View source for SS 's Jacob

{{short description|Dutch passenger steamship that was built in 1907 and sunk in 1943}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM S.S. 's Jacob van de KPM langs de steiger in Makassar TMnr 60018559.jpg
|Ship caption='' 's Jacob'' in port in [[Makassar]], about 1907–14
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship name= '''s Jacob''
|Ship namesake= [[:nl:Frederik Bernard s'Jacob (1850-1935)|Frederik Bernard 's Jacob]]
|Ship owner=*1907: [[Koninklijke Paketvaart-Maatschappij|Koninklijke Paketvaart-Mij]]
*1918: [[Shipping Controller]]
*1919: Koninklijke Paketvaart-Mij
|Ship operator=*1918: [[British India Steam Navigation Company|British India SN Co]]
|Ship registry=*1907: {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Batavia, Dutch East Indies|Batavia]]
*1917: {{flagicon|UK|civil}}
*1919: {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Batavia
|Ship route=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship awarded=
|Ship builder=Mij v S&W [[Fijenoord]], [[Rotterdam]]
|Ship original cost=
|Ship yard number=211
|Ship laid down=26 February 1907
|Ship launched=25 July 1907
|Ship sponsor=
|Ship christened=
|Ship completed=October 1907
|Ship acquired=
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship reclassified=
|Ship refit=
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship identification= *[[code letters]] TFGK (until 1925)
*{{ICS|Tango}}{{ICS|Foxtrot}}{{ICS|Golf}}{{ICS|Kilo}}
*code letters TFPN (1925–33)
*{{ICS|Tango}}{{ICS|Foxtrot}}{{ICS|Papa}}{{ICS|November}}
*[[Maritime call sign|call sign]] PKRV (1934 onward)
*{{ICS|Papa}}{{ICS|Kilo}}{{ICS|Romeo}}{{ICS|Victor}}
|Ship honours=
|Ship fate=Sunk, 8 March 1943
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship type= [[passenger ship]]
|Ship tonnage={{GRT|2907}}, {{NRT|1853}}, {{DWT|3438}}
|Ship displacement= 
|Ship length={{cvt|325.5|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{cvt|44.1|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft=
|Ship depth={{cvt|22.8|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship hold depth=
|Ship decks=2
|Ship power=233 [[Horsepower#Nominal horsepower|NHP]], 1,300 [[Horsepower#Indicated horsepower|ihp]]
|Ship propulsion= *1 × [[Propeller|screw]]
*1 × [[Marine steam engine#Triple or multiple expansion|triple-expansion engine]]
|Ship speed= {{convert|10|kn|km/h}}
|Ship range= 
|Ship capacity= *'''passengers:'''
*as built: 8 × [[First class travel|1st class]], 18 × 2nd class, 1,000 × [[steerage]]
*1928: 8 × 1st class, 26 × 2nd class, 1,420 × deck
*'''cargo:''' {{convert|180000|cuft}} grain, {{convert|144000|cuft}} bale
|Ship troops=
|Ship complement=
|Ship crew=
|Ship armament=1941: 1 × {{convert|4|in|mm|abbr=on}} gun
|Ship notes= one of several [[sister ship]]s
}}
|}

'''SS '' 's Jacob'''''<ref group=Note>The ship's name, and namesake's name, are commonly given as ''s' Jacob'' in modern online sources and some printed publications. However, Australian and US official histories spell it '' 's Jacob''. [[Lloyd's Register]] spelt it '' 'sJacob'', without spacing. This is apparently an old Dutch form for proper names, perhaps for "das" (of) contracted into simply 's.</ref> was a [[Passenger ship|passenger]] [[steamship]] that was launched in the [[Netherlands]] in 1907 and sunk by enemy action off [[Territory of New Guinea|New Guinea]] in 1943. She spent most of her career with [[Koninklijke Paketvaart-Maatschappij]] (KPM, the "Royal Packet Navigation Company"), based in the [[Dutch East Indies]].

In the [[World War I|First World War]] the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]] seized her under [[angary]]. In the [[World War II|Second World War]] she escaped the [[Dutch East Indies campaign|Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies]], and became part of the [[South West Pacific Area (command)|Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) command's]] permanent local fleet. A Japanese air attack sank her on 8 March 1943.

