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Amsterdam Class ''Light Seaplane Carrier Cruiser''
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Author:  Vossiej [ October 26th, 2010, 9:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Amsterdam Class ''Light Seaplane Carrier Cruiser''
I've got an interesting one today,
Yesterday I stumbled upon a photograph from a ship that looked like a sort of hybride cruiser-seaplane carrier, later I found out
this was the HMS Gotland, one of the first in his class. Now ofcourse I was thinking on Dutch-navy therms and I figured, since seaplanes
have always played a big role in the Dutch East Indies, the navy would greatly apriciate such a ship. So here's a little background story:

1930
The Dutch navy gives the order to design a ship capable of carrieng at least 3 seaplanes for a longer period of time at sea
while able to protect itself.

1932
The final design for the HMNLS Amsterdam is completed. The design incorporated features learned from the Sumatra class cruisers
and is equipped with a total of 6 single 6'' guns, 8 40mm AA-guns and several lighter weapons.

1932
The built is prosponed due to new budget cuts within the Dutch armed forces.

1935
Construction has been given a go and finally The Scheldt starts on building the first ship, HMNLS Amsterdam.

1936
Construction on the second ship, HMNLS Rotterdam is underway.

1937
Massive workers-strikes break out because of low wages and bad working conditions

1939
The HMNLS Amsterdam is being launched on December 6th after 4 years of setbacks.

1940
War breaks out in Europe and the Netherlands is occupied by the German armed forces. The HMNLS Amsterdam, still uncompleted,
makes her way to England, together with a large number of other uncompleted naval ships. The HMNLS Rotterdam is blown up in
her drydock at 40% completed (to prevent of being captured), 2 weeks before she would have been launched.

1941
The HMNLS Amsterdam is fitted out in Porthsmouth with the aid of the British goverment, this was mainly because they wanted the ship
to be stationed in the English Channel, to protect merchant shipping from enemy submarines. The HMNLS Amsterdam was very suited for
this task as she carried anough armament to take out surface targets, as well as submarines with her 7 Seaplanes.

[ img ]
Picture shows as she was finished in October 1941. The final design was a great improvement on the original design, dubbeling her aircraft capacity as well as her armament. The final lay-out was:
*up to 11 floatplanes (2 stored on catapults, one stored in the middle outside, space for 8 planes in the hangar)
*6 Mk XXI 6'' dual guns (2x3)
*10 Mk XIX 4'' dual AA-guns (5x2)
*8 Bofors 40mm Hazemeyer AA-guns
*up to 16 Oerlikon 20mm AA-guns
Author:  Novice [ October 26th, 2010, 10:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Amsterdam Class ''Light Seaplane Carrier Cruiser''
Very nice Vossiej.
I presume the 40mm are at the stern near the 4" gun? If so than what you have there are single 40mm. The Hazemeyer mounting can be found Here.
Also remember the reconstruction of the Jaacob Van Heemskerk (the Tromp sister ship).
The RN would re-arm the ship with British equipment (apart from the Hazemeyer) and would probably make this shis a small cruiser with single 6"/50 XII on CPXIV mounting (5 or 6 mountings all told), as the RN had many of these lying around (removed from C and D class cruisers), or they would re-arm her like the Jaacob Van Heemskerk as AA cruiser.
Remember that launching float-planes from ships was going outof fashion by 1940-1941
Author:  Finfan [ October 26th, 2010, 11:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Amsterdam Class ''Light Seaplane Carrier Cruiser''
Vossiej wrote:
to be stationed in the English Channel, to protect merchant shipping from enemy submarines.
I don't know if it happened IRL, but this doesn't make any sense. This sort of ship works for this when there aren't airfields nearby (not a problem in the english channel). Thats why such a ship makes sense in the Dutch East Indies, but in Europe its just a really ineffective scouting platform asking for a torpedo.
Author:  Rhade [ October 27th, 2010, 4:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Amsterdam Class ''Light Seaplane Carrier Cruiser''
Outstanding job Vossiej.
Quote:
I presume the 40mm are at the stern near the 4" gun? If so than what you have there are single 40mm.
Dutch ships use twin mount Bofors AA gun, model used by Vossiej should be good ... or not ?
Author:  Vossiej [ October 27th, 2010, 5:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Amsterdam Class ''Light Seaplane Carrier Cruiser''
Yes those are indeed 40mm guns, and directed by hazemeyers, but the directories itself aren't mounted on the weapon itself, but instead they can be found midships near the funnels. About the seaplanes, I believe they specially built MAC carriers to solve the submarine problem, so any ship like this would be more than welcome.
Author:  Novice [ October 27th, 2010, 6:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Amsterdam Class ''Light Seaplane Carrier Cruiser''
Cam ships were Catapult Armed Merchantship. They had a catapult for a fighter, Usually Hawker Hurricane, which was launched to attack the "Condor" FW200 German bomber. This was usually in the middle of the Atlantic, where land-based aircraft couldn't reach - The Atlantic Gap. this problem was solved with the escort carriers.
The CAM launched aircraft usually had to ditch in the water, and the pilot had to hope that someone saw him, so he could be rescued (BTW many were not).
The Hazemeyer mounting was a tri-axled stabilized mounting with is radar director on-board the mounting, and for that reason was so unique, and was adopted by the RN (only in 1943-1944, even though they had the mounting since 1940).
Author:  acelanceloet [ October 27th, 2010, 8:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Amsterdam Class ''Light Seaplane Carrier Cruiser''
the only thing I miss on board is some sort of hangar where you can do maintenance to the planes. if this is not on board, the ship is a lot less independent from the shore
Author:  Ashley [ October 27th, 2010, 12:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Amsterdam Class ''Light Seaplane Carrier Cruiser''
I like those multi purpose ships anyway. The ship looks somehow weird, like someone said 'oh look, we have that cruise left, let's try something new...' Cool vessel!

