Java-class cruisers
These cruisers were meant to become the backbone of the cruiser weapon in the Dutch Indies. The greatly resembled the German battlecruisers of the same era, which was not remarkable as the German Germaniawerft produced the design. The ships were fitted with 10 x 5.9 inch guns behind shields, sufficient to counter their designed opponents, the Japanese reconnaissance cruisers of 1912. The idea was that they would clear the seas of light forces, so the submarines could attack enemy invasion convoys and capital ships.
Due to various reasons, they were completed long after the projected date, and by that time, not a navy in the world had their guns mounted behind shields. Two cruisers were built, the Java and Sumatra, and a third was planned, the Celebes. The latter was slightly bigger as she was planned as the flagship of the Commander of the NEI squadron, but she was never completed. Only 30 tons of material had been prepared before the contract was cancelled. She would have been 155 tons larger and 3 metres longer. The Sumatra especially had to overcome great difficulties with her machinery. By WW II, most of the problems had been solved, but she wasn't really suited for frontline duty anymore.
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| Java seen from the stern after 1937/1938 rebuild |
| Construction details | |||
| Name | Java | Sumatra | Celebes |
| Design | Germaniawerft, Kiel | ||
| Dockyard | Koninklijke Mij De Schelde (Vlissingen) | Nederlandse Scheepsbouw Mij (Amsterdam) | Wilton Feijenoord (Schiedam) |
| Dockyardnumber | 165 | 148 | - |
| Laid down | May 31, 1916 | July 15, 1916 | - |
| Launched | August 6, 1921 | December 29, 1920 | - |
| Commissioned | May 1, 1925 | May 26, 1926 | - |
| Dockyard Nr | 165 | 148 | - |
| Status | History | History | Contract for construction approved on June 14 1917. Expected launch date July 1 1921. Thirty tons of material already prepared was scrapped. |
| Specifications | ||
| Java | Sumatra | |
| Displacement | 6670 tons standard/ 8078 tons full load | |
| Crew | 526 (35 officers, 54 petty officers, 437 men) | |
| Dimensions | 155,30 (oa) 153 (pp) x 16,00 (max) x 6,22 max (metres) | |
| Main Battery | 10 x 150 mm No. 6 (10 x 1) | |
| AA-battery* | 8 x 40 mm Bofors No. 3 (4 x 2) 8 x .50 Browning MG |
6 x 40 mm No. 1 (6 x 1) 8 x .50 Browning MG |
| Fire control system | Hazemeyer | |
| ASW | 10-12 depthcharges | |
| Radar | - | |
| Other | 2 Fokker C-11W aircraft with crane 1 smokemachine 36 mines** |
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| * They had 4 x 75 mm L/55 semi-automatic No.4 as completed, but they were removed during later refits. ** Rails removed during 1935 refit. |
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| Armour details | |
| Belt | 75 mm |
| Deck | 25 mm horizontal 50 mm (inclined, connecting deck with belt) |
| Conning tower | 125 mm |
| Shields | 100 mm |
| Propulsion details | |
| Boilers | 8 Schultz-Thornycroft |
| Machinery | 3 Parsons turbines (Java) 3 Zoëlly turbines (Sumatra)* |
| Performance | 73.000 shp (Java) 82.000 shp (Sumatra) |
| Shafts | 3 |
| Bunkerage | 1126 tons (normal) 1176 tons (max) |
| Range | 5000 miles @ 12 knots (design) 4340 miles @ 10/11 knots (actual) |
| Max Speed | 31 knots |
| * After a fire on the dockyard which destroyed her machinery, Sumatra received Zoëlly turbines with toothrads. These were replaced by Parsons turbines in her 1933-1935 overhaul. | |
Related Links |
| Java-class cruisers photo special |
Anyone interested in a detailed description of this class should purchase the book "Hr.Ms. Kruisers Java en Sumatra" by J. Anten
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