The Van Ghent was part of the so-called Admiralen-class with the dimensions 98,15 x 9,45 x 3,00m and a displacement of 1,316-1.680 (full load) tons. They were built after the drawing supplied by the British Yarrow yard and based on the design of the British experimental destroyers Ambuscade and Amazone. The 2 Parsons and 3 Yarrow boilers supplied 31.000 ahp and with 2 crews allowing a speed of 34 knots. The Hr. Ms. Piet Hein reached on her trial a speed of 36,1 knots by 34.000 aphp. Her crew numbered 143 men. She was armed with 4-12cm guns, 4-12.7mm machine guns, 2x3 53,3cm torpedo tubes, 4 launchers with 12 death charges and 2 launchers for 24 Vickers mines, the latter causing that the aft gun couldn't be used and also carried a V-type floating plane.
On stocks at the Koninklijke Maatschappij De Schelde at Vlissingen, Netherlands 28 August 1925, building number 179, launched 23 October 1926 and commissioned 31 May 1928. Call sign GT. In advance named De Ruyter but when this light cruiser was to be built, she was renamed Van Ghent. While entering the Stolze strait between Banca and Billiton she struck the reef of Bamidjo near the Lima islands position 03.05 longitude and 107.21 latitude and destroyed by her own crew after saving most of her inventory.
The HMS Amazon of 1,330 tons and dimensions 323 (over all) s 31'5" was launched at Thornycroft 27 January 1926 and broken up after 6 October 1948. She was armed with 4-4'7" guns, 1-3"gun and 6 torpedo tubes.
The HMS Ambuscade of 1.170 tons and dimensions 322 (over all) x 31'1"was launched at Yarrow 15 January 1926 and sold to broken up 23 November 1946. She was armed with 4-4.7"guns and 6 torpedo tubes.