But I need my fly in the soup...
Wouldn't the blast of th aft turret damage the aircraft? If this is a 'usual' cruiser hull there's no place left to hide the planes.
Between those nice Fokkers there is a Spitfire floatplane. That craft had an enlarged fin where the tail wheel had been.

May I steal one for my Kriegsmarine '46?
Author:  BrockPaine [ October 27th, 2010, 1:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Amsterdam Class ''Light Seaplane Carrier Cruiser''
Very interesting.

From the looks of the catapult, it's on the side of the ship. Is that correct? Gotland's catapult was amidships, like a turntable, at least if my sources are to be believed.

Were I designing it I'd probably arrange the 6" guns all-forward, but that's my preference (and the Swedes didn't agree). Interestingly, the Gotland carried two more casemate (!) guns beneath the bridge and aft of A turret. So far as I'm aware, it was the last use of casemate guns on a completed major warship.
Author:  Vossiej [ October 27th, 2010, 1:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Amsterdam Class ''Light Seaplane Carrier Cruiser''
Thanks for all the comments so quickly people, indeed it is somewhat strange design.
About the guns, I think it was the same thing as on the HMS Gotland, which also
mounted a 6'' gun near the catapult, even with it's barrels hanging over the catapult.
You'll just need one plane in the air before you can fire the second main gun, which
would have been the case if the ship needs to fire her guns. I also continued with the
rest of her history.

1941.
The HNLMS Amsterdam is assigned to patrol the waters east of Ireland to
search and destroy German wolfpacks. Later the same year the RAF loaned out two
Spitfire Floatplanes to the Royal Netherlands Navy to be used for air-defence.

1942.
The HNLMS Amsterdam was relieved from her patrol duyties and was immidiatly reassigned
to the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command in January 1942 for the defence of the
Dutch East Indies. The ship managed to escape the massacre with only light damage and
made her way to Australia.

1943.
After repairs and remodelling the HNLMS Amsterdam, together with the HNLMS Tromp, joined
the British Eastern Fleet.

1944.
The HNLMS Amsterdam participated in Operation Diplomat, a training exercise, took place in late March.
Later that year an airborne attack by the Eastern Fleet (including aircrafts from HNLMS Amsterdam) on Sabang,
off Sumatra was executed . Surprise was achieved: military and oil installations were heavily damaged by the attacks,
aggravating Japanese fuel shortages.

1945.
The ship participated with an attack on oil refineries at Pangkalan Brandon in Sumatra (Operation Lentil), and returned to European
waters in late January. The ship arrived in Portsmouth in February and was again assigned patrolling duyties in the English Channel.
As the war in europe came to a close, the HNLMS Amsterdam was one of the first ship to be re-commisioned in the Royal Netherlands
Navy.
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