The protection of the Dutch East Indies came into the spotlight at the end of the nineteenth century. Many countries began expanding their battle fleets. In 1887, two medium-sized Chinese battleships became operational and were considered superior to the Dutch defence. This led to a reassessment of the defence of the Dutch East Indies.[citation needed]
In April 1892, the foundations for modernisation were formulated by a committee consisting of three officers J.H. Kromhout, F.J. Haver Droeze and G. Kruys. Navy expert, rear admiral and Chief of the Naval Staff, Gerhardus Kruys advocated for new cruisers. In the second half of the 1890s the Holland class cruisers was built, as well as the almost identical second series, the Utrecht class.[citation needed]
Design
The design was derived from the British Apollo-classcruiser,[2] although it featured the more seaworthy form amidships of the Astraea class.[3] The first three ships of the class were 93.3 metres (306ft 1in) long while the last three were 94.7 metres (310ft 8in) long, had a beam of 14.8 metres (48ft 7in), a draught of 5.41 metres (17ft 9in), and had a displacement of 3,900 tons. The last three ships were slightly larger and displaced 133 tons more than the first three ships.[4] The ships were equipped with two shaft reciprocating engines, which were rated at 10,000ihp (7,500kW) and produced a top speed of 20 knots (37km/h). The ships had 5-centimetre (2.0in) deck armour.[5]
Armament
The main armament of the ships were two 15cm (5.9in) single quick firing guns, with one placed at the fore and one at the aft.[5] Secondary armament included six single 12cm (4.7in) guns and four 7.6cm (3.0in) single guns. In 1914-1915 refits, the 15 cm guns were removed from each ship and replaced with an additional four 12 cm single mounts.
In 1908 Friesland, Gelderland and the coastal defence ship Jacob Van Heemskerck were sent to patrol the Venezuelan coast during the second Castro crisis. Friesland and Utrecht were decommissioned in 1913 with the remaining four being modernized. During World War I all remaining ships were stationed in Dutch home waters.
Holland and Zeeland were decommissioned in 1920 and 1924 while Noordbrabant became an accommodation ship in 1920. A role she fulfilled until she was damaged during the German invasion in World War II. Gelderland became a training ship in 1920. She was captured by Germany in 1940, renamed Niobe and sunk in Kotka harbour in Finland on 16 July 1944.
Notes
↑ In the Dutch navy the ships where classified as "pantserdekschepen" literally translated: armored deck ships.
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