (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Dommerich, USNR). (2)
2 Jan 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroessen, RNN) conducted attack exercises off New London, Connecticut, U.S.A. with USS Penguin (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Albin, USNR). (2)
3 Jan 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) conducted exercises off New London, Connecticut, U.S.A. (2)
4 Jan 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) conducted exercises off New London, Connecticut, U.S.A. (2)
5 Jan 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) conducted exercises off New London, Connecticut, U.S.A. (2)
9 Jan 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroessen, RNN) conducted attack exercises off New London, Connecticut, U.S.A. with USS Burke (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Dommerich, USNR). (2)
10 Jan 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) conducted gunnery exercises off New London, Connecticut, U.S.A. (2)
23 Jan 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) conducted exercises off New London, Connecticut, U.S.A. (2)
26 Jan 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) conducted exercises off New London, Connecticut, U.S.A. (2)
30 Jan 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) conducted exercises off New London, Connecticut, U.S.A. (2)
31 Jan 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) conducted exercises off New London, Connecticut, U.S.A. (2)
1 Feb 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) conducted speed trials on the measured mile off New London, Connecticut, U.S.A. (2)
5 Feb 1945
During 4/5 Februaury 1945, HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN), conducted exercises off New London, Connecticut, U.S.A. These included night exercises. (2)
9 Feb 1945
With her trials, training and modifications completed HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) departed from New London for the Panama Canal. This is the first leg of the trip to Australia.
For the daily positions of HrMs O 21 during the passage to Australia see the map below.
(2)
19 Feb 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) arrived at Balboa, Panama. (2)
2 Mar 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) departed from Balboa for the Galapagos Islands. (2)
6 Mar 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) topped up with fuel at Seymour Island, Galapagos Islands before proceeding towards Bora Bora, French Polynesia. (2)
22 Mar 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) arrived at Bora Bora, French Polynesia. (3)
25 Mar 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) departed from Bora Bora for Wellington, New Zealand. (3)
6 Apr 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) arrived at Wellington. (3)
25 Apr 1945
After repairs HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) departed from Wellington for Melbourne, Australia. (3)
3 May 1945
After repairs HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) arrived at Melbourne. (3)
13 May 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) departed from Melbourne for Fremantle. (3)
20 May 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) arrived at Fremantle. (4)
7 Jun 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) is put on the slip at Fremantle. (4)
9 Jun 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) is put back in the water. (4)
3 Jul 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) is put on the slip at Fremantle. (4)
4 Jul 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) is put back in the water. (4)
7 Jul 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) departed from Fremantle for her 21th war patrol (5th in the Far East, 1st of her 2nd deployment to the Far East). She was ordered to patrol along the South coast of Java and in the Sunda Strait area.
No log is available for this period so unfortunately no map can be displayed. (5)
11 Jul 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) arrived at Onslow, Australia for fuel and fresh provisions. (5)
12 Jul 1945
After taking on board extra fuel and fresh provision HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) departed from Onslow for her patrol area. (5)
29 Jul 1945 (position 5.49, 105.48)
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) damaged two Japanese coasters with gunfire off the Northern entrance to the Sunda Strait.
(All times are zone -9)
0827 hours - Sighted a small steam vessel bearing 247°, range 3 nautical miles. She was hugging the Sumatra coast and was on a Southerly course.
0844 hours - Surfaced for gun action at 5000 yards. The target beached itself in position 05°49'S, 105°48'E. The crew was seen to abandon ship in a small boat.
0857 hours - After 62 rounds, and several hits, the gun malfunctioned and fire had to be ceased. The target was seen to blow off steam but no fire was observed. O 21 cleared the area to the South-East at speed.
-------------------------------------------
1315 hours - Sighted a 500 tons coaster bearing 265°, range 3.5 nautical miles. She was coast crawling on a Northerly course. O 21 closed and opened fire at 5000 yards. After 23 rounds the gun malfunctioned again and this action had also to be broken off. The target meanwhile was hit several times. (5)
31 Jul 1945
HrMs O 21. (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) sank a small Japanese fishing vessel with gunfire off the Wijnkoops Bay on the South coast of Java (now Pelabuhan Ratu).
(All times are zone -9)
1730 hours - Sighted a motor fishing vessel bearing 095°, range 5 nautical miles.
1743 hours - Opened fire with the deck gun from 3500 yards while still closing the target at 12 knots.
1802 hours - The target now stopped. Again the deck gun of O 21 gave trouble.
1807 hours - Ceased fire after firing 65 rounds for only two hits. Range was now 1500 yards.
1815 hours - Boarded to place demolition charges aboard the vessel. It was thought that the crew had meanwhile left the ship. Took the ships papers from the bridge. The ship was seen to be on fire.
1830 hours - The ship was now well on fire so cast off. No need to set demolition charges. Shortly afterwards one Japanese and three natives emerged from the hold and these were taken on board.
(5)
8 Aug 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) ended her 21th war patrol (5th in the Far East, 1st of her 2nd deployment to the Far East) at Fremantle. (5)
3 Oct 1945
HrMs O 21 (Lt.Cdr. F.J. Kroesen, RNN) departed from Fremantle for Batavia, Java, Netherlands East Indies.
Sources
- File 2.12.03.6417 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
- File 2.12.03.6418 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
- File 2.12.03.6419 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
- File 2.12.27.141 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
- ADM 199/1880
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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