HMS Hogue
Hr.Ms. Noord-Brabant
An item reported that the British 1st class cruiser HMS Hogue visited Sabang, Dutch East Indies on 22 December 1904.(1)
Note
1. Part of the Cressy-class armoured cruisers, preceded by the Diadem-class and succeeded by the Drake-class. Laid down July 1898 and launched 13 August 1910 at Vickers Yard Limited., Barrow and completed November 1902 . Sunk by the German submarine U-29 22 September 1914 together with her sister ships Cressy and Aboukir in the North Sea as part of the 7th Cruiser Squadron. With a displacement of 12,000 tons and dimensions 472’x 69’6” 27’. Her 2x triple expansion steam engines delivered 21.000 hp allowing a speed of 21 knots. Her main armament consisted of 2-9’2”guns and 12-6’ guns added by 13-12pdrs, 3-3pdrs and 2 submerged 18” torpedo tubes. The Dutch newspaper Soerabaijasch handelsblad dated 2 January 1905 reported that she came for bunkering. Sabang was at that moment a important coal depot station. The Dutch newspaper Bataviaasch nieuwsblad dated 9 January 1905 referred to tidings received from Sabang that at sunrise on the 22nd a large warship was sighted bound for the Sabangbaai. She arrived around 07.00 o’clock and was the British armoured cruiser 1st class Hogue with a displacement of 12.000 tons and 4 funnels. Salutes were exchanged with the Dutch squadron in the Sabangbaai. At 14.00 o’clock departed the Hogue already and was later sighted off Weh. The Dutch squadron consisting of the protected cruisers Gelderland, Utrecht en Noord-Brabant and torpedo boats was at that moment combat ready. The Dutch government was afraid that Japanese or Russian warships would disrespect the Dutch neutrality. At that moment were the Japanese and Russian empires involved in a war.
Source
Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemacht 1904-1905.
