Dutch 1913 battleship proposal
Three of the proposed designs: Germania's is on top, followed by Blohm & Voss' and Vickers'.[1]
| |
Class overview | |
---|---|
Operators | Koninklijke Marine (intended) |
Preceded by | None |
Succeeded by | None |
Planned | 4 (9 originally proposed) |
Completed | 0 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Dreadnought battleship |
Displacement |
|
Length | 184 m (604 ft) wl[2] |
Beam | 28 m (92 ft)[2] |
Draft | 9 m (30 ft) maximum[2] |
Propulsion | Three shp giving a top speed of 22 knots (25 mph; 41 km/h); 2,400 t (2,400 long tons; 2,600 short tons) of fuel |
Endurance | At least 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km)[3] |
Complement | Approx. 860[3] |
Armament | |
Armor | |
Notes | Specifications given above are for the Germania design |
A
The Royal Commission reported in August 1913. It recommended that the
The Royal Commission's proposal led to a debate between senior officers in the Navy and the Koninklijke Landmacht (Royal Netherlands Army) over how to best protect the NEI, and the question of how the cost of the ships should be split between the Netherlands and the NEI also was not settled until July 1914. After considering the recommendations, the Dutch Government decided to acquire four battleships, and a bill seeking funding for them was introduced into the Dutch parliament in August 1914. However, this was withdrawn following the outbreak of the First World War that month. A new royal commission into Dutch defense needs held after the war did not recommend that battleships be procured and none were ever ordered.
Background
During the early years of the 20th century, the Dutch became concerned about their ability to defend their colonial empire in the NEI from foreign aggressors. Fears of an eventual Japanese attack developed following the total defeat of the Russian
At the time, the Dutch naval force in the NEI, the
Meanwhile, in September 1912 the Navy Minister,
Proposal
The Royal Commission handed its findings and recommendations to the government in August 1913. It concluded that international relations were deteriorating in the Pacific and there was an increased risk of the NEI becoming involved in a war between western and Asian powers. As a result, the Commission argued that the Netherlands should develop a powerful fleet of warships to enforce Dutch neutrality and offer a credible defense should any nation attack the NEI or the home country itself.
The requirement for nine battleships was determined by the defense needs of both the Netherlands and NEI. The Commission recommended that four battleships be active at all times in the NEI, with a fifth ship held in reserve there. The remaining four battleships would be based in the Netherlands. Ships sent to the NEI would return to Europe after twelve years in the tropics and complete another eight years service before being scrapped.[8][14]
The Dutch Navy would need a significant manpower expansion of 2,800 sailors to crew all of the proposed battleships. The Commission believed that it was unlikely that sufficient Dutch citizens would volunteer, and that as a result Indonesian sailors should be recruited and trained for service in the NEI. Strong segregation between white and Indonesian sailors was to be maintained to the maximum extent practical for unit efficiency.[15]
One member of the Commission, the chief accountant of the Ministry of Finance, A. van Gijn, objected to the report's conclusions. He provided a note to Queen Wilhelmina, which argued that advocates of building large warships had forced their views on the other members of the commission. Moreover, he believed that the proposed fleet would be inadequate given the rapid naval expansion being undertaken by the major powers, and that if it was adopted there would be a requirement to buy further dreadnoughts in order to keep pace. This note was included as an appendix to the Commission's report.[15]
The Royal Commission's proposals were extensively debated.
