HMS Quilliam (G09)

HMS "Quilliam" (G09) (later named HNLMS "Banckert" (D801)) was a Q class destroyer serving in the Royal Navy during World War II, and the Royal Netherlands Navy from 1946 to 1957.

Construction

The ship was laid down by R. and W. Hawthorn, Leslie and Company, Limited, at Hebburn-on-Tyne on 19 August 1940, launched on 29 November 1941 and commissioned on 22 October 1942.

She was named after Manx Lieutenant (later Captain) John Quilliam RN, First Lieutenant of HMS "Victory" at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Operational history

Royal Navy

"Quilliam" was involved in wartime operations in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

During the Pacific campaign, "Quilliam" was involved in a collision with the British aircraft carrier HMS "Indomitable", which left the destroyer with a heavily damaged bow. She was out of service for repairs when World War II ended.

Royal Netherlands Navy

"Quilliam" was one of six Q class destroyers to survive World War II. While five were transferred to the Royal Australian Navy, "Quilliam" was instead transferred to the Royal Netherlands Navy on 21 November 1945.Trevor Weaver (1994). "Q class Destroyers and Frigates of the Royal Australian Navy", p. 124.] The ship was renamed HNLMS "Banckert", and received the pennant number D801. The ship was refitted to Dutch standars and had a new bow fitted before she entered service in the Netherlands East Indies.

"Banckert" saw action during the Indonesian National Revolution. Between 10 and 12 May 1947, the ship intercepted the British coastal merchant ship "NR. 4 Nanmei", which was supplying contraband to Indonesians in Tapanoeli Bay, and fired on Indonesian coastal defences in Sibolga. She was involved in the Dutch occupation of Tegal on 26 July by providing a landing party. After carrying out patrols during the Dutch 'police counteractions', "Banckert" returned to the Netherlands in August 1948 for a refit, which lasted until 19 September 1949. The destroyer arrived at the Soerabaja naval base on 25 December 1949, and was stationed there until 9 December 1950, when she was assigned to Netherlands New Guinea. "Banckert" left Southeast Asia for the Netherlands on 20 August 1951.

On her return, "Banckert" was assigned to the naval base at Den Helder as part of the RNN's European Training Squadron.

Decommissioning and fate

"Banckert" was paid off in April 1952. She was struck from records on 19 October 1956, and was sold to Jos de Smedt of Antwerp for scrapping on 1 February 1957.

References

External links

* [http://www.hmsquilliam.co.uk/ Website about HMS "Quillam"]

ee also