Eendracht class large light cruisers with 10 x 150 mm maingun armament
Ever since the cancelation of the light cruiser Celebes, part of the Java Class light cruisers the Royal Netherlands Navy desired a third light cruiser.
During the cabinet term of Ruys de Beerenbroekc III (1929-1933) , secretary Deckers of Defense managed to navigate a fleet plan for the next ten years (OTL). An acheivement since there was a report of a commity, ( commity Indenburg) who in 1927 adviced for a further reduction of the already very small fleet, as austerity measure, and the still very strong pacifist movement. The economic tide didn't help either.
As part of this fleet plan, secretary Deckers tried to accept the construction of a third light cruiser, much desired by the Navy, however the budget for a ship like this was deemed too small, Cabinet members and parlaiment was very reluctant to increase the budget in order to build a proper light cruiser. The oppositon was too large and in order to stop the discussion, Secretary Deckers withdraw the cruiser or flotillaleader plan and replaced it for the order of a class of submarines.
Strangly enough the order of the five submarines met much less resistance both in Cabinet and parlaiment, and in 1933 the first boats of the five O16 class submarines were laid down. The total price of these boats was still lower than the light cruiser, although marginal, but the explotation cost per boat was dramaticly lower than a light cruiser.
After the formation of a new cabinet, Colijn II in 1933 , the plan for a third light cruiser was made again in autum 1935 for the budget of 1936. Secretary of Defense Mr Deckers noted in his earlier fleet plan the need to replace the aging Java class cruisers. There for the ship would be the first of a class of two and potential three ships. The plan had support of PM Colijn who acted as secretary of Economic affairs ad interim in 1935.
Due to the cancelation of the third cruiser the discussion to replace the two Java class cruisers started earlier. As early as 1934*, discussions started at the Ministry of Defense and the Naval Staff about the design of two new cruisers to replace the cruisers Hr.Ms. Java and Sumatra, which both dated from 1925 and 1926. The Sumatra, which was qualitatively inferior to the two sister ships, was to be taken out of service in 1942*, while this was to be done with the Java in 1945*.
The first design plans for the new cruisers bore the year 1936*. In connection with the year for which the cruisers entered the state budget, the design was further referred to as Cruiser 1937*. The 1937* state budget included the first instalment for one cruiser, while later funds for the second ship were allocated. Including security, the ships would each cost approximately 15 million guilders (The currency used in the Netherlands at the time). In June 1936*, the Secretary of Defense at interim Colijn (PM of cabinet Colijn III) , gave contracts to N.V. Dok- en Werf Maatschappij Wilton Fijenoord and N.V. Rotterdamse Droogdok Maatschappij for one cruiser each.
- The ship at Wilton Fijenoord was named De Zeven Provinciën with the date of readiness on September 1, 1939*.
- The ship at the Rotterdam Dry Dock Company was named Kijkduin, launched as Eendracht, with the completion date of December 30, 1939*.
On May 19, 1937*, the first keel plate for the Kijkduin was laid with some ceremony at the shipyard of the Rotterdam Dry Dock Company. On September 5, 1937* this happened at Wilton Fijenoord for the De Zeven Provinciën. Wilton Fijenoord was a little later because of the occupation of all the big slopes for the ships to stand on. Another large new slope was under construction.
The dates of the contracts and keel laying show that a great deal of work had already been done in advance on specifications of armour plates and profiles for the ship's material and that contracts had been concluded long before this, even before the formal decision to build was
made. All of this material had been ordered in the United States and was delivered at a rapid pace.
The armor material had also been pre-ordered from Bofors in Sweden, after comparative firing tests had been carried out. Orders had also been placed for various auxiliary tools and other materials.
The third cruiser of the class was also awarded by Secretary of Defense Dr. J.J.C. van Dijk,to Wilton Fijenoord.
Construction on the slopes progressed quickly of this yard, and the third ship was laid down on September 5, 1939.
Wilton Fijenoord, with the machining of hull and other material in advance of the laydown of the keel, the yard progressed very fast on the third ship. With financial support from the Ministry of Social affairs, as part of a unemployment scheme, the work on the ship continued 24hours six days of the week. Not at Sunday. The efforts of the Wilton Feijenoord yard made it possible to launch the ship already in January as HNLMS De Ruyter. When the Netherlands was invaded by National Socialist Germany the ship was nearly 72% complete. In the night of 12 to 13 May 1940 the ship could escape to England together with a good portion of parts and material on board and a group of volunteers of the yard. Due to political disagreement between the Dutch cabinet in exile under PM Colijn and the British government the ship was moved to the Tanjung Priok in NEI in September 1940. In October 1941 she was complete and commissioned. Together with her other two sisters, the two Java class light cruiser and the two Tromp class flotilla leaders she was the back bone of the Royal Netherlands Navy surface fleet. The Tromp flotilla leaders were laid down in 1936 and 1937*.
It is unclear when and why the Kijkduin changed her name in Eendracht, the name which she had when launced.
The ships were designed by Ir. G. 't Hooft, the brilliant chief of the Shipbuilding Office. With this design he continued the development of his design of the earlier ( this TL canceled) light cruiser from 1933.
The new cruisers were designed with a maximum length of 185.70 meters, a maximum beam of 17.25 meters and a hollow to the main deck of 11.65 meters. The water displacement fully equipped, so with the storage tanks filled to 98%, would amount to 10,795 tons. The standard displacement was 8,350 tons. Propulsion was provided by Parsons turbines with an installed power of 78,000 hp at 300
revolutions per minute, so that the required speed became 32 knots. The crusading turbines delivered 12,000 hp at a service speed of 20 knots per hour at a displacement of 8,900 tons. The operating distance for this vessel is stated in the specifications at 4,500 nautical miles.
The ship's protection was a 100mm armoured belt around the hull and the ship's ends were protected by narrower 75mm belt. The deck was 25mm thick and was connected with the upper edge of the belt. The turrets had 100mm of frontal armour and 50mm on all other sides.
For the main weapons it was originally planned to arm the cruiser with the usual 150mm/50 guns ( as on the Java and Sumatra and gun boats), but later the new 150mm/53 guns had been chosen.
The order to manufacture the weapons was given out to the Swedish Bofors company. The ship was supposed to be armed with ten of these guns. They would have been in four turrets, that being two triple and two twin turrets. These turrets were build and shipped to the Netherlands. The maximum elevation angle of these turrets reached 60°, that could possibility ensure the ability of shooting at air targets. Thanks to last circumstance, the designers chose to limit the large calibre secondary weaponry, and instead focus on more powerful medium range weaponry. That being twelve 40mm/56 Bofors guns, mounted in six double Hazemeyer gun mounts.
Further planned weapons were eight 12.7mm machineguns mounted in four double turrets, six 533mm torpedo tubes mounted in two triple mounts and two extra Fokker C.14w floatplane aircraft.
* alternate history dates. The third cruiser was never considered and made up, although the keel laying date is OTL.
Wilton Feijenoord did plan to complete the cruiser in 24 months at normal shifts OTL.
OTL shipyard RDM, left photo, at 26th March 1940 , right photo OTL shipyard RDM at 30rd April 12% complete.
Wilton Feijenoord completed their ship up to 25% on 10 May 1940, despite starting in September 1939.