After considering the Royal Commission's recommendations the Dutch Government decided to purchase four battleships. All the ships were to be permanently stationed in the NEI, and none would be used in European waters. The ships were larger than those proposed by the commission, however. Idenburg opposed this decision, and unsuccessfully argued for at least a fifth battleship to be built. In October 1913 it was rumored that the Government was about to order the first ship, and that it would be paid for by a loan borne by NEI.[19]
Design
Germaniawerft submitted a revised battleship design (designated Project No. 753) to the Dutch Navy on 4 March 1913, well before the Royal Commission reported back to the Government. As requested, the new design mounted its main armament in superfiring turrets. Other changes included an increase in the number of 150 mm (5.9 in) guns to sixteen, a 0.5 knots (0.93 km/h) faster maximum speed, different armor protection, replacement of two of the side-launching torpedo tubes with a single stern tube and an increase in the number of rounds carried for each gun from 60 to 100 for the main armament and 100 to 150 for the medium guns. The new design also had a single funnel and a tripod mast that supported a director tower. Displacement was increased from 19,535 tons to 20,040 tons.[20] Germaniawerft submitted a modified version of this design later in the year which increased the ships' displacement to 20,700 tons and substituted eight 343 mm (13.5 inch) L/45 guns mounted in two quadruple turrets which were better protected than the four double turrets in the Project No. 753 proposal. This design was not accepted, however.[3]
A meeting chaired by the Navy Minister, Jean Jacques Rambonnet, was held on 10 November 1913 to finalize the battleships' specifications. It was decided that the ships would be armed with eight 343 mm (13.5 inch) L/45 guns in four superfiring turrets mounted on the centerline, a secondary armament of sixteen 150 mm (5.9 inch) and twelve 75 mm (2.9 inch) guns and at least two, possibly four, 533 mm (21 inch) side-launching submerged torpedo tubes and a single stern torpedo tube. The ships were to have a speed of at least 21 knots (39 km/h) and an endurance of more than 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h). They would be propelled by oil-fired boilers powering turbines and three or four propeller shafts. Armor protection would comprise a main belt at least 250 mm (9.8 inches) thick and at least 300 mm (11.8 inches) over the gun turrets and conning tower. A crew of 110 officers and petty officers and 750 ratings was envisioned, and designers were permitted to reduce the armor protection at ships' bow and stern to save weight for improvements to crew living conditions if necessary.[3]
On 13 March 1914 the Dutch Government altered the battleships' specifications to require a displacement of 25,000 tons, main armament of 356 mm (14 inch) guns, speed of 22 knots (25 mph; 41 km/h) and endurance of 6,000 nautical miles (6,900 mi; 11,000 km).[21] The specified speed was faster than normal for contemporary battleships and their belt armor protection was relatively thin. These characteristics were meant to aid the ships in fighting on the Java Sea; with the good visibility common in that area, naval battles could—and most likely would—be fought at a longer range than would be feasible in other areas like the North Sea, meaning that more shells would strike the deck rather than the belt.[2]
Eleven firms or groups of firms were invited to tender to build the ships, with proposals due on 4 June 1914. Proposals were received from seven firms;
The proposal from Germaniawerft (designated Project No. 806) is regarded by both Conway's and historian Anthonie van Dijk as being the most likely to have been selected.
Other major proposals included the ones from Blohm & Voss and Vickers. While both included the same armament as Germania, the former design had a smaller displacement—26,055 long tons (26,473 metric tons) versus 28,033 long tons (28,483 t)—and devoted a greater amount of weight to protection: 8,974 long tons (9,118 t, 34.8% of the displacement), versus 8,820 long tons (8,960 t, 31.77%). Blohm & Voss' design included a belt starting at 150 mm in the bow, increasing to 250 mm, then tapering to 100 millimeters (3.9 in) in the stern. It would have been powered by six double-ended coal boilers with oil burners alongside. These boilers would have generated 38,000 shaft horsepower (shp) to drive four propellers, giving the ships a maximum speed of 22 knots (25 mph; 41 km/h). Only one rudder would have been fitted. The Vickers design had a shorter belt of 250 mm amidships, and would have used 15 boilers with oil burners to provide 34,000 shp and the same 22 knots.[8][N 2]
Weight distribution
Component[N 3] | Germaniawerft[8] | Blohm & Voss[8] | Vickers[8] |
---|---|---|---|
Hull | 7,554 long tons (7,675 t), 28.45% | 7,510 long tons (7,630 t), 29.20% | 8,535 long tons (8,672 t), 30.76% |
Armor | 9,310 long tons (9,460 t), 34.97% | 8,974 long tons (9,118 t), 34.8% | 8,820 long tons (8,960 t), 31.77% |
