HNLMS O 15

O 15 was a O 12-class submarine of the Royal Netherlands Navy that saw service during World War II. It was the only submarine of the O 12 class built by Wilton-Fijenoord of Rotterdam. It was one of many Dutch ships doing convoy duty during the Spanish Civil War. When World War II broke out O 15 was stationed in Curaçao. It returned to Europe and was based in Dundee, from whence it patrolled the coast of Norway and accompanied convoys to Archangelsk. The sub survived World War II and was taken out of active duty just after the Japanese surrender. It was demolished in 1946 in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht.

Before World War II
With sister ship the O 13, the O 15 attended the Brussels International Exposition in 1935. During the Spanish Civil War the O 15 was on convoy duty, from March 23 to June 24, 1937, protecting Dutch merchant ships. On October 2, 1939, the ship left with O 20 and the Van Kinsbergen for Curaçao, via the long route (around Scotland) because of the threat of mines in the English Channel. After 27 days the ship arrived in Curaçao on October 29.

During World War II
During the German attack on the Netherlands in 1940 the O 15 was in the Curaçao harbor for maintenance. In early July, after consultations between the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Royal Navy led to the conclusion that there was no need for Dutch submarines in the Caribbean, the O 15 was ordered to go to England via Kingston, Bermuda and Halifax. In Hamilton, Bermuda, repairs were made to the diesel engines which were due for an overhaul in Halifax. Since parts and workers were not available in Halifax, O 15 sailed to Philadelphia. It helped in testing the CSC (Canadian Sea Control) type radar and only crossed the Atlantic for Dundee, Scotland on September 15, 1942. It patrolled the Norwegian coast and accompanied convoys to Archangelsk and was used on occasion for anti-submarine warfare and ASDIC testing. For maintenance, O 15 received parts from O 14, which was decommissioned in 1943.

After World War II
O 15 returned to the Netherlands on June 30, 1945 and was docked in Rotterdam until July 23. It returned to Dundee for training but was taken out of active duty shortly after the Japanese surrender and decommissioned a month later, in September.

For a while O 15 transported personnel from Dundee to Rotterdam, and was sold on October 2, 1946, then demolished in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht.