In his memorandum of explanation answered the Dutch minister of navy Roëll (1) the questions of several parliament members as a result of the discussions around the approval of the navy budget for 1900.(2) In his opinion (3) it was necessary to use the design of the French Forban-class for new torpedo boats large model. (4) The Dutch torpedo boats were not be used as a high sea boats, so a speed of 30 miles was not necessary. The Austrian Boa-class (5) built by Yarrow was more as sufficient for the Dutch territorial (coastal) waters. This type had a displacement of 140 tons, a speed of 24,5 (with a load of 44 ton)-26,75 (with load of 20 tons) miles and an armament of 3 torpedo guns and 2-4,7cm guns. The costs for such a boat completely fitted out for sea duty were ƒ 280.000, for the Forban-class ƒ 460.000. The torpedo boats small model were similar to type C mentioned in the plans van Van der Wijck.(6)
The results of the memorandum and discussions was that the building at Yarrow of the torpedo boats Ophir, Pangrano and Rindjani allowed by the navy budget for 1900. All three were laid down in 1900 and launched in 1901 with a displacement of 142,5 tons and as dimensions 46,48 x 6,5 x 1,27-2,39 metres, a horsepower varying between 1.739 (Ophir)-1.878 (Pangrano)-1.973 (Rindjani) ihp allowing a speed of 25,38-25,99-26,32 miles. They were armed with 2-5cm guns and 3 torpedo guns. Three almost similar torpedo boats ordered by the budget for 1901 were built at the Dutch shipyard Maatschappij voor Scheeos- en Werktuigbouw Fijenoord.
Notes
1. Jacob Alexander Roëll (8 August 1838 Amsterdam, Netherlands-10 July 1924 The Hague, Netherlands) had been himself a navy officer and former commander-in-chief of the navy forces in the Dutch East Indies. As member of the cabinet Pierson (27 July 1897-28 June 1901) succeeded he on 12 January 1998 Kornelis Eland as minister of navy. He was for the Royal Netherlands navy quite successful defending the wanted increase of the fleet and even more than in 1896 was decided.
2.. Kamerstuk tweede kamer 1899-1900 no. 2VI, sub nr. 2.
3. He referred to the discussion on page 6 of the memorandum of explanation budget 1897, zitting 1896-1897 2.no. 2.
4. The French sea-going torpedo boat Forban ordered to be built at Normand on 23 February 1893 was launched on 25 July 1895. The triple expansion engines and 2 Normand boilers delivered 3.260 ihp allowing a speed of 31,03 knots during her trials. The result was that worldwide navies were interested in this design, including the Royal Netherlands navy. With a displacement of 121 (normal)-150 (full load) tons were her dimensions44,00 x 4,64 x 1,35 metres. Her armament consisted of 2-14” (later 18”0 torpedo tubes and 2-3,7cm guns. Conway’s All the world’s Fighting Ships 1860-1905.
5. At Yarrow were in 1898-1899 four torpedo boats launched for the Austrian navy namely the Boa (August 1898), Python, Kigyo and Cobra with a displacement of 132 tons and as dimensions46,5 x 4,7 x 2,3 metres, indeed a speed of 24,5 knots due to the 2.000 ihp, a crew numbering 21 men and an armament consisting of 2-4,7cm quick firing guns and 3-45cm torpedo tubes. Conway’s All the world’s Fighting Ships 1860-1905.
6. Herman Marinus van der Wijck (26 May 1843 Djokjarta, Dutch East Indies-8 December 1932 Velp, Netherlands), just like other Dutch ministers of navy had he been a navy officer, Further more he had been secretary general at the department of navy. He was minister in the cabinet Roëll (9 May 1894-27 July 1897) and managed to persuade the Parliament approve the fleet plan of his predecessor Jansen from 1892. The minister president Joan Roëll was the brother of the minister of the navy Jacob Roëll.
