Succeeded by Java-class cruiser | Completed 6 | |
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Builders Rijkswerf (2)Koninklijke Maatschappij de Schelde, Flushing (2)Nederlandsche Stoomboot Maatschappij, Rotterdam (2) Preceded by | ||
The Holland class was a class of six pantserdekschepen (protected cruisers) of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The class was built in two groups, each consisting of three ships.
Contents
Design
The design was based on the British Apollo-class cruiser. The first 3 ships of the class were 93.3 metres (306 ft 1 in) long while the last three were 94.7 metres (310 ft 8 in) long, had a beam of 14.8 metres (48 ft 7 in), a draught of 5.41 metres (17 ft 9 in), and had a displacement of 3,900 ton. The last 3 ships were slightly larger and displaced 133 tons more than the first 3 ships. The ships were equipped with 2 shaft reciprocating engines, which were rated at 10,000 ihp (7,500 kW) and produced a top speed of 20 knots (37 km/h). The ships had 5-centimetre (2.0 in) deck armour. The main armament of the ships were two 5.9 in (15 cm) single guns. Secondary armament included six single 4.7 in (12 cm) guns and four 3 in (7.6 cm) single guns.
Construction
The class was built in two groups each consisting of 3 ships. The ships were laid down at Rijkswerf in Amsterdam, Koninklijke Maatschappij de Schelde in Flushing and Nederlandsche Stoomboot Maatschappij in Rotterdam.
Service history
On 19 October 1900 Gelderland transported Paul Kruger to Europe during the Second Boer War. Holland together with Koningin Wilhelmina der Nederlanden and the Evertsen-class coastal defence ship Piet Hein where sent to Shanghai to defend Dutch interests during the Boxer Rebellion. Holland and Zeeland together with the coastal defence ships Hertog Hendrik, Koningin Regentes and De Ruyter assisted the KNIL during the Aceh War. In 1908 Friesland, Gelderland and the coastal defence ship Jacob Van Heemskerck were sent to patrol the Venezuelan coast during the second Castro crisis. Friesland and Utrecht were decommissioned in 1913 with the remaining four being modernized. During World War I all remaining ships were stationed in Dutch home waters. Holland and Zeeland were decommissioned in 1920 and 1924 while Noordbrabant became an accommodation ship in 1920. A role she fulfilled until she was damaged during the German invasion in World War II. Gelderland became a training ship in 1920. She was captured by Germany in 1940, renamed Niobe and sunk during the war in Kotka harbour in Finland on 16 July 1944.