HNLMS Mulan was originally a coastal transport vessel. The ship was requisitioned by the Royal Netherlands Navy after the start of the German invasion of the Netherlands to serve as a makeshift submarine tender.Mark, Chris (1997). Schepen van de Koninklijke Marine in W.O. II. Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN 978-90-6013-522-8.
Service history The coastal transport ship Mulan was requisitioned on 11 May 1940, one day after the start of World War II for the Netherlands. The Royal Netherlands Navy foresaw the need of additional submarine tenders in Dutch waters as the only other such ship was , causing them to requisition some civilian ships such as Mulan.
HNLMS Mulan was initially used to transport torpedoes, ammunition and required parts for the new cruiser from IJmuiden to Portsmouth. Once the Netherlands had fallen, the ship served as a submarine tender at Dundee, Scotland, before being returned to its owner on 28 August 1940.
After the war, the ship continued as a transport ship until being sold to a new owner in 1956 where it was renamed Frida Blokzijl. Two years later the ship was sold again to a new owner from Panama, being renamed to Ban Ho Hin and receiving a Panamanian registration.
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