Computer line drawing by Alexander van Maanen
In the Dutch East Indies existed next to the Royal Dutch Navy the so-called Government navy with her own ships as survey vessels and ‘opium-hunters’ and cable-layers. In the twenties the old cable-layer Telegraaf was to be replaced. The Dutch Parliament didn’t agree at once due to the high building costs in a time of retrenchment. Finally the building was allowed. I used the local Dutch newspaper Vlissingse Courant to give an impression of what happened in these first years added by details coming from the papers of the Parliament.
Vlissingse Courant dated 25 September 1922. The shipyard Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Maatschappij at Amsterdam received from the Department of Colonies the order to build a cable ship for service in the Dutch East Indies and which was to be named Zuiderkruis. The main projected dimensions were 88,70 (over all) x 11,20 (maximum) x 6,75 (hold) meter. The engines were to be delivered by the Werkspoor plant. Navy engineers were responsible for the oversight.
Vlissingse Courant dated 28 September 1922. Mr. Van Dijk member of the Second Chamber of the States General asked the ministers of Colonies and Navy if the tidings was correct that the building of such a ship was ordered. The second question was if it correct was that according to the conditions some of the parts were to be produced in the United Kingdom although they also could be produced in the Netherlands. Third question was in which budget were the costs to be paid for this building approved.(1)
Vlissingse Courant dated 27 December 1922. Saturday 23 December was at the yard the passenger ship Swartenhondt launched. At the now being available slipway was the keel to be laid down of the Zuiderkruis.
Vlissingse Courant dated 19 November 1923. At Amsterdam was in the afternoon of 17 November with success the steel built Zuiderkruis launched. This was the first cable ship built in the Netherlands and to be used for cabling and repairing submerged cables in the Dutch East Indies. The main dimensions were similar to the ones mentioned in the news item dated 25 September 1922 added with that with a displacement of 2.612 tons her draught would be 4,20 meter. If necessary she could be armed with 2-15cm guns.
Vlissingse Courant dated Monday 11 February 1924. The trials at the North Sea at 7 and 8 February were successful. To store the cables were three large tanks built inside the ship. The cables were transported from these holds towards the fore and aft ship and via large drives laid down in sea. The cable engines were built by the firm Johnson and Philips at London, United Kingdom. Besides some cabins for the crew were arse some cabins and a saloon available for passengers. The ship was completely electrically lightened. The 2-800 ihp engines were built by the Werkspoor plant allowing a trial speed of more as 12,5 miles. She departed the same year to the Dutch East Indies where she was rebuilt in 1939 at Surabaya as a petrol tanker and supply ship and submarine depot ship serving with the Dutch Royal Navy. On the first day of the Battle in the Java Sea (28 February 1942) she escaped via Tjilatjap towards Trincomalee (Ceylon). Between 1 September 1943 and 1 April 1945 she served at Trincomalee as a supply vessel for the British Royal Navy including forBritish and Italian submarines). In 1945 she returned to the Dutch East Indies and was handed over to the Dienst van Scheepvaart and when the Dutch East Indies became the independent she was handed over to the new country Indonesia and renamed Bimasakti.
Notes
1. Parliament papers session1922-1923 No. 34. The minister of Colonies for himself and for the minister of Navy confirmed the building and using British parts. There wasn’t an approved budget, however the States General approved in principle the building of the ship. In the additional annual budget for 1920 and the annul budget for 1921 was a memory post included. Although it was intended not to begin immediately with the building it became necessary caused by the worse condition of the only available cable ship called Telegraaf. Her condition was so worse that keeping her in service longer as begin 1924 a real dangerous situation was created. The building of a new ship was too ordered as soon as possible to prevent eventually very high costs for hiring such a ship.
Parliament papers session 1922-1923 No. 2 VI sub no.20 Budget 1923 including answers to the questions of members of the States General. The Department of Navy didn’t accurate investigation if the parts which according to the conditions of the blueprint for the cable ship were to made in the United Kingdom couldn’t be made by Dutch factories. The minister of Colonies made when he answered Van Dijk clear that Dutch factories had all opportunity to deliver such as parts if the could prove that quality was similar to the British made parts. However the British factory had a long experience in producing needed parts and guaranteed her products completely. Just one Dutch factory sent a tender but it was clear their knowledge dealing with the composition and the functionality was not sufficient.
Session 1922-1923 no. 4 sub no. 10. The yard offered to build the ship for a lower prize as projected in the budget. In stead of ƒ 2.000.000,00 the costs were now ƒ 1.300.000,00.
Session 1923-1924. No. 291.17 Definitive account expenses Dutch East Indies over 1923 costs for the building as projected ƒ 910.000,00 in reality ƒ 909.003,00.
Session 1923-1924 no. 4 sub no. 8A Budget Dutch East Indies over 1924. Projected costs for the years 1923-1924 ƒ 1.625.000,00. (1923: ƒ 1.300.000,00 and 1924: ƒ 325.000,00).
Session 1923-1924 no. 4 sub no. 8E Budget Dutch East Indies over 1924 post 1018A projected costs building and voyage ƒ 300.000,00.
Session 1924-1926. No. 337.17 Definitive account expenses Dutch East Indies over 1924 costs for the building as projected ƒ 276.000,00 in reality ƒ 275.379,00.
Session 1926-1927 No, 5 sub no. I. Launched 17 November 1923 and arrived 1 June 1924 in the Dutch East Indies. Dimensions 87,20 x 11,20 x 4,3m and a displacement of 2.661 tons. Horsepower at the trials was 1.718 ihp and the maximum speed 12,5 miles. Bunker coal storage 422 M3 and the maximum service speed was 10 knots allowing a range of 4.666 nautical miles. Her crew consisted 1 April 1925 of 9 Europeans and 74 Inland personnel.
According to A.J. Vermeulen. Schepen van de Koninklijke Marine en die der Gouvernementsmarine 1814-1962 was she armed with 2-7,6cm guns, 2-20mm machine guns and 4-7.7mm machine guns.
