This newspaper published an interesting item dealing with the naval forces in the Asiatic region at a moment that Japan and China were at war. According to the journalist were just the navies of the United Kingdom and the United States stronger as the Japanese navy. The latter navy consisted at that moment of 9 battleships, 6 aircraft carriers, 12 heavy and 22 light cruisers, 75 destroyers 1st class, 30 destroyers 2nd class, 8 torpedo boats and 34 submarines 1st class and 30 2nd class. Furthermore there was a large number of smaller vessels like minelayers, minesweepers, gunboats and special vessels available.
Compared with the Japanese navy was the Chinese navy in fact of no importance. There were no major units available and it consisted of nothing more as 8 light cruiser, 6 aged torpedo boats (1), 25 gunboats and some torpedo boats, guard ships and special vessels. Qua training and material was the Chinese navy not a match for the Japanese.
The item supplied also details dealing with the American, British, French and Russian navies and off course of the Dutch navy. The Netherlands had still to protect her important colony the Dutch East Indies [nowadays Indonesia] and had to divide her navy into two parts. One to defend the Netherlands (and no to forget the Dutch West Indies) and the Dutch East Indies. That year consisted the Dutch naval force in the Asiatic area of one aged coastal defence ship (the former De Zeven Provinciën (2)), 3 cruisers (Java, Sumatra and the new De Ruyter), 8 large and new destroyers (of the Admiralen-class) and 15 submarines (included 5 new ones) and further more a large number of minelayers, minesweepers, gunboats, MTB’s and special vessels.
Notes
1. In 1937 were at least the destroyers Chien Kang and Tung An both dating of 1912 in service although both were lost that year, the first was sunk on 27 September and the latter scuttled in August.
2. In fact was she not longer a coastal defence ship since the mutiny in 1933.
Compared with the Japanese navy was the Chinese navy in fact of no importance. There were no major units available and it consisted of nothing more as 8 light cruiser, 6 aged torpedo boats (1), 25 gunboats and some torpedo boats, guard ships and special vessels. Qua training and material was the Chinese navy not a match for the Japanese.
Dutch cruiser Hr.Ms. Java
Dutch coastal defence ship Zr.Ms. De Zeven Provincien
Notes
1. In 1937 were at least the destroyers Chien Kang and Tung An both dating of 1912 in service although both were lost that year, the first was sunk on 27 September and the latter scuttled in August.
2. In fact was she not longer a coastal defence ship since the mutiny in 1933.
