Dutch destroyer Hr. Ms. Wolf (1907) of the Roofdier-class
Hr. Ms. Kortenaer of the Admiralen-class
Hr. Ms. Kortenaer of the Admiralen-class
Destroyers were to be fitted out with oil-fuelled turbines machinery able to supply a continuous speed pg 30 miles and with a economic speed of around 15 miles a range of 5.000 nautical miles. The armament was to consist of 3-12cm guns with a complete fire control, 1-7,5cm anti aircraft gun, 2x2-53cm torpedo tubes and a depth charge launchers with as much depth charges as possible. The displacement was to be around 1.000 ton.
The commission suggested a needed number of 24 destroyers of which 12 destroyers within 6 years were to be available. Estimated building costs 54 million Dutch guilders. There was no hope that the 8 in the Dutch East Indies serving destroyers could be included in the number of 12. They were now too slow, insufficient coal bunker capacity for reconnaissance or offensive tasks and asked continuously for major repairs and a very adequate maintenance demanding an nearly unacceptable effort of the naval establishment to accomplish this needs.
The eight destroyers which the commission referred to were the Hr. Ms. Wolf, Fret, Bulhond, Jakhals, Hermelijn, Lynx. Vos and Panter based on a Yarrow design and belonging to the Roofdier- or Wolf class. Displacement 510 ton and as dimensions 70,5 x 6,6 x 2,8 metres. Their speed was 20 knots. The commission called their artillery very powerful regarded the small displacement but outclassed by the modern destroyers of the enemy without naming which enemy that was. The actual armament consisted of 4-7,5cm guns, 4 machineguns and 2-45 cm torpedo tubes. As soon as the destroyers of the new design were commissioned, were the old ones to be stricken although perhaps for some time still to be used as guard or patrol vessels.
A potential enemy was Japan which built for instance the Minekaza-class of 145 units with a displacement of 1.367 (norma)-1.680 (full load) tons, a speed of 39 knots and with an armament of 4-12cm Type 3 45cal guns, 2-7,7mm machineguns, 6-53 torpedo tubes and 20 mines.
The new destroyers built by the Royal Netherlands Navy were of the Admiralen-class, again using a British design (HMS Amazon and Ambuscade). There were eight built, all lost during the Second World War in the Dutch East Indies except for the Hr. Ms. Van Galen destroyed in May 1940 in the Netherlands. Displacement 1.680 tons, speed of 34 knots and a main armament of 4x1-12cm, 6-53,3cm torpedo tubes. The Hr. Ms. Piet Hein, Evertsen, Van Ghent and Kortenaer were further more armed with 3-7,6cm guns, 4-12,7mm machineguns and 24 mines. The Hr.Ms. Van Nes, Van Galen, Witte de With and Banckert with 1-7,6cm guns and 4-4cm 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.
