Ship History
Buit as a a steel hulled motor cargo vessel in Amsterdam, Netherlands for KPM Line during 1937.

Wartime History
During 1942, Maetsuycker escaped the Dutch Netherlands prior to the Japanese invasion with other vessels and steamed to Sydney. In Australia, the ship was assigned to the Australian Merchant Navy and the US Forces.

Initially, served as a troop transport and logistic supply ship for the Australian and United States Army Transportation Corps (American Small Ships) with Dutch Officers flying the Dutch Flag. Replacement crew members were mainly Australian and Allied Merchant Seamen from the International Pool of Seamen.

During 1944, Maetsuycker was converted to a hospital ship, capable of holding 250 stretcher patients, or 200 stretcher and 500 ambulatory patients. The Medical Staff were from the US Army 196th Station Hospital.

During early 1944, operated from northern New Guinea including Oro Bay, Milne Bay, Finchafen, Lae and Aitape, and Hollandia, then delivering patients to Brisbane.

On June 23 was at Hollandia and the next day departed for Biak and Owi. On June 25, 1944 while Maetsuycker was off Biak Island and Owi Island and accepted wounded Captain Cyrus Taylor from PT-193 "Bitchin' Witch" who died aboard ship.

The next day, returned to Hollandia, June 27-28 then to Aitape arriving June 29 and departing the next day for Oro Bay, arriving on June 1 and departed the next day for Milne Bay arriving on July 3, then departed for Australia.

Arrived at Brisbane on July 7 and remained there until departing on July 24 for Townsville.

Maetsuycker returned to New Guinea, operating along the northern coast.

December 22, 1944 departed for the Philippines, arriving on December 24 at Gulf of Leyte and was stationed at Tacloban December 25-28, then returned to Hollandia.

Postwar
Refit in 1947 and passed to the Royal Interocean Lines (KJCPL) in Amsterdam renamed and sold to several owners. Finally, scrapped at Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 1974.

References
The Australian Merchant Navy - NHS Maetsuycker
Maetsuycker.com
Maetsuycker Itinerary 1944

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Last Updated
October 27, 2009