Karel Doorman QH1 was an escort carrier of the Royal Netherlands Navy. Previously HMS Nairana of the British Royal Navy, she was transferred to the Netherlands after World War Two. As part of the re-occupation of the Netherlands East Indies, the Karel Doorman ferried 15 Fairey Firefly fighters of 860 Squadron to Soerabaja along with freight and supplies.
On the return journey, the Karel Doorman transported a Japanese Aichi E13A and a Kawanishi N1K1 back to the Netherlands for evaluation.
Karel Doorman was used to evaluate the operation of Auster light aircraft and Sikorsky S-51 helicopters from an aircraft carrier. In 1948 she was returned to the UK and converted to a merchantman Port Victor. She was scrapped in 1971.
HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1 1947HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1HNLMS Karel Doorman QH1
Armament
40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gunBofors 40 mm anti-aircraft gun 20mm Oerlikon in a twin mount on HNLMS Karel Doorman QH14″ anti-aircraft gun
Aircraft Operations
Aichi E13A
Aichi E13A “Jake” being towed to the Karel Doorman on 7 November 1946Aichi E13A “Jake” being craned onto the Karel Doorman on 7 November 1946Aichi E13A “Jake” on the deck of the Karel DoormanAichi E13A “Jake” on the deck of the Karel Doorman
Auster
Auster being raised to the Karel Doorman’s deckAuster being raised to the Karel Doorman’s deckAuster being on the Karel Doorman’s deckAuster flying over the Karel Doorman
Fairey Barracuda
Fairey Barracuda from 860 squadron landing on NairanaFairey Barracuda from 860 squadron landing on Nairana860 Sqn Barracuda Mk.III on June 30, 1945 on HMS NarainaA Fairey Barracuda Mk.II from 860 Sqn (VSQ 860) of the Naval Aviation Service (MLD) landing on HMS Nairana860 Sqn Barracuda Mk.III on June 30, 1945 on HMS NarainaThe RATOG take-off of a Fairey Barracuda from aircraft squadron 860 (VSQ 860) of the Naval Aviation Service (MLD)Fairey Barracuda Mk.II aircraft of 860 squadron (VSQ 860) of the Naval Aviation Service (MLD) on NairanaFairey Barracuda Mk.III of 860 Sqn on Nairana 1945A Fairey Barracuda Mk.II from 860 Sqn (VSQ 860) of the Naval Aviation Service (MLD) landing on HMS NairanaA Fairey Barracuda Mk.II 860 Sqn (VSQ 860) of the Naval Aviation Service (MLD) on the flight deck.A Fairey Barracuda Mk.II from 860 Sqn (VSQ 860) of the Naval Aviation Service (MLD) on the elevator of HMS NairanaA Fairey Barracuda Mk.II from 860 Sqn (VSQ 860) of the Naval Aviation Service (MLD) on the flight deck.Fairey Barracuda Mk.II aircraft of aircraft squadron 860 (VSQ 860) of the Naval Aviation Service (MLD) in the hangar.Fairey Barracuda carrier torpedo planes over Fearn (airfield in Scotland) in the years 1943-1945Fairey Barracuda carrier torpedo planes of the Dutch squadron 860 over Ayr (Scotland) in 1945.
Fairey Firefly
Fairey Firefly F24 being craned aboard HNLMS Karel DoormanFairey Firefly F25 on HNLMS Karel DoormanFairey Firefly F29 being brought up on deck on HNLMS Karel DoormanFairey Firefly landing on HNLMS Karel DoormanFairey Firefly on HNLMS Karel DoormanFairey Firefly on HNLMS Karel DoormanFairey Firefly taking off from HNLMS Karel DoormanFairey Firefly on HNLMS Karel DoormanFairey Firefly taking off from HNLMS Karel DoormanFairey Fireflies on HNLMS Karel DoormanFairey Firefly on HNLMS Karel DoormanFairey Firefly on HNLMS Karel DoormanFairey Firefly on HNLMS Karel DoormanFairey Firefly on the elevator of HNLMS Karel DoormanFairey Firefly F6 on HNLMS Karel DoormanCrashed Fairey Firefly F6 on HNLMS Karel DoormanCrashed Fairey Firefly F6 on HNLMS Karel DoormanCrashed Fairey Firefly F6 on HNLMS Karel DoormanCrashed Fairey Firefly F6 on HNLMS Karel Doorman
Kawanishi N1K1
Kawanishi N1K1 “Rex” on the Karel Doorman on 7 November 1946
Sikorsky S-51
Sikorsky S-51 PH-HAA landing on HNLMS Karel DoormanSikorsky S-51 PH-HAA landing on HNLMS Karel DoormanSikorsky S-51 PH-HAA landing on HNLMS Karel DoormanSikorsky S-51 PH-HAA on HNLMS Karel DoormanSikorsky S-51 PH-HAA on HNLMS Karel Doorman
The USS Card (CVE-11) was launched as AVG 11 on February 21, 1942 by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation under a Maritime Commission contract. She was was reclassified as ACV-11 on August 20, 1942 and commissioned on November 8, 1942 with Captain J.B. Sykes in command.
