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Java-class cruiser

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Java circa 1935
Class overview
NameJava class
Builders
Operators Royal Netherlands Navy
Preceded byHolland class
Succeeded byDe Ruyter
Built1916–1926
In commission1925–1944
Planned3
Completed2
Cancelled1
Lost2
General characteristics as built
TypeLight cruiser
Displacement
  • 6,776 t (6,669 long tons) standard
  • 8,339 t (8,207 long tons) full load
Length155.3 m (509 ft 6 in) oa
Beam16 m (52 ft 6 in)
Draught6.1 m (20 ft 0 in)
Propulsion
  • 3-shaft Germania geared steam turbines
  • 8 Schultz-Thornycroft boilers
  • 73,000 shp (54,000 kW)
Speed31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph)
Range3,600 nmi (6,700 km; 4,100 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement525
Armament
Armour
  • 7.5 cm (3.0 in) belt
  • 2.5 to 5 cm (0.98 to 1.97 in) deck
  • 12.5 cm (4.9 in) conning tower
  • 10 cm (3.9 in) shields
Aircraft carried2 × floatplanes

The Java class was a class of light cruisers of the Royal Netherlands Navy, with the lead ship named after the island of Java in the Dutch East Indies. Originally, three ships were planned: Java, Sumatra, and Celebes. Celebes was intended to be the flagship of the naval commander in the Dutch East Indies, and therefore she was slightly bigger than the other two ships. However, the contract was cancelled with 30 tons of material already prepared (a new ship, HNLMS De Ruyter was later built to fill that requirement).

The class was designed by the Dutch with technical oversight by the German company Krupp, and constructed in the Netherlands. Armed with ten 150-millimetre (5.9 in) guns, they were of comparable capability to the German and British cruisers designs of the time. However, these were not turret-mounted, and by the time the cruisers were finally launched after all the delays caused by the upheaval of World War I (Sumatra in 1920, Java in 1921), the ships had already become outdated. Nevertheless, both Sumatra and Java were still active at the outbreak of World War II, mainly for colonial duties. Both vessels were lost in the war, with Java torpedoed and sunk by the Japanese in 1942 in the Dutch East Indies and Sumatra scuttled as a breakwater during the Allied invasion of Normandy in 1944.

Design

Development

During the early 20th century, the primary purpose of the Royal Netherlands Navy was the protection of the oil-rich and economically vital Dutch East Indies. The largest threat was from the rapidly expanding Japanese Empire and its significantly larger and more powerful navy. Unable and unwilling to build a comparable force, the Netherlands focused on maintaining a small but quality fleet designed to delay any invasions until reinforcements from other European powers with similarly threatened colonies could arrive.[1]: 385  In 1914, the Navy planned for a large expansion of its fleets, concerned about Japanese naval expansion and the need to maintain Dutch neutrality during World War I. One major aspect of the plan was the Java-class cruiser, intended to outperform all comparable cruisers, especially those of Japan. The new Japanese Chikuma-class scout cruiser–with 5,000 long tons (5,080 t) displacement, eight 15 cm (5.9 in) guns and a top speed of 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph)–was used as a template for what the new design needed to surpass.[2]: 5,6,8 

The first two cruisers were ordered in 1915, however, Dutch naval architecture firms lacked experience with such ships. Instead, contracts for their design were offered to British and German companies. The contract was given to Germaniawerft who emphasized German technical assistance and German-made guns, turbines, and other equipment.[3]: 8 

Characteristics

When the ships were designed in 1915, the Navy believed they were the most powerful and modern cruisers in the world. Armed with ten Bofors Mk Six 15 cm (5.9 in) in single mounts–two on the bow, two on the stern, and three broadside guns on either side–the ships were the most well-armed of their kind.[4]: 10 [5]: 190  Anti-air weaponry consisted of two 7.5 cm (3.0 in) guns located below both masts, and four 12.7 mm (0.50 in) Vickers machine guns.[4]: 10  They had an overall length of 155.3 metres (509 ft 6 in), a beam of 16 m (52 ft 6 in), adraught of 6.1 m (20 ft 0 in), displacement of 6,776 tonnes (6,669 long tons) and were 8,339 t (8,207 long tons) at full load.[5]: 190 

