Hr. Ms. Flores
Hr. Ms. Soemba
A commissioned established by order of the Dutch minister of navy dated 29 May 1920 investigated the naval needs for defending the Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies. Except for the numbers the commission mentioned also the major demands for each type of vessel.
The commission suggested a needed number of four protected flotilla vessels of a modern design were to be built within 6 years. Building costs 14 million Dutch guilders. With a displacement of around 1.400 ton. The armour consisted of a 2,5-5,cm thick deck. The armament consisted of 2-15cm guns and 1-7,5cm anti aircraft guns. The speed was 12 (service)-14 miles (maximum) and a range of 5.000 nautical miles. Coal-fuelled machinery.
For service in the Dutch East Indies were the two cruisers Hr. Ms. Java and Sumatra available, built according to the German Germaniawerft-design but outdated due to the long period of building and the experiences of the First World War. Later in mid and end 1930’s were the cruiser Hr. Ms. Tde Ruyter and flotilla leader Hr. Ms. Tromp added to the Dutch naval force in the Dutch East Indies. There were finally two flotilla vessels built, namely the Hr. Ms. Flores (laid down 13 January 1925) and Soemba (laid down on 24 December 1924) of the Flores-class, with a displacement of 1.676 tons and armament of 3-15xm guns, 107,5cm gun, 4-12,7mm machineguns and 2-No. 4 machineguns. Their speed was 15 knots. The Hr. Ms. Flores and Soemba were nicknamed Terrible Twins in the British war press due to their furious and continuous shelling at several occasions causing even worn out of the barrels of ther guns.
Source
Uittreksel uit het rapport der commissie ingesteld bij beschikking van den minister van marine A.L. van 29 mei 1920 afdeling S.N. 60 published in 1921.
