Built at Koninklijke Maatschappij De Schelde in Vlissingen,[2] she was launched in 1930 but was unable to take part in military action during World War II.

[5] During the German attack on the Netherlands in 1940, O 12 was at the naval wharf of Willemsoord, Den Helder for periodic maintenance.

Unable to make the trip across the North Sea to England, the ship was scuttled.

[5] The German occupying forces had O 12 raised and sent her to the Wilton-Fijenoord wharf in Rotterdam for repairs.

On 6 July 1944, she was taken out of service and moved to Kiel, where she was scuttled in the harbor just before the end of the war.