Dutch guard ship Zr.Ms. Kortenaer 1844-1879

On stocks at the navy yard at Amsterdam in 1825 as ship of the line 2nd class the Jupiter, launched in 1833 and renamed in 1844 Kortenaer and served between 1856 and 1879 as guard ship at the Naval Institute at Willemsoord and used for exercising midshipmen until 1879 when she was year stricken.(1) With a displacement of. 3.000 tons were her dimensions 54,16 (between perpendiculars) x 14,60 x 6,46 (fore)-6,80 (in 1878)-7,12 (aft) and a depth of hold of 12,30 metres. As a sailing ship was her sail area 2.327 square metres. Armament as ship of the line 74 guns and as a guard ship 19 medium 30pdr guns. Her crew numbered 450 (guard ship)-650 (ship of the line) men. In the navy budget for 1878 was the condition of her hull reported as unfavourable, rigging and equipment were still usable.

Note
1. The Dutch newspaper Rotterdamsche Courant dated 9 July 1879 published an item dated Den Helder 5 June reported that the guard ship Kortenaer was to be broken up at the navy yard. Her figurehead was to be preserved as a memory of the last Dutch ship of the line. In the Parliament is this guard several times discussed. In the so-called Handelingen Tweede Kamer 1857-1858 dated 26 November 1857 discussed the minister of navy mr. Johannes Servaas Lotsij/Lotsy (31 May 1808 Dordrecht-4 April 1863 The Hague)  the value of the institute at Willemsoord while answering member of parliament Delprat. The latter wondered why the costs were so high of this institute and he referred to the temporarily account according the costs of the fitting out as guard ship were 60.000 Dutch guilders. It was already not a new ship and he was afraid that within ten years it had to be renewed with again high costs. And that for a ship according to Delprat only used as an accommodation for the night and the lunch. Practical exercises were not preformed on board while the rigging of such a large ship was too ‘restive’. For exercises was another vessel used. The minister made clear that the Kortenaer originally was not to be used as guard ship but the De Rhijn. When the Ajax at Hellevoetsluis was to be replaced was chosen for the De Rhijn. In the attachment to the Handelingen Tweede Kamer 1868-1869 2VI sub nr. 27 was reported that she was aged and in worse condition although probably still suitable to serve for several years. In the discussion for the navy budget for 1857on 6 December 1856 said Delprat that she was valued to have a worth of 600.000 Dutch guilders. In the navy budgets for 1846 and 1847 was a report available of the Dutch navy dated 1 January 1945 indicating that she was then already in a worse condition. On 1 July 1843 was reported that she needed extensive repairs although her fitting out was nearly completed. On 1 January 187 was reported that she was placed in conservation put probably in unfavourable condition. The navy budget for 1852 (Handelingen Tweede Kamer 1851-1852 II VIII sub nr 87) mentioned that she was completely decayed and for coal hulk was no place in a navy. Built by P. Schuijt jr. The Nederlandsche Staatscourant dated 29 June 1833 arrived the 26th at the navy yard at Den Helder coming via the Noord-Hollands Kanaal. It was recently launched at Amsterdam.