==Building==
Between 1907 and 1914, KPM took delivery of a set of [[sister ship]]s from different Dutch shipyards. Maatschappij voor Scheeps- en Werktuigbouw [[Fijenoord]] in [[Rotterdam]] completed '' 's Jacob'' in 1907, ''Le Maire'' and ''Van Spilbergen'' in 1908, ''Van der Hagen'' in 1909, {{SS|Van Waerwijck||2}} in 1910, and ''Sloet van de Beele'' and ''Van Imhoff'' in 1914.<ref name=SMHD>{{cite web |url= https://www.marhisdata.nl/schip&id=8558 |title=s'Jacob – ID 8558 |work=Stichting Maritiem-Historische Databank |lang=nl |access-date=12 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.marhisdata.nl/schip&id=3634 |title=Le Maire – ID 3634 |work=Stichting Maritiem-Historische Databank |lang=nl |access-date=13 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.marhisdata.nl/schip&id=6910 |title=Van Spilbergen – ID 6910 |work=Stichting Maritiem-Historische Databank |lang=nl |access-date=12 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.marhisdata.nl/schip&id=6869 |title=Van der Hagen – ID 6869 |work=Stichting Maritiem-Historische Databank |lang=nl |access-date=12 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.marhisdata.nl/schip&id=6915 |title=Van Waerwijck – ID 6915 |work=Stichting Maritiem-Historische Databank |lang=nl |access-date=12 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.marhisdata.nl/schip&id=5957 |title=Sloet van de Beele – ID 5957 |work=Stichting Maritiem-Historische Databank |lang=nl |access-date=13 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.marhisdata.nl/schip&id=6890 |title=Van Imhoff – ID 6890 |work=Stichting Maritiem-Historische Databank |lang=nl |access-date=12 July 2023}}</ref> [[Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Maatschappij]] in [[Amsterdam]] completed {{SS|Van Heemskerk||2}} in 1909, ''Van Linschoten'' in 1910, and ''Van Neck'' in 1912.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.marhisdata.nl/schip&id=6883 |title=Van Heemskerk – ID 6883 |work=Stichting Maritiem-Historische Databank |lang=nl |access-date=12 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.marhisdata.nl/schip&id=6892 |title=Van Linschoten – ID 6892 |work=Stichting Maritiem-Historische Databank |lang=nl |access-date=12 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.marhisdata.nl/schip&id=6895 |title=Van Neck – ID 6895 |work=Stichting Maritiem-Historische Databank |lang=nl |access-date=12 July 2023}}</ref> Rijkee & Co in Rotterdam completed ''Van Rees'' in 1913.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.marhisdata.nl/schip&id=6902 |title=Van Rees – ID 6902 |work=Stichting Maritiem-Historische Databank |lang=nl |access-date=12 July 2023}}</ref>

Fijenoord built the first ship of the series as yard number 211. She was laid down on 26 February 1907 as ''Van Noort'', but she was launched on 25 July as '' 's Jacob'',<ref name=SMHD/> after [[:nl:Frederik Bernard s'Jacob (1850-1935)|Frederik Bernard 's Jacob]].{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} She was completed that October. Her registered length was {{cvt|325.5|ft|abbr=on}}, her beam was {{cvt|44.1|ft|abbr=on}} and her depth was {{cvt|22.8|ft|abbr=on}}. Her [[tonnage]]s were {{GRT|2907}}, {{NRT|1853}},{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1908|loc=S.}} and {{DWT|3438}}. She had berths for 1,026 passengers: eight in [[First class travel|first class]], 18 in second class, and 1,000 in [[steerage]]. Her holds had capacity for {{convert|180000|cuft}} of grain, or {{convert|144000|cuft}} of baled cargo.<ref name=SMHD/>

The ship had a single [[Propeller|screw]], driven by a three-cylinder [[Marine steam engine#Triple or multiple expansion|triple-expansion steam engine]]. It was rated at 233 [[Horsepower#Nominal horsepower|NHP]]{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1908|loc=S.}} or 1,300 [[Horsepower#Indicated horsepower|ihp]], and gave her a speed of {{convert|10|kn|km/h}}.<ref name=SMHD/>

