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Dutch colonial liner MS Johan van Oldenbarnevelt.
Hello fellow modellers,
First of all let me wish you a happy new year with lots of new models to build.
I do'nt mind the corona, as long as its in a bottle.
No, I'm not new, but my computer was down and had to start all over again with a new name and a new email address. I used to post my threads as Hans van de Pavoordt.
Anyway, here are some pictures of the Johan van Oldenbarnevelt.
The keel for both the "Johan" and her sistership the Marnix van St. Aldegonde were laid down at Amsterdam in 1928 at the Dutch Shipbuilding Cy.
The ships were ordered by the Netherland Line (SMN) for service on the Dutch East Indies.
As a result of the second world war the histories of both liners was eventful. From 1941 onwards both ships were chartered by the british Ministry of War Transport (BMWT). The "Marnix" played the most important role. Serving the Royal Navy as a Landing Ship Infantry she took part in the North African Campaign (Operation Torch), the Sicilian invasion (Operation Husky) and the invasion of Italy (Operation Avalanche). On November 6 1943 the ship was attacked by German torpedo bombers. She sank the next day within sight of the North African coast.
The "Johan" served as a troop transport vessel from 1941 to 1943. She was laid up in Liverpool with engine trouble from June 1943 to May 1944. After the end of the war she was used to take troops to the Dutch East Indies and to repatriate citizens on the return voyage. After 1950 she was refitted and used to take Dutch emigrants to Australia and South Africa.
Major modernisation and alterations took place in 1958 (new funnels and masts), after which the ship served as luxury cruise liner. Sold to the Greek Line in early 1963 and was renamed Lakonia. On December 22, 1963 she caught fire during a cruise off Madeira. The burnt out hulk, having been taken on tow for salvaging, sank on December 29, 250 miles west of Gibraltar.
With all these changes the "Johan" had a rather "colourful" life. Her hull was originally black; then war-grey; then light grey; then beige and finally
white.
The pictures are as she was as a colonial liner.
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