Holland-class cruiser

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HNLMS Noord-Brabant (1900).jpg
HNLMS Noordbrabant
Class overview
NameHolland class
Builders
Operators
Preceded by Koningin Wilhelmina der Nederlanden
Succeeded by Java class
Built1895–1901
In commission1898–1944
Completed6
Lost1
Retired5
General characteristics
Type Protected cruiser
Displacement
  • 3,900 tons (first 3 ships)
  • 4,033 (last 3 ships)
Length
  • 93.3 m (306 ft 1 in) (first 3 ships)
  • 94.7 m (310 ft 8 in) (last 3 ships)
Beam14.8 m (48 ft 7 in)
Draught5.41 m (17 ft 9 in)
Propulsion10,000 ihp (7,500 kW), two shafts
Speed20 knots (37 km/h)
Complement324
Armament
  • 2 × 5.9 in (15 cm) (2 × 1)
  • 6 × 4.7 in (12 cm) (6 × 1)
  • 4 × 3 in (7.6 cm) (4 × 1)
  • 4 × 1pdr (4 × 1)
  • 2 × 45 cm (18 in) torpedo tubes
Armour5 cm (2.0 in) deck

The Holland class was a class of six protected cruisers [lower-alpha 1] of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The class was built in two groups, each consisting of three ships.

Contents

Design

The design was based on the British Apollo-class cruiser, although it featured the more seaworthy form amidships of the Astraea class. [1] The first three ships of the class were 93.3 metres (306 ft 1 in) long while the last three were 94.7 metres (310 ft 8 in) long, had a beam of 14.8 metres (48 ft 7 in), a draught of 5.41 metres (17 ft 9 in), 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. [2] The ships were equipped with two shaft reciprocating engines, which were rated at 10,000 ihp (7,500 kW) and produced a top speed of 20 knots (37 km/h). The ships had 5-centimetre (2.0 in) deck armour. The main armament of the ships were two 5.9 in (15 cm) single guns. Secondary armament included six single 4.7 in (12 cm) guns and four 3 in (7.6 cm) single guns. In 1914-1915 refits, the 5.9 in guns were removed from each ship and replaced with an additional four 4.7 in single mounts.

Construction

The class was built in two groups each consisting of three ships. The ships were laid down at Rijkswerf in Amsterdam, Koninklijke Maatschappij de Schelde in Flushing and Nederlandsche Stoomboot Maatschappij in Rotterdam.

NameLaid downLaunchedCommissionedDecommissionedBuilder
First group
Holland 18954 October 18961 July 18981920Rijkswerf, Amsterdam
Zeeland 189520 March 18971 June 18981924Koninklijke Maatschappij de Schelde, Flushing
Friesland 18954 November 189616 January 18981913Nederlandsche Stoomboot Maatschappij, Rotterdam
Second group
Gelderland 1 November 189728 September 189815 July 190017 May 1940Nederlandsche Stoomboot Maatschappij, Rotterdam
Noordbrabant 31 August 189717 January 18991 March 190017 May 1940Koninklijke Maatschappij de Schelde, Flushing
Utrecht 189714 July 18981 March 19011913Rijkswerf, Amsterdam

History

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.

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.

On 19 October 1900 Gelderland transported Paul Kruger to Europe during the Second Boer War. Holland together with Koningin Wilhelmina der Nederlanden and the Evertsen-class coastal defence ship Piet Hein were sent to Shanghai to defend Dutch interests during the Boxer Rebellion. Holland and Zeeland together with the coastal defence ships Hertog Hendrik, Koningin Regentes and De Ruyter assisted the KNIL during the Aceh War.

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

  1. ↑ In the Dutch navy the ships where classified as "pantserdekschepen" literally translated: armored deck ships.

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References

  1. ↑ "netherlandsnavy.nl" . Retrieved 2011-02-15.
  2. ↑ "steelnavy.com" . Retrieved 2011-02-15.

Bibliography

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