Bishii May 1940, maalmo yar ka hor inta aysan Jarmalku weerarin Holland, wuxuu ka soo laabtay safarkiisii shaqo ee Dutch East Indies isagoo ahaa Sarkaalka Maraakiibta ee HNLMS "Van Galen". 10-kii Maajo 1940 Jarmalka ayaa soo duulay, waxaana "Van Galen" loo diray in ay duqeeyaan ciidamada Jarmalka ee ka soo degay agagaarka Rotterdam
iyo garoonka Waalhaven. Markabka ayaa ku soo galay wadada yar ee Nieuwe Waterweg, halkaas oo ay ku weerareen, isla markaana ay ku qarxeen diyaaradaha wax duqeeya ee Stuka.