KPM [[Ship registration|registered]] '' 's Jacob'' at [[Batavia, Dutch East Indies|Batavia]] in the [[Dutch East Indies]]. Her [[code letters]] were TFGK.{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1908|loc=S.}}

==Career until 1940==
[[File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Chinese koelies uit Shantou verlaten het schip 's Jacob in de haven van Belawan Sumatra om in de tabakcultuur te gaan werken TMnr 10001445.jpg|thumb|left|Chinese labourers froon [[Shantou]] disembarking from '' 's Jacob'' at [[Port of Belawan|Belawan]] to work on [[Sumatra]]n tobacco plantations, about 1907–15]]
On 20 March 1918 President [[Woodrow Wilson]] issued Proclamation 1436, authorising the seizure under [[angary]] of Dutch ships in US ports. The UK also seized Dutch ships in ports of the British Isles and the [[British Empire]]. '' 's Jacob'' was seized in [[Port of Singapore|Singapore]]. She was vested in the UK [[Shipping Controller]], who appointed the [[British India Steam Navigation Company]] to [[Ship management|manage]] her. The ship was returned to her owners in February 1919.<ref name=SMHD/>

In 1925 '' 's Jacob''{{'}}s code letters were changed to TFPN.{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1926|loc=S.}} In 1928 her passenger accommodation was changed to eight first class, 26 second class, and 1,420 deck passengers. This changed her tonnages to {{GRT|2988|link=off}} and {{NRT|1873|link=off}}.{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1928|loc=S.}} In 1934 the [[Maritime call sign|call sign]] PKRV superseded her code letters.{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1934|loc=S.}} In 1935 her tonnages were reassessed as {{GRT|2839|link=off}} and {{NRT|1770|link=off}}.{{sfn|''Lloyd's Register'' 1935|loc=S.}}

==Second World War==
In August 1940 the [[Royal Netherlands Navy]] requisitioned '' 's Jacob'' to be [[Scuttling|scuttled]] as a [[blockship]] in the [[Port of Tanjung Priok]]. However, on 17 February 1941 she was returned to her owners.<ref name=SMHD/>

On 8 December 1941 [[Dutch East Indies campaign|Japan invaded the Dutch East Indies]]. On 1 March 1942 Japanese forces [[Battle of Java (1942)|landed on Java]]. '' 's Jacob'' took part in logistics support for the [[American-British-Dutch-Australian Command]] (ABDA) effort to hold the Malay Barrier. With four [[Tanker (ship)|tankers]] and a [[cargo ship]], '' 's Jacob'' sailed in Convoy MS4, which left [[Port Jackson|Sydney]] on 31 January bound for the ABDA theatre of operations, taking the route south of Australia and up the west coast. On 15 February, the day Singapore fell, and as {{HMAS|Perth|D29|6}} took over the escort, ports in [[Sumatra]] were falling and the tankers and other cargo ships were ordered to return to [[Fremantle Harbour|Fremantle]]. '' 's Jacob '' and ''Perth'' continued, and were later joined by the Dutch ships ''Swartenhondt'' and {{SS|Karsik|1938|2}}, but on the evening of 21 February, some {{convert|600|nmi|km}} south of the [[Sunda Strait]], they too were ordered to return to Fremantle.{{sfn|Gill|1957|p=580}}

'' 's Jacob'' was one of the 21 KPM ships that were based in Australia after Java fell on 12 March. The Commanding General, United States Army Forces in Australia (USAFIA) was ordered to buy or [[Chartering (shipping)|charter]] the ships for the SWPA's permanent local fleet. On 26 March 1942, the Chief Quartermaster, USAFIA arranged interim charters pending final negotiations with the [[Dutch government-in-exile]] in London. Final negotiations between the US [[War Shipping Administration]] (WSA) and the Dutch government resulted in their being placed under [[United States Army]] control through a complex charter arrangement in which the UK [[Ministry of War Transport]] (MoWT) chartered the KPM vessels and with WSA allocated them to SWPA with the stipulation they be under total control of the US Army. They typically were crewed by KPM's Dutch officers and Javanese crew.{{sfn|Masterson|1949|pp=321–346}} '' 's Jacob'' was [[Defensively equipped merchant ship|defensively armed]] with a 4-inch naval gun mounted aft.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

