- Java class cruiser
The "Java" class was a class of
light cruiser s of theRoyal Netherlands Navy , named after the island of Java in theDutch East Indies (nowIndonesia ). Originally, three ships were planned: HNLMS "Java", HNLMS "Sumatra", and HNLMS "Celebes". "Celebes" was intended to be theflagship 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 place).The class was designed by the
Germaniawerft inKiel , but constructed in theNetherlands . They were designed to counter theJapan ese reconnaissance cruisers of the "Chikuma" class of 1912, and therefore fitted with 10,150 mm (5.9 inch) guns. However, these were not turret-mounted, and by the time the cruisers were launched ("Sumatra" in 1920, "Java" in 1921), they had already become obsolete.Nonetheless, both "Sumatra" and "Java" were still active at the outbreak of
World War II .HNLMS Java
Designed in 1916 built in the
Schelde naval shipyards and launched on9 August 1921 , HNLMS "Java" was already old-fashioned by the time she was commissioned in 1925."Java" saw action, mostly as a
convoy escort, during theSpanish Civil War and during the early stages ofWorld War II .At the outbreak of war with Japan "Java" was in Indonesian waters where she formed part of the fleet of ABDA command. She fought in the
battle of Badung Strait in February 1942. During theBattle of the Java Sea on27 February 1942 , she was sunk by, reportedly, a Long Lancetorpedo from theJapan ese cruiser "Nachi" and went down with the loss of 500 crew.HNLMS Sumatra
HNLMS "Sumatra" also performed convoy duties during
World War II and transported part of theDutch Royal Family to safety inCanada , but due to problems with her propulsion she was unfit for combat duty.In the end "Sumatra" was scuttled off the coast of
Normandy on9 June 1944 atOuistreham as part of a "gooseberry" pier to protect an artificialMulberry Harbour built by the Allies as part ofOperation Overlord . "Sumatra's" 150 mm guns were used to replace the guns of theFlores class sloops , which were worn out by extensive use.External links
* [http://www.netherlandsnavy.nl/Javacl.html Java-class cruisers]
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