Memorial Royal Dutch Navy

"Koninklijke Marine To commemorate the close ties forged between the people of Western Australia and the Officers and Men of the Royal Netherlands Navy during World War II" "Lest We Forget 1940-1945 In memory of those who made the supreme sacrifice so that we might live" At the outbreak of WWII the Royal Netherlands Navy had about 25 submarines, of which 15 were deployed in the Netherlands East Indies. After the Japanese occupation of the Dutch Territory the surviving seven submarines (K-VIII, K-IX, K-XI, K-XII, K-XIV, K-XV O-19) escaped to either Australia or Ceylon. After a reorganisation it was decided all seven boats would operate in the South West Pacific. In 1944 they were reinforced by two newer submarines, Tijgerhaai and Zwaardvisch which had been bought form the British. They were supported by the Submarine Depot ships Plancius, Odina and Columbia.