As designed, the ships were powered by three turbines supplied by 8 boilers that provided 73,000 shaft horsepower (54,000 kilowatts) through three propellers for a top speed of 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph). Due to a bunkerage of 1,200 tons of oil, the ships had a cruising radius of 3,600 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph). The waterline belt was 7.5 cm (3.0 in) thick for most of the ships' length, which tapered to 5.0 cm (2.0 in) towards the stern. The armored deck was 2.5–5.0 cm (0.98–1.97 in), funnel uptakes 5.0 cm (2.0 in), bulkheads 60 mm (2.4 in), and the conning tower 12.5 cm (4.9 in) thick. The main guns were protected by gun shields which were 10.0 cm (3.9 in) at the thickest.[4]: 10 [5]: 190 

In addition, both cruisers had two depth charge rails with each rail being able to carry five depth charges.[6] Furthermore, they could also carry 36 mines aboard.[7]

Celebes, the third ship of the class, was intended to operate as the flagship of the East Indies Fleet and was about 3 m (9 ft 10 in) longer and 155 tonnes (153 long tons) heavier than the rest of her class.[5]: 190  After she was canceled, Celebes' role of flagship was filled with the commissioning of De Ruyter in 1936.[5]: 75,86 

Construction

The class's delays made the ships immediately outdated, most obvious in their relatively unprotected and underwhelming armament (image from Sumatra).

Reliance on foreign expertise soon backfired as the German arms industry buckled and collapsed as a result of World War I and resulting political unrest throughout Germany. Construction stalled as materials were delayed and some parts never arrived at all. After the war, the Dutch government questioned the need to build new, expensive, warships. As a result, the newly started Celebes was canceled and work on the other two ships was suspended. During the pause, the government explored alternative uses for the cruisers, including a proposal to convert them into English Channel ferries. Ultimately, the Navy successfully argued that completing the ships would be more cost-effective than abandoning them, and progress resumed in 1920. Both ships were launched over next year as parts were sourced from countries such as Great Britain and Sweden, although eight of the 15 cm (5.9 in) guns were found in a Krupp warehouse and were incorporated.[4]: 9-10  Construction was further delayed by a series of strikes, the newly introduced 8-hour work day, supply issues, and a fire that destroyed turbines intended for the future Sumatra. New turbines for the cruiser was sourced, which allowed her to produce 82,000 shaft horsepower (61,000 kilowatts).[8]: 73 [4]: 10 

The significant delays of her construction saw the ships outdated by the time she entered service, primarily regarding their armament. By 1922, the Washington Naval Treaty created a new standard of cruiser equipped with 203 mm (8.0 in) guns, which Japan heavily invested in. In addition, the single-barrel weapons protected by only gun-shields had already been replaced by enclosed, multi-gun turrets fed by independent magazines in other navies.[9]: 138 [10]: 10 

Sumatra in her original configuration which featured tall, slender, masts.

Modifications

Soon after the two ships entered service, they were fitted with two derricks and two floatplanes. Initially, the ships were equipped with the Fairey S.III, although it was fragile and replaced by the Fokker C.VII-w in 1927, itself later replaced by the Fokker C.XI-w in 1937.[5]: 190 [4]: 10  During the mid 1930s, the ships were refitted: the forward mast was rebuilt and shortened, and the anti-air weapons was expanded. Sumatra received 3 twin 4 cm (1.6 in) Bofors guns, while Java had two.[5]: 190 

Ships

Construction data[11]
Name Laid down Launched Commissioned Fate
Java 31 May 1916 9 August 1921 1 May 1925 sunk 27 February 1942
Sumatra 15 July 1916 29 December 1920 26 May 1926 scuttled 9 June 1944
Celebes — — — Cancelled 1919

Service history

Java

Java in the Dutch East Indies

After she was commissioned, Java sailed to the East Indies and visited several cities throughout East Asia and Oceania. In 1937, she returned to Europe to escort convoys through the Strait of Gibraltar during the Spanish Civil War and underwent a refit in 1938. At the start of World War II, she continued to escort convoys in Asia before she joined an allied fleet and participated in several attempts to repulse Japanese invasions of the East Indies. After several failed attacks, the cruiser was torpedoed and sunk while attempting to prevent the invasion of Java during the Battle of the Java Sea.[5]: 190-191 

