| Navy | The Royal Dutch Navy |
| Type | Submarine |
| Class | U |
| Pennant | P 47 |
| Built by | Vickers Armstrong (Barrow-in-Furness, U.K.) |
| Ordered | 23 Aug 1940 |
| Laid down | 19 Nov 1941 |
| Launched | 27 Jul 1942 |
| Commissioned | 8 Oct 1942 |
| End service | Dec 1946 |
| Loss position | |
| History | Former British submarine P 47, transferred to the Royal Netherlands Navy before completion. Decommissioned in December 1946. For a detailed account of her wartime service see this website (offsite link). |
| Former name | P 47 |
Commands listed for HNMS Dolfijn (P 47)
Please note that we're still working on this section.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | luitenant ter zee 1e klasse (Lt.Cdr.) Henri Max Louis Frédéric Emile van Oostrom Soede, RNN | 23 Sep 1942 | 25 Jul 1944 |
| 2 | luitenant ter zee 1e klasse (Lt.Cdr.) Arie van Altena, RNN(R) | 25 Jul 1944 | 21 Aug 1944 |
| 3 | luitenant ter zee 1e klasse (Lt.Cdr.) Jean Baptist Maria Joseph Maas, RNN | 21 Aug 1944 | 17 Sep 1945 |
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Noteable events involving Dolfijn include:
26 Nov 1942
While on her 1st war patrol in the Bay of Biscay HrMs Dolfijn (Lt.Cdr. H.M.L.F.E. van Oostrom Soede) attacks a German submarine with torpedoes. All torpedoes missed their target.
9 Feb 1943
The Italian submarine Malachite was torpedoed and sunk near Cape Spartivento, Sardinia, Italy in position 38º42'N, 08º52'E by the Dutch submarine HrMs Dolfijn (Lt.Cdr. H.M.L.F.E. van Oostrom Soede). (see map)
29 Mar 1943
HrMs Dolfijn (Lt.Cdr. H.M.L.F.E. van Oostrom Soede) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Egle (1143 GRT) off Cagliari, Sicily, Italy.
4 Jul 1943
HrMs Dolfijn (Lt.Cdr. H.M.L.F.E. van Oostrom Soede) torpedoes and damages the Italian merchant Sabia (5788 GRT) south of Civitavecchia, Italy in position 42º05'N, 11º47'E.
Also on this day HrMs Dolfijn sinks the Italian auxiliary patrol vessel V50 / Adalia (165 GRT) with gunfire 15 miles west off Civitavecchia, Italy. (see map)
12 Jul 1943
HrMs Dolfijn (Lt.Cdr. H.M.L.F.E. van Oostrom Soede) sinks the Italian sailing vessel Stefano Galleano (137 GRT) with gunfire off Ostia, Italy.
11 Sep 1943
HrMs Dolfijn (Lt.Cdr. H.M.L.F.E. van Oostrom Soede) torpedoes and damages the Italian merchant Humanitas (7890 GRT) off Bastia, Corsica.
13 Sep 1943
HrMs Dolfijn (Lt.Cdr. H.M.L.F.E. van Oostrom Soede) sinks the German barges Gerda and Hedwig with gunfire south of Sestri Levante, Italy in position 44º09'N, 09º37'E. (see map)
15 Sep 1943
HrMs Dolfijn (Lt.Cdr. H.M.L.F.E. van Oostrom Soede) torpedoes the wreck of the French merchant Dalny (6672 GRT) off Cape Cervo, Sardinia, Italy.
14 Oct 1943
HrMs Dolfijn (Lt.Cdr. H.M.L.F.E. van Oostrom Soede) attacks a small convoy with gunfire near Fréjus, southern France. Dolfijn fired 16 rounds but broke off the action as fire was returned very quickly and forced the submarine to submerge. The barge Vidi was hit twice during the engagement.
26 Jan 1944
HrMs Dolfijn (Lt.Cdr. H.M.L.F.E. van Oostrom Soede) unsuccesfully tries to attack the
German merchant Leda (4572 GRT, former Italian Leopardi) south of Amorgos Island, Greece. The attack is foiled by the escorting German destroyer TA 14 (former Italian Turbine).
31 Jan 1944
HrMs Dolfijn (Lt.Cdr. H.M.L.F.E. van Oostrom Soede) fires three torpedoes against the German merchant Oria (2127 GRT) west of Stampalia, Greece. The target is not hit.
17 Apr 1944
In two separate attacks HrMs Dolfijn (Lt.Cdr. H.M.L.F.E. van Oostrom Soede) sinks the Greek sailing vessels Hydrea (129 GRT) and Theonie (75 GRT) with gunfire south-west of Milos Island, Greece.
8 May 1944
HrMs Dolfijn (Lt.Cdr. H.M.L.F.E. van Oostrom Soede) sinks two sailing vessels with gunfire about 30 nautical miles west-north-west of Lettino, Crete, Greece.