Engines | 2,160 long tons (2,190 t), 8.14% | 2,074 long tons (2,107 t), 7.96% | 2,406 long tons (2,445 t), 8.67% |
Armament | 3,565 long tons (3,622 t), 13.43% | 3,699 long tons (3,758 t), 10.46% | 3,415 long tons (3,470 t), 12.31% |
Fuel | 2,362 long tons (2,400 t), 8.89% | 2,982 long tons (3,030 t), 11.55% | 2,952 long tons (2,999 t), 10.64% |
Equipment | 1,624 long tons (1,650 t), 6.12% | 1,555 long tons (1,580 t), 6.03% | 1,625 long tons (1,651 t), 5.85% |
Weight margin | 275 long tons (279 t) | 261 long tons (265 t) | 280 long tons (280 t) |
Total displacement | 26,850 long tons (27,280 t), 100% | 26,055 long tons (26,473 t), 100% | 28,033 long tons (28,483 t), 100% |
Debate over costs
There was an extensive debate over how to divide the cost of the proposed fleet between the Netherlands and NEI. The members of the Royal Commission were split on this question; while a minority preferred an equal division, the majority wanted the NEI to pay most of the costs.[24] The public debate on this issue was centered on the questions of who should pay for the ships and who would make the greatest profits from the NEI remaining under Dutch rule. Arguments against the NEI paying for the ships included that the resources required were needed to fund economic and social development and that the cost of the ships would increase opposition to Dutch rule, thereby worsening the security situation in the East Indies. Some critics of the plan also argued that it was unreasonable to expect the Dutch subjects in the NEI to pay for ships intended to prolong colonial rule.[25] In contrast, Onze Vloot published pamphlets which claimed that Dutch rule was seen as beneficial in the NEI, and that both white and Asian residents of the islands would be willing to pay for the ships as they were necessary to guarantee its continuation. These pamphlets also argued that the cost of the ships was modest compared to the NEI's economic output.[26]
In order to avoid a confrontation over the naval budget, the Dutch Government postponed parliamentary discussions of the Royal Commission's recommendations during 1913 and early 1914.[27] By this time Onze Vloot's campaign in support of the fleet had gained considerable momentum.[28] In late 1913 the Government accepted an offer made by representatives of the Dutch business community to contribute 120,000 guilders towards the cost of a second battleship once parliament approved funding for the first ship. Despite this, the Government continued to delay submitting a plan for the defense of the NEI to parliament, though work continued on it. The main difficulty remained the question of how to pay for the fleet. The Minister of the Colonies, Thomas B. Pleyte, believed that the NEI's population needed to be sheltered from the cost of the ships to the extent possible so that funding for welfare projects was not reduced or taxes increased from what were already high levels. In 1914 he settled on a plan under which the necessary revenue would be raised through increasing the taxes on export duties and freight moved by privately owned railways and ships.[29]
A bill setting out arrangements for funding and building the fleet was finalized in mid-July 1914.[22] At this time the Navy had not yet settled on a final battleship design.[23] It was planned that the first ship's keel would be laid in December 1914 and fitting out be completed sometime in 1918.[30] The bill was not immediately introduced into parliament, however, as Idenburg was given until 10 August to comment on it. The outbreak of the First World War led to the bill being withdrawn due to the uncertain international circumstances and the impossibility of buying battleships from foreign shipbuilders in wartime.[31] Instead, the Government ordered three Java-class cruisers in 1915, though only two were completed.[32][33]
Aftermath
Twice in its history did the Netherlands navy plan the construction of capital ships. In both cases this occurred immediately prior to the outbreak of world wars.[34]
A new Royal Commission into the defense of the Netherlands and NEI was held during 1920 and 1921. This Commission did not recommend that any battleships be constructed; instead it proposed that all ships under construction as at 31 December be completed along with a further two cruisers, 12 destroyers and 16 submarines. This plan was considered unaffordable, however, especially given the strength of the
Notes
Footnotes
- ^ Other armor specifics for the Germaniawerft design included (in mm; question marks denote unknown values): armored transverse bulkheads: 200, 200; citadel armor: 180; deck armor: 25, 25, 25–50 (deck above casemates, deck containing casemates, main armor deck); torpedo bulkhead: 40, barbettes 300–110 (top to bottom); turrets: ?, ?, ?; conning tower: 300, 300 (fore, aft).[8]
- ^ Other armor specifics for the Blohm & Voss and Vickers designs included: armored transverse bulkheads: ?, ? (B&V)/150, 100 (V); citadel armor 180/180; deck armor 27, 25, 30/37, 37, 25; torpedo bulkhead 30/37; barbettes 300–75/200–120–50; casemates 180/?; conning tower 300, 150/300, 300.[8]
- ^ The percentages are how much weight each component would have taken out of the final displacement.
