Eendracht-class cruisers

The ships of this class were meant to replace the old Java-class cruisers in the defence of the Dutch Indies. Orginally they had a main battery of 8 x 5.9 inch guns, but such an armament wasn't powerful enough in comparison with the modern cruisers built by the other navies. They were redisigned instead, being equipped with 10 guns and a modern AA-battery of 40 mm Bofors guns. The Germans found these ships at the dockyards after May 1940, but the construction was only in an early stage. Although the Germans planned to complete them as the trainingcruisers KH 1 and KH 2, the dockyards' capacity was put to other use, so the construction only advanced very slowly. In 1944, the Germans decided to block several ports with blockships, and the Zeven Provinciën was launched ( with the German atlantic bow ) to block the Nieuwe Waterweg. Fortunately, she was never used this way, both ships could be completed both war. The design however was modified several times, now implementing the lessons learned in the war. This meant that the ships didn't look like the original design at all, that displacement and dimensions were increased and appeared to be better ships. Originally, they were in fact a enlargement of the smaller cruiser De Ruyter, which was sunk in the Battle of the Javasea. Commissioned by the Dutch since 1953, the ships were bought by the Peruvian navy in the seventies, and are now approaching the end of their careers.

Click to enlarge Preliminary design of 1947
Click to enlarge Post-1972 look of these cruisers

Construction details
Name De Ruyter
Ex-Zeven Provinciën
Zeven Provinciën
Ex-Eendracht
Ex-Kijkduin
Dockyard Wilton Fijenoord, Schiedam Rotterdamsche Droogdok Mij, Rotterdam
Laid down September 5 1939 May 19 1939
Launched December 24 1944 August 22 1950
Commissioned November 18 1953 December 17 1953
Dockyard number 670 219
Pennants KH-1 (Kriegsmarine)
KL-3
C-801
KH-2 (Kriegsmarine)
KL-4
C-802
Status Decommissioned October 12 1972, stricken January 26 1973. Commissioned in Peruvian Navy May 23 1973 as Almirante Grau. Still in service as Almirante Grau Decommissioned October 16 1975, stricken June 6 1976. Transferred to Peruvian Navy August 17 1976 as Almirante Aguirre. Decommissioned 1999 and laid up. Scrapped 2000.

Specifications
Design Kriegsmarine design As completed
Displacement 8350 t standard 9725t standard/11930 tons full load
Crew 800 973
Dimensions 185,70 (oa) x 17,25 (max) x 5 m 187,3 (oa)x17,25 (max)x5,64m (mean)
Armament 10 x 150 mm L/53 Bofors
12 x 40 mm L/60 Bofors
8 x .50 MG
6 x 21" torpedo tubes
2 aircraft
12 x 150 mm L/55 C/28
12 x 37 mm C/38
2 Arado Ar.196 floatplanes
8 x 152 mm
8 x 57 mm
8 x 40 mm

Armour details
Upper Deck 20 - 25 mm
Lower Deck 20 - 25 mm
Belt 100-75 mm
Conning tower 50 - 100 mm
Barbettes  

Propulsion details
Design As completed
Boilers 6 Yarrow 4 Yarrow
Machinery Parsons geared turbines Parsons geared turbines
Performance 78000 shp 82500 shp
Max speed 32 knots 32 knots
Bunkerage 1750 t  
Range 7000 nm @ 12 knots
5000 nm @ 15 knots
 
Shafts 3 2

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