Dutch Parliament wondered if the cruiser Hr.Ms. Sumatra was worth to be repaired according to the Dutch newspaper Soerabaijasch handelsblad dated 16 March 1940

An item dated The Hague, Netherlands 14^th referred to a discussion in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament about the proposal increase of the defence budget 1940. Doubt was if the cruiser Hr. Ms. Sumatra (1) which was used for training purposes was worth the costs for repairing her. In the opinion of several parliament members were the costs far too high and wondered why she was called aged while she newer was than the Hr.Ms. Java. (2) Another question was if the accident on the Dutch East Indies could be blamed to her less suitability.

Notes

1. Laid down at the yard of the Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Maatschappij at Amsterdam on 15 July 1916, launched 19 December 1920, scuttled as a block ship off Quistreham, France as part of an artifical harbour which was never realized. The wreck was sold in February 1951 to Persia [Iran] to be broken up. Due to lacking material caused by the First World War, enough budget and the loss of her turbines by fire was her launching and completion delayed.

2. Laid down at the Koninklijke Maatschappij De Schelde at Flushing, Netherlands on 31 May 1916, launched on 9 August 1921 and lost on 27 February 1942 during the battle in the Java Sea. Due to lacking material caused by the First World War and enough budget was her launching and completion delayed. After the approval of the budget for 1919 was the building of the Java and her sister ship Sumatra continued. During the trials in June-July 1924 suffered she from fire. Despite the damage were the trials very successful and afterwards was she finally repaired. Commissioned on 1 May 1925. The ships were built based on a Krupp-design but in fact were both ships all ready outdated before they even were commissioned.