After the start of World War II, the subsequent fall of the Netherlands left the country's overseas territories without significant naval forces for protection. The Dutch East Indies harboured the majority of the Royal Netherlands Navy, the "West Indies" including the Dutch Caribbean and Suriname only had the gunboat for protection between them.
In order to help with patrolling of these waters, three former Norwegian whalers were hired and militarized. These were HNLMS Enern, HNLMS Femern, and HNLMS Toern.Mark, Chris (1997). Schepen van de Koninklijke Marine in W.O. II. Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN 978-90-6013-522-8.Helfrich, Conrad Emile Lambert (1950). Memoires van Admiraal Helfrich Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Ships of class Name Construction yardCompleted FateAkers Mekaniske Verksted A/S, Oslo1929Returned to owner once lease period ended 21 August 1945.Framnes Mekaniske Versted A/S, Sandefjord1932Returned to owner once lease period ended 21 August 1945.Akers Mekaniske Verksted A/S, Oslo1929Returned to owner once lease period ended 21 August 1945.
Service history All three ships had originally been part of a Norwegian whaling fleet with SS Solglimt as their factory ship. The fleet had not been in Norway during Operation Weserübung, but encountered the German auxiliary cruiser in the South Atlantic where Solglimt was captured.
Enern, Femern, and Toern would thus be left without a factory ship and be made available for hire by their owner. All three were present at New Orleans making them ideal options for the Royal Netherlands Navy to hire them. The most notable event during the patrols these boats did was when Femern picked up eight survivors from the Norwegian tanker Lise which had been torpedoed and sunk by on 12 May 1942.
All three boats were returned to their owner on 21 August 1945.
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External links Description of class