The Belgian navy 1939-40

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daveh
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The Belgian navy 1939-40

#1

Post by daveh » 08 Sep 2008, 16:50

The Belgian navy 1939-40

As an economic saving the Belgians disbanded their navy in 1926. The Zinnia was retained as a fishery protection vessel while the men were incorporated into the army. A reserve depot continued in existence maintaining a list of naval personnel.

Under international law a neutral country has the right and obligation to defend its territory. If it fails to do so a belligerent can undertake such actions as it deems appropriate to ensure that the neutral's territory is not used in a manner detrimental to that belligerent's interests. To ensure that Belgium met these obligations as a neutral it re established its navy on September 15th 1939 when it partially mobilised its marine corps. On 18-9-39 the navy was formed into 3 squadrons based at Antwerp, Bruges and Ostende supported by a training/reinforcement squadron at Ostende.

The navy formed part of the Coastal Command. This command was equivalent to a Corps command see
http://niehorster.orbat.com/021_belgium ... coast.html and included

16th I.D.
2nd Light Regt (mot inf) less 1 bn.
14th static inf bn.

12th AA Bn.

1st bn. 5th army Artillery Regiment with
1st battery 4 x 120mm De Bange M1869 Fort Wellington, Ostende
4 x 170mm Krupp guns Bredene

2nd battery of 4 x 170mm at Knokke,

3rd battery of 4 x 120mm naval guns Zeebrugge,

11th fortress MG battery with 13 tank turrets (for AMC 35 tanks) set on a bunker.

The position of these units can be seen on
http://amb3940.be/amb/travail40.pdf

The naval element is detailed on
http://niehorster.orbat.com/021_belgium/ghq_navy.html
which gives the organisation of and the vessels used by the Belgian Navy or (Corps de Marine/ Het Marinekorps) in May 1940.

some details and pics of the history of the navy during the 18 day campaign can be found on
http://wielingen1991.userboard.net/les- ... -t1179.htm
and
http://wielingen1991.userboard.net/les- ... zm-fn-f42/

also see
Susan Cross on the Overlvalwagen forum the belgian navy 1939/40
http://www.network54.com/Forum/330333/m ... lgian+Navy
where she gives an authorised strength for the Marine Corps on 15-9-39 as being 30 officers, 96 petty officers and 514 men thought the actual strength was:
September1939:122
February 1940: 185
March 1940: 232
April 1940: 233

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Andy H
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Re: The Belgian navy 1939-40

#2

Post by Andy H » 08 Sep 2008, 20:47

Thank you Dave as always, for posting interesting information.

Regards

Andy H


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phylo_roadking
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Re: The Belgian navy 1939-40

#3

Post by phylo_roadking » 09 Sep 2008, 01:19

The naval element is detailed on
http://niehorster.orbat.com/021_belgium/ghq_navy.html
which gives the organisation of and the vessels used by the Belgian Navy or (Corps de Marine/ Het Marinekorps) in May 1940
Wow. A whole THREE of them were armed...

Well, as Neutrals go, it's not bad. Belgium seems to have more "small ships" in her navy than the Irish Navy has ever had IN TOTAL.... :lol:

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phylo_roadking
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Re: The Belgian navy 1939-40

#4

Post by phylo_roadking » 09 Sep 2008, 01:20

Had a thought...Dave, what about armed vessles in Belgium's overseas colonies??? I know gunboats on the Congo don't really matter - but were they CONSIDERED Naval vessels, do you know?

daveh
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Re: The Belgian navy 1939-40

#5

Post by daveh » 09 Sep 2008, 19:25

I am collecting bits and pieces on the Congo as I come across them. Nothing yet on ships associated with the Belgian Congo..but then I haven't really looked...yet. Just another thing to add to the list

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Andy H
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Re: The Belgian navy 1939-40

#6

Post by Andy H » 09 Sep 2008, 21:44

Richard Worths Fleets of WW2 lists the following which I haven't spotted on Niehorsters OoB

The old British 'Flower' class sloop Zinnia (Built 1915, 1200t, light guns, 17kts). Employed by the Germans as Barbara.
A pair of disarmed WW1 German TB's, Wielengen & West Diep. The former was scrapped by the Germans whilst the latter became the training vessel Reiher and then Warendorp.
Finally the incomplete Artevelde (1640t, 4x4.1guns, 120mines, 28.5kts), which was intended to be a royal yacht/patrol boat was captured. The Germans completed the vessel and renamed it Lorelei and later K4.

Regards

Andy H

daveh
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Re: The Belgian navy 1939-40

#7

Post by daveh » 10 Sep 2008, 12:48

The Zinnia, Wielengen and West Diep were used as civilian manned fishery protection vessels during the period Belgium had no navy.
The Artevelde was to replace the Zinnia with as Andy says mutli functions.
There was also I think a sail training vessel attached to the depot.

A quick look has shown no armed vessels associated with the Belgian Congo as yet..plenty of merchant vessels but nothing armed.

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Re: The Belgian navy 1939-40

#8

Post by daveh » 25 Apr 2016, 14:46

A list of sources on the Belgian Navy:

The most comprehensive is

http://www.marinebelge.be
which includes histories of the various incarnations of the Belgian Navy, details and histories of individual vessels used and a section on the Congo


Studies of Belgian Navy Operations

Nos marins lors de la debacle de 1940 I and II

http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/282731.pdf
http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/282733.pdf


Les navires et les marins belges engagés
dans les opérations d’évacuation de mai et juin 1940

http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/288263.pdf


Other Histories
DE LA COMPAGNIE DE MARINS … AU CORPS DE MARINE
Organisations et désorganisations de la marine militaire
belge entre le 15 janvier 1831 et le 26 juin 1940.

from C.L.H.A.M Tome IX, fasicule 11

http://www.maisondusouvenir.be/corps_de ... 9_1940.php

Planned Ship
L'"Artevelde" 1939-1954 : l'industrie belge offre à la marine son unique contre-torpilleur
from C.L.H.A.M Tome IX, fasicule 5
this study includes an appendix detailing the Organisation of the Belgian Navy for 14 5 40

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Andy H
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Re: The Belgian navy 1939-40

#9

Post by Andy H » 22 May 2016, 22:27

Hi Dave

Thanks for the update.

Regards

Andy H

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