Re: WWII Dutch warship honorific

The proper honorific during World War II was Hr.Ms., which is short for "Harer Majesteits" or, in English, Her Majesty's.

So, for example, one of the gunboats under discussion would be Hr.Ms. GRUNO, and the "Ship" present in other nations' honorifics is simply understood for Dutch warships, yes?

Correct.

To my other question, as she was already a legitimate warship when arriving upon the green shores of England, this gunboat probably would have remained Hr.Ms. GRUNO. On the other hand, ISABEL was a privately owned boat carrying fleeing Nederlanders, subsequently seized and kitted out by the Brits with suitable rig as an auxiliary minesweeper and thus very likely served as HMS ISABEL. A similar seizing occurred in New York with the French luxury liner NORMANDIE, which briefly became USS LAFAYETTE (AP 53), before she burned to destruction. Is that what you think too?

No, Hr.Ms. Isabel was actually requisioned and commissioned by the Royal Netherlands Navy, so she became Hr.Ms. Isabel. The location where the ship at that time is, isn't relevant. Only upon transfer to the Royal Navy would she become HMS Isabel.

Regards,
Jan