The ship took part in the early days of reinforcements for [[Port Moresby]] and [[Battle of Milne Bay|Milne Bay]] in New Guinea. She was in Convoy A3, which left [[Port of Brisbane|Brisbane]] on 10 August 1942 and reached [[Gurney Airport|Fall River]] in [[Milne Bay]] on 17 August.<ref name=Hague>{{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ports/index.html?search.php?vessel=S\%27JACOB~armain |last=Hague |first=Arnold |title=Port Arrivals / Departures |work=Arnold Hague Ports Database |publisher=Don Kindell, Convoyweb |access-date=13 July 2023}}</ref> On 2 September 1942, '' 's Jacob'' and {{MV|Anshun|1930|2}} left [[Port of Townsville|Townsville]] for Milne Bay in Convoy Q2, escorted by {{HMAS|Swan|U74|6}} and later {{HMAS|Arunta|I30|6}}. On 5 September, the convoy was holding south of [[China Strait]] as Japanese naval forces were expected in Milne Bay that night. ''Arunta'' escorted ''Anshun'' into the port the next day with ''Swan'' and '' 's Jacob'' awaiting orders south of the strait where ''Arunta'' joined them in the night. Meanwhile, ''Anshun'' was discharging cargo by lights when Japanese surface forces attacked the port, and the [[light cruiser]] {{Ship|Japanese cruiser|Tenryū||2}} shelled and capsized her. '' 's Jacob'' entering Milne Bay was considered an unnecessary risk, and the escorts were ordered to Port Moresby until the situation stabilized.{{sfn|Gill|1968|pp=171–173}}

'' 's Jacob'' took part in three more convoys from [[Queensland]] to Milne Bay, each of which took three days. Convoy W left Cairns on 22 September 1942, and Convoy TN11 left Townsville on 1 December. Convoy TN 42 left Townsville on 26 February 1943, and reached Milne Bay on 1 March.<ref name=Hague/>

[[File:'s Jacob Sinking.png|thumb|''{{'s}} Jacob'' sinking by the bow]]
[[File:'sJacob survivors.jpg|thumb|Survivors from '' 's Jacob'' about to be rescued by {{HMAS|Bendigo|J187|6}} (out of picture), 8 March 1943.]]
'' 's Jacob'' then joined [[Operation Lilliput]]. Escorted by the [[Australia]]n corvette {{HMAS|Bendigo|J187|6}}, she left Milne Bay carrying troops, weapons, and supplies bound for [[Oro Bay]]. On 8 March 1943, as '' 's Jacob'' rounded [[Cape Nelson (Papua New Guinea)|Cape Nelson]], nine high-flying [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]] bombers escorted by 12 fighters attacked her near [[Porlock Bay, Papua New Guinea|Porlock Bay]]. The aircraft scored three direct hits and at least 15 near misses, which caused serious structural damage and wounded several crewmen. A large fire started on the foreship, and her water pumps shut down, which prevented firefighting. The order was given to abandon ship. All those aboard jumped overboard and clung to wreckage. ''Bendigo'' rescued 158 men, two of whom died on the way to Milne Bay. Within 18 minutes of the attack, '' 's Jacob'' sank at 13:16 hrs off Porlock Harbor.{{sfn|Gill|1968|p=269}}<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.netherlandsnavy.nl/Kpm_ships.htm |title=Cargo for the Jungle |work=Royal Netherlands Navy Warships in World War II |access-date=18 December 2012}}</ref>

Five men were killed in the sinking, including Private [[George Watson (Medal of Honor)|George Watson]], who remained in the water and instead of trying to save himself, helped into liferafts those soldiers who could not swim. He was posthumously awarded the [[Medal of Honor]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://pacificwrecks.com/people/veterans/watson/index.html |title=Private George Watson |publisher=Pacific Wrecks Incorporated |date=18 January 2012 |access-date=18 December 2012}}</ref>

