The Dutch monitors 2nd class consisted of several vessels. There were five deckhouse monitors namely Heiligerlee, Krokodil, Cerberus, Bloedhond and Tijger. Even these ships were not totally similar to each other, so was the hull shape of the Cerberus the sharpest but her draught the largest.
The ram monitors Hyena, Panter, Haai (1), Wesp and Adder. With ram bow and armoured hatches on the deck across the lifted turret fired, with a less draught and less vulnerable but less suitable for open sea. The latter fact was made clear with the disaster with the Adder with no survivors on 5 July 1882 off Scheveningen. Because their hold was smaller and lacking deckhouses was the crew accommodation less convenient compared with the deckhouse monitors.
The ram monitor Luipaard built according to the project 1875 design using comments of commanding officers of earlier monitors in which all entrances in the deck were closed before the battle and the accommodations for the sailors ventilated via mechanical means.. Armoured structures and deckhouse aft were preserved.
She was laid down at the navy yard at Amsterdam on Saturday 30 November 1867, launched in the afternoon of 14 January 1869, on 7 July 1870 were her trials on IJ and 13 days was she commissioned, 1882 extensively repaired at the navy yard at Amsterdam, in 1886 again repairs at the navy yard at Amsterdam including improving of the ventilation in the turret, in 1889 fitted out with quick firing guns, electric light and her conning tower lifted and decommissioned on 21 June, 1892 fitted out at the shipyard Nederlandse Stoomboot Maatschappij Rotterdam with two boilers manufactured at the shipyard Kon. Mij. De Schelde at Flushing, Netherlands, decommissioned in 1905 (since 3 January replaced by the Heiligerlee as guard ship at Amsterdam) was she on 23 May at Amsterdam 1906 sold to be broken up for ƒ 31.500 to the Dutch firm G.B. Pas&Zn. at Bolnes who offered the most of the 12 interests (lowest bid of ƒ 14.800). The Cerberus was called a 2nd class monitor or a so-called deckhouse monitor.
In the papers of the Tweede Kamer of the Dutch Parliament 1899-1900 is for instance a interesting paper dated 14 December 1889 dealing with the (insufficient) Dutch naval strength compared with the British. The still existing Dutch monitors except for the Reinier Claeszen (2) were old iron vessels with an armour just strong enough to protect against stones thrown by evil intent. A British magazine even wrote full joy that their names were mighty and deterrent although for instance the Cerberus could not growl anymore.
Dimensions 54,80 (between perpendiculars)-56,60 (over all without rudder) x 13,33 (outside the armour) 2,85 (maximum fore loaded)-2,95 (maximum aft loaded) and a hold of 3,06 (double below the girders)-4,08 (keel fond to upper side deck amidships) metres. Displacement 486 (launching)-1.530 tons. Height of the fond of the gun ports 1,51 metres above the water level. The main armament consisted of 2 forced iron rifled 23cm Armstrong guns each with a weight of 12.300 kg. Since 1882 armed with 1-28cm Krupp gun, 1-7,5cm Krupp gun, 2-3,7cm and 2-3,7cm revolver guns. The armament consisted of a 11,4-14cm thick belt, a 2,5-12,5cm thick deck while the gun turret and conning tower were protected by respectively 20,3-28cm and 14cm thick armour. Fitted out with 2-2 cylinder engines and 2-30 atmosphere boilers which were to deliver 630 hp driving 2-3 bladed screws. Coal bunker capacity 90 tons of 1,25 cubic metres. During her trial on 7 July 1870 was her draught 2,48 (fore)-2,88 (aft) metres and with 113 rpm of the screws and 617,5 ihp was a speed of miles achieved.
Her crew numbered 113 men.
Notes
1. See for this ship the link http://warshipsresearch.blogspot.nl/2011/11/dutch-rammonitor-2nd-class-zrms-haai.html
2. See for this ship the link http://warshipsresearch.blogspot.nl/2013/05/dutch-ram-monitor-2nd-class-monitor.html
Sources
Several Dutch newspapers
B.J. Tideman. Memoriaal van de Marine.
Staten-Generaal Digitaal (digitized papers of the Dutch Parliament)
Dutch magazine Het Marineblad
