Shipbucket

(repost + more)

Although the Netherlands still possessed colonies in the West and East Indies and a important merchant trade shipping decreased for a long period the navy budget. In 1919 the Dutch States General even seriously discussed to give up the navy! Nowadays again is a discussion going on what to do with the Dutch armed forces and what the effects will be of the still going retrenchments.

Until 1936 the Dutch navy had just two aged cruisers the Java and the Sumatra (German design), the third one the Celebes (whish was 3 meter longer) was never built, because the lack of money. In 1935 to 1936 there was build a new cruiser named De Ruyter, and new design whit high speed and light armament of 7, 15cm at 4 turrets She was named after the most famous Dutch sea hero Michiel Adriaansz de Ruyter. What nobody knew at that momeny was her final fate comparable with that of him. He was send by the Dutch States General with a fleet not competent enough for a war but still he obeyed his orders and went to die in a battle against the French. In 1942 rear admiral Karel Doorman did the same while attacking with his De Ruyter the Japanese fleet in the Java Sea knowing that his chances on success were almost nothing. The result is well known, he went down with his ship. The words “All ships follow me”, were in the Netherlands translated as “I attack follow me! It’s a real seaman with love for his country.

In the years that follow since 1936 a large navy program was set up but not realized before the outbreak of the Second World War. The projected three battle cruisers were never laid down, the flotilla leader/light cruiser Tromp was built and her sister ship Jacob van Heemskerck launched but two cruisers were just laid down. Like the De Ruyter were both ships designed by engineer G. ‘t Hooft. They were intended to serve in the Dutch East Indies.

In 1938-1939 there was a plan for cruisers too, they would have been larger then the De Ruyter and heavier armed with 10 152mm guns. When on stocks in 1940,when the German invade the country the ships were captured and were being finist by the Germans as training cruisers to be named KH-1 and 2. The De Ruyter was happen to have a Atlantik-bug, a German bow designed for high speeds in the Atlantic. In 1942 they sould have been finist but during the (setbacks) it wasn’t realised and they were not finist, they would have been used as blokships in 1944, but also that was not happen and after the war the hulks were find back undamaged and were being to finest still by the Dutch, but for home waters to serve in the NATO fleet. The Dutch asked help to the USN but they didn’t wanted to, because they said they will not have a use in the navy. The Dutch hold on his own wishes and asked the British. Later the British provided a cruiser design, based at war (revering) at Bath, but the design was not chosen and a second design being done together with the Dutch was not used as well though both designs were an impartment base for the final design. In 1952 the ships were doing trails and got some modifications to the bridge and mast before the commission in 1953.

One cruiser laid down by the Rotterdamsche Droogdok maatschappij was first called Kijkduin, then Eendracht and when laid down 19 May 1939 called De Ruyter. When finally finished and launched 22 august 1950 was she again renamed namely De Zeven Provinciën. She became later the Peruvian Almirante Aguirre, broken up not earlier as in 2000!The other cruiser was 5 September 1939 laid down at Wilton Fijenoord at Schiedam as the Zeven Provinciën! Her design was by the Germans altered slightly lengthened was she fitted out with a so-called Atlantic bow. In 1947 was she renamed De Ruyter and commissioned 18 November 1953. The drawing is of her appearance at that year.Nowadays she still exists and in actual service as the last heavy gun cruiser of the world with a hull aged 70 years! As the Peruvian Almirante Grau she still rules the waves, an example of Dutch shipbuilding!

GREAT Development!

This is how all ships should be drawn -- in all their evolutions rendered with exquisite detail!

This thread is what Shipbucket is all about!

_________________
USN components, camouflage colors, & reference links (World War II only)

Very interesting to see the full development line, Well done and beautiful ships.

A little note to be added. When the germans occupied Holland in 1940 the 152mm L54 Turrets where under production at Bofors in Sweden. To protect the turrets from falling into german hands the governmet sized the turrets which where completed and nam 15cm kanon M/42 in Sweden. The turrets where used on the Ansaldo/ Götaverken designed last swedish cruisers HMS Tre Kronor and HMS Göta Lejon which served beween 1947-1964 and 1947-1971 when Göta Lejon was sold to Chile where her guns played an important part in Pinochets overthrow of power 1973. She was later scrapped i S. Corea 1986. Tre Kronor was scrapped already in 1964.

_________________
Dieu et mon droit
Solus dux nullus ductus

Worklist
All Royal Swedish Navy units from 1522 to present

Thankyou very much Colosseum! True honor to get this comment!

Very True Psilander! Stupid from me I didn't add it to my write up!