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Eelke Bob Scholte | Luitenant ter Zee VK 20C b.d. Eelke Bob Scholte Bob Scholte joined the R.NI.N. in September, 1936 as Tichtmatroos. In December, 1941 he was serving in the K XIV as Konstabelmaat (a gunnery position whose old job tide went back to the 17th century). Bobs action station was as part of the crew of the 88ram. deck gun. During the night action on 23 December he was part of the team reloading the torpedo tubes. He served on the K XIV until September, 1943, when he was transferred to another R.NI.N. submarine. He completed more than 15 combat patrols in total and was awarded the Bronzen Kruis. |
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Chance Encounter by Robert Taylor. December 7, 1941 was, said President Roosevelt a day of infamy. The surprise attack by Japanese aircraft on that fateful day, brought America into a war that was to become global. The Japanese airstrike was the first of many attacks that day against America and other Allied Forces in the Pacific. Within a few days the British capital ships Prince of Wales and Repulse were sunk, the Japanese had landed on the coast of Malaya, Guam was seized, Hong Kong taken, and landings were made in the American held Philippines. In those first grim days of the Pacific War one territory after another quickly fell to the Japanese onrush - resistance, though heroic, was almost futile as the unprepared Allies were simply overwhelmed. Retaliating as best they could, Allied Forces hit back wherever possible and one of the first successes was by Dutch Forces on 23 December, just 16 days after Pearl Harbor. A Japanese invasion fleet had been spotted steaming south towards British Borneo. Royal Netherlands Navy submarine K XIV, alerted to their position, was heading west in order to make an interception. But the Japanese changed course on to an easterly heading during the night and made for the beaches off Ktiching - the opposite direction to that of the submarine. However a patrolling Dornier 24 of the Royal Netherlands Navy sighted the fleet on its new course, and by a remarkable chance encounter also spotted the submarine on the surface, and immediately signalled the location, course and speed of the convoy. The submarine quickly engaged the Japanese in the shallow waters off the landing beach head, causing chaos amongst the fleet. Two ships were sunk and another two severely damaged. The Dornier, despite being heavily engaged by Pete floatplanes from a Japanese heavy cruiser, managed to return safely to base. |
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