Citations
- ^ Breyer, Battleships and battle cruisers, 453
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Sturton, "Netherlands", 366
- ^ a b c d van Dijk, The Drawingboard Battleships for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Part III., 396
- ^ van Dijk, The Netherlands Indies and the Great War 1914–1918, 73–75
- ^ a b c d Sturton, "Netherlands", 363
- ^ van Dijk, The Netherlands Indies and the Great War 1914–1918, 95
- ^ a b c van Dijk, The Drawingboard Battleships for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Part I., 359
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Breyer, Battleships and battle cruisers, 452
- ^ Claflin, ed., "Holland and Belgium", 322b
- ^ van Dijk, The Drawingboard Battleships for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Part II., 30
- ^ van Dijk, The Drawingboard Battleships for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Part II., 35
- ^ van Dijk, The Netherlands Indies and the Great War 1914–1918, 100–101
- ^ a b van Dijk, The Netherlands Indies and the Great War 1914–1918, 103–105
- ^ van Dijk, The Netherlands Indies and the Great War 1914–1918, 101
- ^ a b van Dijk, The Netherlands Indies and the Great War 1914–1918, 102
- ^ van Dijk, The Netherlands Indies and the Great War 1914–1918, 106
- ^ van Dijk, The Netherlands Indies and the Great War 1914–1918, 111–112
- ^ Abbenhuis, The Art of Staying Neutral : The Netherlands in the First World War, 1914–1918, 52–53
- ^ van Dijk, The Netherlands Indies and the Great War 1914–1918, 108
- ^ van Dijk, The Drawingboard Battleships for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Part III., 395–396
- ^ a b c d van Dijk, The Drawingboard Battleships for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Part III., 399
- ^ a b van Dijk, The Netherlands Indies and the Great War 1914–1918, 123
- ^ a b van Dijk, The Drawingboard Battleships for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Part III., 402
- ^ van Dijk, The Netherlands Indies and the Great War 1914–1918, 101–102
- ^ van Dijk, The Netherlands Indies and the Great War 1914–1918, 108–109
- ^ van Dijk, The Netherlands Indies and the Great War 1914–1918, 119–120
- ^ van Dijk, The Netherlands Indies and the Great War 1914–1918, 110
- ^ van Dijk, The Netherlands Indies and the Great War 1914–1918, 117
- ^ van Dijk, The Netherlands Indies and the Great War 1914–1918, 121–123
- ^ Sturton, "Netherlands", 363 and 366
- ^ van Dijk, The Netherlands Indies and the Great War 1914–1918, 123–124
- ^ van Dijk, The Drawingboard Battleships for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Part III., 402–403
- ^ Sturton, "Netherlands", 367
- ^ Breyer, Battleships and battle cruisers, 451
- ^ a b Sturton, "Netherlands", 364
- ^ van Dijk, The Netherlands Indies and the Great War 1914–1918, 124
- ^ Breyer, Battleships and battle cruisers, 454
References
- Abbenhuis, Maartje M. (2006). The Art of Staying Neutral : The Netherlands in the First World War, 1914–1918. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press. ISBN 90-5356-818-2.
- Breyer, Siegfried (1973). Battleships and Battle Cruisers, 1905–1970. Garden City, New York: Doubleday. OCLC 702840.
- Clafin, W. Harold (1916). "Holland and Belgium". In OCLC 4016415.
- Sturton, Ian (1984). "Netherlands". In Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal (eds.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. OCLC 12119866.
- van Dijk, Anthonie (1988). "The Drawingboard Battleships for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Part I.". Warship International. XXV (4). Toledo, Ohio: ISSN 0043-0374.
- van Dijk, Anthonie (1989). "The Drawingboard Battleships for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Part II". Warship International. XXVI (1). Toledo, Ohio: The International Naval Research Organisation. ISSN 0043-0374.
- van Dijk, Anthonie (1989). "The Drawingboard Battleships for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Part III". Warship International. XXVI (4). Toledo, Ohio: The International Naval Research Organisation. ISSN 0043-0374.
- van Dijk, Kees (2007). The Netherlands Indies and the Great War 1914–1918. Volume 254 of Verhandelingen van het Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde. Leiden: KITLV Press. ISBN 978-90-6718-308-6.
External links