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Tuesday 13 September 2011

Dutch destroyer Hr.Ms. Kortenaer 1925-1942

Pencil drawing and text by Ron van Maanen



Computer drawing by Alexander van Maanen



The Kortenaer was part of the so-called Admiralen-class with the dimensions 98,15 x 9,45 x 3,00m and a displacement of 1,316-1.680 (full load) tons. They were built after the drawing supplied by the British Yarrow yard and based on the design of the British experimental destroyers Ambuscade and Amazone. The 2 Parsons and 3 Yarrow boilers supplied 31.000 ahp and with 2 crews allowing a speed of 34 knots. The Hr. Ms. Piet Hein reached on her trial a speed of 36,1 knots by 34.000 aphp. Her crew numbered 143 men. She was armed with 4-12cm guns, 4-12.7mm machine guns, 2x3 53,3cm torpedo tubes, 4 launchers with 12 death charges and 2 launchers for 24 Vickers mines, the latter causing that the aft gun couldn't be used. She also carried a V-type floating plane.'

On stocks by Burgerhout’s Scheepswerf and Machinefabriek at Rotterdam 24 August 1925, launched 30 June 1927 and commissioned 3 September 1920. Call signs KO and KN. Was sunk in the battle in the Java Sea when the Allied ABDA squadron commanded by the Dutch rear admiral Karel Doorman tried to stop the Japanese invasion fleet 27 February 1942. She sunk due to a torpedo fired by the Japanes cruiser Haguro around 43 miles South West of Bawean position 06.20 longitude and 112.05 latitude with 59 crewmembers killed.

The HMS Amazon of 1,330 tons and dimensions 323 (over all) s 31'5" was launched at Thornycroft 27 January 1926 and broken up after 6 October 1948. She was armed with 4-4'7" guns, 1-3"gun and 6 torpedo tubes.

The HMS Ambuscade of 1.170 tons and dimensions 322 (over all) x 31'1"was launched at Yarrow 15 January 1926 and sold to broken up 23 November 1946. She was armed with 4-4.7"guns and 6 torpedo tubes.