WesWorld

4 October
The heavy cruiser King Albert arrived in Rio de Janeiro on the next stage of her South American tour. The crew went ashore for some well-earned leave. Several Brazilian naval officers were given a tour of the ship.

6 October
The heavy cruiser King Albert left Rio de Janeiro this morning bound for Montevideo.

9 October
The heavy cruiser King Albert arrived in Montevideo on the next stage of her South American tour. Several RSAN naval officers were given a tour of the ship. A co-operation exercise will be held over the next two days with light cruisers and destroyers of the RSAN in the South Atlantic.

13 October
The heavy cruiser King Albert arrived in Bahia Blanca, Argentina this evening. The crew went ashore for some well-earned leave.

15 October
The heavy cruiser King Albert left Bahia Blanca this morning to continue her voyage, this time heading north. Escorted by an Argentine destroyer she left behind the coast of South America.

22 October
Rumours had circulated that the heavy cruiser King Albert would visit the Kingdom of Kongo, indeed one or two pacifist politicians had made pointed questions to the government about whether such a move was planned. In fact, they needn’t of worried because the King Albert sailed back into Paramaribo harbour, looking somewhat rusty from her extended voyages through the south and mid-Atlantic. Her crew had little rest however as she deployed the next day with the Dutch light cruisers CL-13 Celebes and CL-14 Papua of the 2nd Cruiser Division and the seaplane tender AVP-2 Venus again for three days of exercises. Designed as a raider hunting exercise the King Albert acting as the target did manage to slip her pursuers and Capitaine de vaisseau Adrien Lecointe earned himself high praise from the Naval Command in Antwerp.

27 October
After a couple of days well-earned shore leave, King Albert left Paramaribo harbour on the next leg of her voyage, a flag visit to the French possession of Martinique.

28 October
The French Caribbean station-ship, Sans Peur, passed by King Albert some forty-eight nautical miles from Martinique. Exchanging salutes the island came into view and the cruiser was soon at anchor in the basin. The small contingent of political and economic officials went ashore via the ship’s launch and the officers also dined ashore. Although neighbouring nations, it was good for both sides to mix beyond their home environment and this gave rise to frank discussion during the six-course meal. By dusk the Sans Peur was anchored not far from the Belgian ship and so the Belgian’s felt obliged to let her officers sample the wide selection of hospitality of their well-stocked wardroom.

30 October
The Chief Petty Officer was loud and emphatic, he knew the temptations of Caracas could lead any sailor astray and off the port beam were the hotels, bars and casinos along the sandy shoreline. On the next leg of the flag showing visit, Capitaine de vaisseau Adrien Lecointe felt his men should sample this lively place, for not often did Belgian ships come this far. The small contingent of political and economic officials went ashore to haggle deals and show Belgian interest in this locality.

8 November
The heavy cruiser King Albert arrived in Peruvian waters. Her destination was Lima, the first Belgian warship in many years to show the flag in this part of the world. The cruiser had left Caracas and sailed to the Panama Canal, watched by HMS Gladiator from afar, passed through the canal and then briefly docked at Bahia Malaga in Colombia before continuing.
Escorted by the destroyer Trujillo, King Albert safely reached Lima and docked in the later afternoon.

12 November
The heavy cruiser King Albert arrived today at her most southerly destination in western South America, Talcahuano in Chile. Here the economic and political group went ashore and the ship’s company were given leave and the usual round of wardroom parties and banquets began. Capitaine de vaisseau Adrien Lecointe was proud of his men in having come so far, and with so few problems, and he hoped after this three-day visit that they would have an equally good voyage home.

18 November
The heavy cruiser King Albert made history as the first Belgian warship to pass through the Mexican Canal.

20 November
The heavy cruiser King Albert docked at Kingston, Jamaica where she filled her holds with fresh fruit before heading into the Atlantic again.

24 November
The heavy cruiser King Albert arrived at Cleito, capital of Atlantis for her final official visit of her flag tour. The cruiser will remain here for two days.

1 December
The heavy cruiser King Albert has arrived back at her home port, Antwerp, after almost three months of continuous sailing around South America, the Caribbean and the Atlantic. Capitaine de vaisseau Adrien Lecointe praised his crew of their professionalism and especially the trainee midshipmen and also congratulated his ship for its reliable service with very few defects considering she has not undertaken a voyage like this for many years.

18 December
The new fishery protection vessel Godetia commissioned today joined the Fishery Protection Squadron at Zeebrugge alongside her sistership Zinnia. She had become the Flagship of the new formation on 1 December. Together both vessels will patrol Belgian fishing grounds and undertake patrols and rescue duty in the North Sea.

19 December
The first tanker to enter service with the Belgian Navy, the Tresignes was commissioned today. After completion of further trials and crew training, she will join the 1st Support Squadron at Antwerp later this month.