Sumatra

Sumatra likewise operated with Java in the East Indies. Upon Java's return from her 1938 refit, Sumatra sailed to Europe where she also escorted convoys during the Spanish Civil War and served as a training ship. She was docked and awaited her own refit in May 1940 when the Netherlands was invaded by Nazi Germany. She then fled for the United Kingdom and was placed under the command of the British Royal Navy. The next month, she sailed for Canada to evacuate members of the Dutch Royal Family and later patrolled the Caribbean and mid-Atlantic for enemy raiders. Later that year, she returned to the East Indies, was retrofitted, and had her crew reassigned to other vessels. After war was declared against Japan, the cruiser fled Asia with only a portion of her crew and machinery online. She sailed around the world and arrived back to the United Kingdom. The Royal Navy viewed her as obsolete, and had her disarmed to replace worn-out weapons on other Dutch vessels and later had her sunk as a breakwater during the construction of an artificial harbors after the Invasion of Normandy.[5]: 191 [12]: 16,24 

Notes

Citations

  1. ^ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1922-1946. Internet Archive. US Naval Institute Press (January 18, 1980). 1980. ISBN 978-0-87021-913-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ^ Noppen, Ryan K. (2020). The Royal Netherlands Navy of World War II. New Vanguard Series. Paul Wright (1st ed.). London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. ISBN 978-1-4728-4191-9.
  3. ^ Noppen, Ryan K. (2020). The Royal Netherlands Navy of World War II. New Vanguard Series. Paul Wright (1st ed.). London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. ISBN 978-1-4728-4191-9.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Noppen, Ryan K. (2020). The Royal Netherlands Navy of World War II. New Vanguard Series. Paul Wright (1st ed.). London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. ISBN 978-1-4728-4191-9.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Whitley, M. J. (Michael J. ) (1995). Cruisers of World War Two : an international encyclopedia. London : Arms and Armour Press.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  6. ^ Mark 1997, p. 10.
  7. ^ von Münching 1978, p. 13.
  8. ^ van Oosten, F. C. (1 January 1974). Warship Profile 40: Her Netherlands Majesty's Ship De Ruyter. Profile Publications. ASIN B0007C1ABY. ISBN 9780853830627.
  9. ^ Cox, Jeffrey (2014). Rising Sun, Falling Skies: The Disastrous Java Sea Campaign of World War II. General Military. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. ISBN 978-1-4728-1060-1.
  10. ^ Noppen, Ryan K. (2020). The Royal Netherlands Navy of World War II. New Vanguard Series. Paul Wright (1st ed.). London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. ISBN 978-1-4728-4191-9.
  11. ^ Whitley 1996, p. 190.
  12. ^ Willigenburg, Henk van (2010). Dutch Warships of World War ll. Lanasta. ISBN 978-9086160815.

Sources

  • Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
  • Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
  • Mark, Chris (1997). Schepen van de Koninklijke Marine in W.O. II [Ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy in World War II] (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN 90-6013-522-9.
  • Van Willigenburg, Henk (2010). Dutch Warships of World War II. Emmen, the Netherlands: Lanasta. ISBN 978-90-8616-318-2.
  • von Münching, L. L. (1978). Schepen van de Koninklijke Marine in de Tweede Wereldoorlog [Ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy in the Second World War] (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN 90-6013-903-8.
  • Whitley, M. J. (1996). Cruisers of World War II: An International Encyclopedia. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 1-85409-225-1.

Further reading

  • Anten, J.; Klom, H. (2001). Hr. Ms. Kruisers 'Java' En 'Sumatra' [Hr. Ms. Cruisers Java and Sumatra] (in Dutch). Asia Maior. ISBN 9789074861182.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Java class cruiser.
  • Netherlandsnavy - Detailed breakdown of the class's equipment and ship histories
  • Nationaalarchief - Original blueprints for both ships and related equipment
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