Shipbucket

Finaly done them all!!!! (templates follow)


Although the Netherlands still possessed colonies in the West and East Indies and a important merchant trade shipping decreased for a long period the navy budget. In 1919 the Dutch States General even seriously discussed to give up the navy! Nowadays again is a discussion going on what to do with the Dutch armed forces and what the effects will be of the still going retrenchments.

Until 1936 the Dutch navy had just two aged cruisers the Java and the Sumatra (German design), the third one the Celebes (whish was 3 meter longer) was never built, because the lack of money. In 1935 to 1936 there was build a new cruiser named De Ruyter, and new design whit high speed and light armament of 7, 15cm at 4 turrets She was named after the most famous Dutch sea hero Michiel Adriaansz de Ruyter. What nobody knew at that momeny was her final fate comparable with that of him. He was send by the Dutch States General with a fleet not competent enough for a war but still he obeyed his orders and went to die in a battle against the French. In 1942 rear admiral Karel Doorman did the same while attacking with his De Ruyter the Japanese fleet in the Java Sea knowing that his chances on success were almost nothing. The result is well known, he went down with his ship. The words “All ships follow me”, were in the Netherlands translated as “I attack follow me! It’s a real seaman with love for his country. The things whish are being said in the USA aren’t true, the Dutch and the Australians were the ones whish fight. The USS Houstin was trying to escap for the Japanese.

In the years that follow since 1936 a large navy program was set up but not realized before the outbreak of the Second World War. The projected three battle cruisers were never laid down, the flotilla leader/light cruiser Tromp was built and her sister ship Jacob van Heemskerck launched but two cruisers were just laid down. Like the De Ruyter were both ships designed by engineer G. ‘t Hooft. They were intended to serve in the Dutch East Indies.

In 1938-1939 there was a plan for cruisers too, they would have been larger then the De Ruyter and heavier armed with 10 152mm guns. When on stocks in 1940,when the German invade the country the ships were captured and were being finist by the Germans as training cruisers to be named KH-1 and 2. The De Ruyter was happen to have a Atlantik-bug, a German bow designed for high speeds in the Atlantic. In 1942 they sould have been finist but during the (setbacks) it wasn’t realised and they were not finist, they would have been used as blokships in 1944, but also that was not happen and after the war the hulks were find back undamaged and were being to finest still by the Dutch, but for home waters to serve in the NATO fleet. The Dutch asked help to the USN but they didn’t wanted to, because they said they will not have a use in the navy. The Dutch hold on his own wishes and asked the British. Later the British provided a cruiser design, based at war (revering) at Bath, but the design was not chosen and a second design being done together with the Dutch was not used as well though both designs were an impartment base for the final design. In 1952 the ships were doing trails and got some modifications to the bridge and mast before the commission in 1953.

One cruiser laid down by the Rotterdamsche Droogdok maatschappij was first called Kijkduin, then Eendracht and when laid down 19 May 1939 called De Ruyter. When finally finished and launched 22 august 1950 was she again renamed namely De Zeven Provinciën. She became later the Peruvian Almirante Aguirre, broken up not earlier as in 2000!The other cruiser was 5 September 1939 laid down at Wilton Fijenoord at Schiedam as the Zeven Provinciën! Her design was by the Germans altered slightly lengthened was she fitted out with a so-called Atlantic bow. In 1947 was she renamed De Ruyter and commissioned 18 November 1953. The drawing is of her appearance at that year.Nowadays she still exists and in actual service as the last heavy gun cruiser of the world with a hull aged 70 years! As the Peruvian Almirante Grau she still rules the waves, an example of Dutch shipbuilding!

The Dutch cruiser Kijkduin as planned: The Dutch Cruiser Eendracht as in Indie-camo style as proposed in 1939 for various ships: The De Ruyter as in 1946-47, a design from a British yard in Bath.

The De Ruyter as in 1952 during here last trials: The De Ruyter as commisioned in 1953: The De zeven Provincien as in 1949:

The De Zeven Provincien as in 1953: The De Zeven Provincien as in 1964: The De Zeven Provincien as in 1971:

Good work on these drawings Alvama !

Greetings.

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My motto:Per ardua ad astra (RCAF)
Current Drawings:
USS Midway CVB-41 and later alterations
HMCS Bonaventure CVL-22 and later alterations
Paul 2024

The Almirante Grau as in 1975:
The Almirante Grau as in 2010 And as finally in 2011

The Almirante Aguirre as in 1979: The Almirante Aguirre as in 1980: The Almirante Aguirre as in 2000:

The German KH-1 and KH-2

Absolutely beautiful! I always liked these but felt the replacement of the aft battery with Terrier or the helicopter hanger ruined their looks. It's also nice to see the German version, not that it was likely it would ever be completed.

what an amazing piece of work! Thanks for this! I just the wish that the ALMIRANTE GRAU could be returned to the Netherlands once she is finally retired, but somehow I think that the chances of that happening are very slim...

Beautifull drawings Alvama! However it would be usefull for all non-Dutch members to indicate which of the drawings represent the real-life ones, and the ones that where never built.

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“The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person who is doing it.”