In 1986 divers found '' 's Jacob''{{'}}s wreck {{convert|9|nmi|km}} off Porlock Harbour, at a depth of {{convert|160|ft}}. The [[ship's bell]] was recovered and later given to the [[Lae]] Yacht Club.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.pacificwrecks.com/ships/ss/sjacob.html |title=SS ''s'Jacob'' |publisher=Pacific Wrecks Incorporated |date=12 May 2012 |access-date=18 December 2012}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=Note}}

==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
*{{cite book |last=Gill |first=G. Hermon |title=Royal Australian Navy 1939–1942 |series=Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 2 – Navy |volume=1 |year=1957 |publisher=Australian War Memorial |location=Canberra |url=http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/second_world_war/volume.asp?levelID=67910 |access-date=2013-07-12 |archive-date=2009-05-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525001721/http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/second_world_war/volume.asp?levelID=67910 |url-status=dead }}
*{{cite book |last=Gill |first=G. Hermon |title=Royal Australian Navy 1939-1942 |series=Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 2 – Navy |volume=2 |year=1968 |publisher=Australian War Memorial |location=Canberra |chapter=Chapter 9 – The Supply Lines Battle |chapter-url=http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/records/awmohww2/navy/vol2/awmohww2-navy-vol2-ch9.pdf |url=http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/second_world_war/volume.asp?levelID=67910 |access-date=2013-07-12 |archive-date=2009-05-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525001721/http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/second_world_war/volume.asp?levelID=67910 |url-status=dead }}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.awm.gov.au/exhibitions/alliesinadversity/seafaring/lilliput.asp |title=Karsik and Tramsik: Operation Lilliput |work=Allies in adversity, Australia and the Dutch in the Pacific War |publisher=Australian War Memorial |access-date=13 July 2013}}
*{{cite book |title=Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping |year=1908 |volume=I.–Steamships |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1909ST/page/n863/mode/1up |via=[[Internet Archive]] |ref={{harvid|''Lloyd's Register'' 1908}} }}
*{{cite book |title=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |year=1926 |volume=II.–Steamers and Motorships |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1927ST/page/n998/mode/1up |via=Internet Archive |ref={{harvid|''Lloyd's Register'' 1926}} }}
*{{cite book |title=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |year=1928 |volume=II.–Steamers and Motorships |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |url= https://archive.org/details/HECROS1929ST/page/n1233/mode/1up |via=Internet Archive |ref={{harvid|''Lloyd's Register'' 1928}} }}
*{{cite book |title=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |year=1934 |volume=II.–Steamers and Motorships of 300 Tons Gross and Over |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/34/34b0724.pdf |via=[[Southampton City Council]] |ref={{harvid|''Lloyd's Register'' 1934}} }}
*{{cite book |title=Lloyd's Register of Shipping |year=1935 |volume=II.–Steamers and Motorships of 300 Tons Gross and Over |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |url= https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/35/35b0712.pdf |via=Southampton City Council |ref={{harvid|''Lloyd's Register'' 1935}} }}
*{{cite book |last=Masterson |first=Dr. James R. |year=1949 |url= http://cgsc.cdmhost.com/cdm/ref/collection/p4013coll11/id/903 |title=U. S. Army Transportation In The Southwest Pacific Area 1941–1947 |place=Washington |publisher=Transportation Unit, Historical Division, Special Staff, U. S. Army |format=PDF |access-date=26 April 2013}}

==External links==
{{commons category|'s Jacob (ship, 1907)}}
*{{cite web |url= http://www.arendnet.com/kpm66.htm |last=Telleman |first=Jos |title=s'-Jacob |work=Arendnet Scheepvaart}} – photos

{{March 1943 shipwrecks}}
{{coord|09|01|S|149|01|E|display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:s Jacob, SS}}

[[Category:1907 ships]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in March 1943]]
[[Category:Merchant ships sunk by aircraft]]
[[Category:Passenger ships of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Ships built in Schiedam]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by Japanese aircraft]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks of Papua New Guinea]]
[[Category:Steamships of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Transport ships of the United States Army]]
[[Category:World War II merchant ships of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Coral Sea]]