Fromhttp://http://www.dutchsubmarines.com/specials/special_cornelis_de_wolf.htm
We left the port of Singapore on our way to the gulf of Siam on Saturday, December 6th with a crew of 41 souls. We were scouting out 2 Japanese destroyers, but did not undertake any action, as we were not yet at war. On the 8th of December we learned of the attack on Pearl Harbour, which meant that we were now at war! A Japanese troopship was scouted out during the early hours of December 11. Three torpedoes were launched, but the rain and poor visibility prevented us from seeing whether they had hit. On December 10th we observed a Japanese merchant vessel with its stern light burning. This blunder allowed us to easily follow the vessel until it entered the Bay of Patani. Commander A.J. Bussemaker decided to enter the bay. He was a fine man and a competent commander with much insight into human nature! That's why he then turned to reserve officer Van Einsbergen, navigating officer of the KPM (a Dutch Merchant Shipping Company), and said, "You take care of the navigation, since you know this area better than anyone."
He piloted the O 16 into the bay with the utmost skill, after which the commander resumed command once again.
There were 4 Japanese ships in the bay in a semicircular formation. We first shot at the bow and then the stern. Six torpedoes were launched, all of which struck home. A direct hit! The ships did not sink entirely, however, because the bay was too shallow, being only 8 to 10 meters deep. The trick was now to get away from the bay unseen. The commander did not set course for open sea, but rather cunningly stayed close to the coast in shallow water because of the presence of Japanese destroyers offshore. We managed to get away unseen and set course for Singapore.
Around midnight on Sunday, the 14th of December, I took over the bridge watch as helmsman. There were six of us on the bridge. Everyone's eyes were on beams of light and flashes in the distance. Evidently there was an exchange of fire taking place. At 2 o'clock in the morning, a searchlight could be seen just above the horizon. The commander changed course from 165° to 210° and headed straight towards the searchlight, which had to have been somewhere near the islands by the coast of Malaya.
It happened at around 2:30 a.m. A thunderous blow flung me against the pit. Our faithful O 16 disappeared into the waves in less than a minute. During those few seconds, I saw the commander and senior officer trying to kick shut the turret hatch, while I desperately did my best to get my coat loose from the mine gear in which it had gotten stuck. My coast tore loose and I found myself in the water, all alone. No, this can't be, the other five have to be somewhere around here. I couldn't see anything because of the darkness and high waves and started calling out. I heard vague shouting. I swam towards the cries and saw four others. Commander Bussemaker was not one of them. We kept calling out and heard only a vague response. Unfortunately, he was too far away and we were unable to find him.