Card’s first operational sortie in late May 1943 was an aircraft ferrying trip from New York to Casablanca in French Morocco. Card then made the return voyage to Norfolk arriving on June 5, 1943. Ten days later she was reclassified as Escort Carrier Card (CVE-11). She became one of the first of fourteen US CVEs around which US anti-submarine hunter killer groups would be centered. During her participation in the Battle of the Atlantic, Card and her escorts sank 11 German U-boats.
After the war, she was reclassified as a helicopter escort carrier CVHE-11, 12 June 1955; a utility carrier CVU-11, 1 July 1958; and an aviation transport AKV-40, 7 May 1959.
In 1964, while operating as an aircraft ferry, Card was sunk with explosives planted by two Viet Cong commandos in the Harbor of Saigon, South Vietnam. She was refloated 17 days later and returned to service after extensive repairs.
Card was placed in reserve, on 10 March 1970, was sold for scrapping on 14 May 1971.
USS Card ACV-11 newly completed off Norfolk Navy Yard on 26 March 1943USS Card ACV-11 Off Norfolk Navy Yard on March 26, 1943, still not complete after her November 8, 1942 commissioningUSS Card ACV-11 in Hampton Roads March 1943USS Card ACV-11 underway in February 1943USS Card CVE-11 15 June 1943, with seven TBF-1 Avenger and six F4F-4 Wildcat of Squadron VC-1USS Card CVE-11 with a Grumman F6F Hellcat that came in too low. 1943USS Card CVE-11 underway circa 1943USS Card CVE-11 1944USS Card CVE-11The Island of USS Card CVE-11
Post World War Two
USS Card fitted with longer hangarUSNS Card T-AKV 40 as she looked while serving in VietnamUSNS Card T-AKV 40 underway in 1966Cargo ship and aircraft ferry USNS Card T-AKV 40 underway at sea with seventeen cocooned USAF Convair F-102A Delta Dagger fightersThe refit USNS Card in February 1965. She is seen loading cargo into her enlarged cargo elevator.USNS Card T-AKV 40 in Saigon, 1968USNS Card T-AKV 40 in a Vietnamese port, in the 1960sUSNS Card T-AKV 40 in Saigon on 2 May 1964, after she was attacked by Viet Cong commandosWater pouring over the side as 6-inch submersible pumps discharge from USNS Card T-AKV 40 in SaigonUSNS Card T-AKV 40USNS Card T-AKV 40 near Gibraltar in 1966, seen from the ST London Valour.
Aircraft Operations
Grumman TBF Avenger
USS Card CVE-11 15 June 1943, with seven TBF-1 Avenger and six F4F-4 Wildcat of Squadron VC-1Grumman TBF of VC-1 landing on USS Card CVE-11 in 1943Grumman TBF-1 of VC-1 landing on USS Card ACV-11 in 1942Grumman TBF-1 landing accident on USS Card ACV-11 1942Grumman TBF-1 landing accident on USS Card ACV-11 1942Grumman TBF-1 landing accident on USS Card ACV-11 1942Grumman TBF-1 landing accident on USS Card ACV-11 1942Grumman TBF-1 after landing accident on USS Card ACV-11 1942
Preserving Port Macquarie’s maritime history, the Mid-North Coast Maritime Museum occupies two old Pilot Cottages dating from the 1890s. Originally used to house the pilot and the boatmen who assisted him but now repurposed into a museum.
Getting There
Located in Port Macquarie on the NSW mid-north coast at 6 William Street, it has beautiful views over the surrounding coast. This would have been vital to the pilot, so that he could see ships arriving before guiding them into the harbour. Parking is available on-street and is free.
The Museum
Spread across the two cottages are nine themed rooms, along with an outdoor display and an additional room with a shell display.
The first exhibits you see are an anchor collection a sea mine and two of the Hello Koala sculptures. Appropriately one of the koalas is decorated as Lachlan Macquarie, for whom the town is named.
The interior exhibits follow the history of Port Macquarie from the arrival of the first colonial settlers and convicts 1821 through to The Second World War.
One room details the loss of the Wollongbar to a Japanese submarine off Port Macquarie and the efforts of local fishermen to save the crew. Thirty-two crew members died, however 6 were saved.
Voyages along the eastern Australian coast proved dangerous with many ships wrecked. Using photos and wall displays all known losses are listed along with some artifacts.
An interesting museum to visit and it’s great to see this sort of history preserved where it provides a link to the past.
Lachlan MacquarieKoala NoirSea MineAnchor displayEarly Settlement RoomModel ship displayPennants from Royal Australian Navy shipsLighthouse lens from Tacking Point LighthouseDiving Helmet
