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Friday, 1 May 2020

Dutch light cruiser Hr.Ms. Java 1916-1942

Computer line drawing by Alexander van Maanen, 2011





Sunk during the battle at the Java Sea as part of an Allied squadron against the Japanese navy on 27 February 1942. Of her crew of 512 men on that moment on board died 491 men!

                                 
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 The ships were built based on a Krupp-design but in fact were both ships all ready outdated before they even were commissioned.

With a displacement of 6,670 tons were her dimensions 155,30 x 16,00 x 5,50 metres. The two turbines and eight boilers driven 3 screws supplied 72,000 ahp allowing a speed of 31 miles. The armour consisted of a 25-50mm deck, a 75mm belt while the conning tower was protected by 100-125mm. The armament consisted of 10-15cm guns, 4-40mm machineguns, 6-12,7mm machine guns and 2 rails for each 5 depth charges. Her crew numbered 525 men.

The photo below was published in the Dutch magazine De Prins dated 30 June 1917 page 303 and showed her lying at the yard.