List of Dutch military equipment of World War II


The following is a list of Dutch military equipment of World War II which includes artillery, vehicles and vessels. World War II was a global war that began in 1939 and ended in 1945. On 10 May 1940, Nazi Germany, which aimed to dominate Europe, invaded the Netherlands and occupied the entire country by 17 May. By 12 March 1942 the Dutch mainland and all their major colonies were controlled by Germans and Japanese. Dutch power was not restored until final Axis collapse in 1945. This list covers the equipment of armed elements centered on Royal Netherlands Army and Royal Netherlands East Indies Army, but not the Free Dutch Forces, which was equipped mainly by the Western Allies.

Knives and bayonets

Small arms

Pistols (manual and semi-automatic)

Rifles

Grenades and grenade launchers

See also:
GrenadeIntroducedTypeWeight, gcomments
Schokhandgranaat?fragmentation900impact fuse
Dooshandgranaat?fragmentation65smallest grenade ever in service
Eihandgranaat No.1?fragmentation600used by Germans as "handgranate 312 "
Eihandgranaat No.2?fragmentation765imported Mills No. 23, rod-type rifle launcher
Eihandgranaat No.3?concussion215used by Germans
Hexiet Rookhandgranaat?smoke500used by Germans as "333"
Gashandgranaat?tear gas~800
Ronde handgranaat1906fragmentation1065colonial army only
Geweergranaat1915concussion~420colonial army only, hand-thrown version of Veldhandgranaat
Veldhandgranaat1917fragmentation650long handle, colonial army only
Offensieve handgranaat No.21928concussion650paper&wood body, colonial army only, imported from USA
Offensieve handgranaat No.3 1941concussion310paper&steel body, colonial army only

Machine guns

Infantry and dual-purpose machine guns

The Dutch army in 1940 was in the process of converting their machine guns to the unique 7.92x57mm rimmed cartridge. Exact numbers of machine guns converted is unknown.
GunFire rate, RPMEffective rangeCartridgeFrom:ProducedWeightComment
Lewis gun M.205508006.5×53mmR and 7.92×57mmR1917950013 kgoccasional AA gun
Vickers machine gun4752000.303 British and 7.92×57mmR191230023 kgoccasional AA gun,basis for aircraft guns
MG 08 Spandau heavy machine gun 47520007.92×57mm Mauser190845269 kgoccasional AA gun, obsolescent
Schwarzlose MG M.07/12 heavy machine gun 49013007.92×57mm Mauser1905224841.4 kg

Vehicle and aircraft machine guns

Artillery

Infantry mortars

Field artillery

Fortress and siege guns

See for geographic distribution of coastal defenses and fortresses in continental Netherlands.
The listing below do include both army and land-based Navy weapons, but do not include 47mm guns, which are counted as anti-tank guns.

Anti-tank guns

Anti-tank weapons (besides anti-tank guns)

Light anti-aircraft guns

Heavy anti-aircraft guns

ModelCaliberEff. alt.FromProducedWeight, kgfire rate, RPMComment
Krupp gun 6 tl57mm250019162171803obsolescent
Krupp gun 7 tl75mm330019161579805obsolescent
QF 3-inch 20 cwt 76.2mm375019173599017
Krupp gun 94mm680019253~100007.5may be prototypes related to QF 3.7-inch AA gun development
Vickers Model 1931 75mm8500193581282512partially license-built, had a fire-control mechanical computer
Skoda AA gun 75mm650019409420025model unclear

Vehicles

Tankettes

- 5 tankettes used in Battle of the Netherlands

Tanks

Engineering and command

All numbers are for European part of Dutch armed forces.

Royal Netherlands Navy

At the moment of the German attack on 10 May 1940 the Dutch European Navy consisted of 50 vessels:
Also, the 31 various vessels were under construction. Of these, 6 there eventually completed in England and 21 in Nazi Germany.
Destroyed or scuttled during Battle of the Netherlands:
Escaped to England during Battle of the Netherlands:
Captured by the Germans:
At the time of Japanese attack on 7 December 1941, the Dutch East Indies Navy comprised 78 vessels. Most of them were destroyed defending Java island:
Task Force One
Task Force Two
NEI Submarine Flotilla
Submarine Division 1
Submarine Division 2
Submarine Division 3
Submarine Division 4
Mine Service
Minesweeper Division 3
Minesweeper Division 4
Torpedo Division
The Dutch before war have an extensive aircraft industry, but most of the aircraft produced were exported and not counted here.
NamePlace of
manufacture		Primary
role		#
used in Europe		#
used in Indonesia		years in usecomments
Fokker D.XXIDutchfighter3601936-1940
Curtiss P-6 HawkDutch fighter0111930-1942also 3 P-6 were destroyed before war
Curtiss H-75 Hawk USfighter0241940-1942model Hawk 75A-7
Brewster B339 USfighter0711941-1942
Fokker D.XXIIIDutchfighter101939-1940tandem engines, prototype under test at outbreak of war
Fokker D.XVIIDutchfighter/trainer701932-19402 of 7 destroyed on ground at beginning of war
Fokker G.IDutchheavy fighter3501937-1940also 1 Fokker G.I destroyed before war
Fokker G.IDutchheavy fighter601940-194024 were produced, but refit was not finished in time
Fokker T.VDutchbomber1501938-1940also 1 Fokker T.V destroyed before war
Fokker C.VDutchbomber/reconnaissance2801924-1940only 28 of 67 were operational at start of war
Fokker C.VIIIDutchreconnaissance101928-1940land-version
Fokker C.VIII-WDutchMaritime patrol901928-19405 of 9 fled to England and were scrapped immediately
Fokker C.XDutchbomber/reconnaissance/trainer20131933-1942
Koolhoven F.K.51Dutchtrainer/reconnaissance83381935-1942
Koolhoven F.K.52Dutchfighter/reconnaissance501937-1940also 1 aircraft lost before war
Koolhoven F.K.58Dutchfighter1801938-1940manned by Poles, fought for France
Fokker S.IXDutchtrainer5001935-1942some escaped to England and were scrapped immediately
Bücker Bü 131Germanytrainer0?1935-1942
Curtiss-Wright CW-21BUSinterceptor0241942-194217 ready at start of Japanese attack
Dornier Do J WalDutch Maritime patrol151937-1942most were already scrapped at outbreak of war
Dornier Do 24Dutch maritime patrol0371937-1942replacement for Dornier Wal, imported and license-produced in Netherlands.
Fokker T.IVaDutchMaritime patrol/torpedo bomber0331927-1942
Fokker C.XIDutchscout seaplane4101935-1942operated from Dutch cruisers and destroyers
Fokker C.VIIDutchseaplane trainer0121927-194230 were produced, but 18 in Europe retired before war
Fokker C.XIV-WDutchtrainer/Maritime patrol13111927-194212 were transferred from Europe to Dutch East Indies after war in Europe was lost
Fokker F.XVIIIDutchairliner/Maritime patrol051940-1942stop-gap ASW aircraft, later reverted to airliner
Fokker T.VIIIDutchMaritime patrol1101938-1940some aircraft escaped to England and many captured by Germans
Consolidated PBY CatalinaUSMaritime patrol0481935-194236 Consolidated 28-5 and 12 PBY-5A
Martin 139 USBomber01211938-1945Pre-WW2 bomber in Dutch possession
Fokker T.IXDutchBomber101939-1940prototype being repaired at outbreak of war

Cartridges and shells