Admiralen-class destroyers

This class was based on the first 'experimental' destroyers of the Royal Navy, HMS Amazon and Ambuscade . When compared there are a couple of changes. The Dutch destroyers had a less performance, a lower speed and could carry less oil, but had a very good fire control system, which compensated for the shortcomings. When the war started in 1939, these destroyers weren't 'up to date'. Their AA was becoming obsolete and they didn't have Asdic. After the German invasion in May 1940 (during which Van Galen was sunk), the Naval Department in the Dutch-Indies tried to modernize and expand the navy there. This meant for the remaining destroyers, that 2 of them received Asdic from the British (Witte de With and Van Ghent ) and from two of them (which is unknown) was the rear mast removed. After Japan attacked in December 1941, they were initially deployed as convoy escorts, but they later took part in the sorties by the Combined Striking Force. By March 1942, all of the destroyers in this class had gone down.

Witte de With design drawing

Banckert as she was to be rebuilt as Patrol Boat 106

Construction details (batch 1)

Evertsen Piet Hein Van Ghent
ex-De Ruyter* Kortenaer

Dockyard Burgerhout ** Burgerhout Schelde *** Burgerhout

Laid down August 5 1925 August 16 1925 August 21 1925 August 24 1925

Launched September 29 1926 June 30 1927 October 23 1926 April 24 1927

Completed April 12 1928 January 25 1929 May 31 1928 September 3 1928

Pennants EV PH DR (GT) KN

Construction details (batch 2)

Van Galen Witte de With Banckert Van Nes

Dockyard Wilton-Fijenoord**** Wilton-Fijenoord Burgerhout Burgerhout

Laid down May 28 1927 May 28 1927 August 25 1927 August 15 1928

Launched June 28 1928 September 11 1928 November 14 1929 March 20 1930

Completed October 22 1929 February 20 1929 November 14 1930 March 12 1931

Pennants VG WW BK VN

* De Ruyter was renamed to Van Ghent in 1934 to allow a new cruiser to take this name.
** Dockyard's name in full: Burgerhout's Scheepswerf en Machinefabriek, Rotterdam
*** Dockyard's name in full: Koninklijke Mij "De Schelde", Vlissingen (Flushing)
**** The Van Galen and Witte de With were originally ordered at the Mij. Fijenoord dockyard in Rotterdam, but this company merged with Wilton, Schiedam in 1929. The new name Wilton-Fijenoord was used for all ships completed in 1929.

Specifications

First batch Second batch

Displacement 1316 t / 1680 t

Dimensions 98,1 (oa) x 9,5 x 3,0 m

Crew 149

Armament 4 x 120 mm Bofors No. 4 (4 x 1)
2 x 75 mm
4 x .50 Browning MG 4 x 120 mm Bofors No. 5 (4 x 1)
1 x 75 mm
4 x 40 mm Vickers (1 x 4)
4 x .50 Browning MG

Torpedoes 6 x 21 inch (2 x 3)

Other 1 floatplane*
24 Vickers mines on 2 minerails
1 floatplane*

ASW 4 depthchargethrowers with 12 charges
Asdic **

* By World War II, it appears that the floatplane was no longer used in operations
** British type, only for Van Ghent and Witte de With.

Propulsion details

Boilers 3 Yarrow

Machinery 2 sets of Parsons geared turbines

Shafts 2

Range 3300 nautical miles @ 15 knots

Bunkerage 330 tons oil

Performance 31000 hp

Max speed 34 knots

* Piet Hein reached 36 knots during trials in Scotland.

Propulsion details

Evertsen Deployed as convoy escort during 1940-1942. In February 1942, she became part of the Western Striking Force, a squadron based at Batavia. During its last sortie in the night of February 27 and 28, it became seperated from the main force, after which she returned to her base on the 28th. During the following night, she was ordered to escape to Colombo via Sunda Strait, but the ship was intercepted by the Japanese destroyers Murakumo and Shirakumo enroute. Several hits caused a large fire, after which the captain saw no other option than to beach his ship on the reef Seboekoe Besar. Nine men were killed. More information here

Piet Hein In the night of February 19 and 20, she was part of the Allied force which tried to destroy the Japanese invasion forces at Bali. During the following gunfight, she was hit by shells and several torpedoes, after which she sank with the loss of 64 crew. More information here

Van Ghent In action off Kangean against Japanese bombers on February 4 1942. Took part in the Allied sortie against the invasion convoy for Palembang on February 15, but during the transfer through Stolze Strait, she was accidentally beached on the reef of Bamidjo between Banka and Billiton island. Position 03.05 S-107.21 E. No casualties.

Kortenaer Took part in the Allied sortie against the invasion convoy for Palembang on February 15, and escaped unharmed. Also took part in the Battle of the Java Sea, during which she was hit by a Japanese torpedo, reportedly from the heavy cruiser Haguro, which broke her back in position 06.29 S-112.05 E. 56 or 59 of a crew of about 150 were killed.

Van Galen In service in the Netherlands East Indies until 1939, when she was recalled to Holland. Arrived in Den Helder on May 8. On May 10, she was ordered to steam to Rotterdam to take the German forces at the captured airfield Waalhaven under fire. While still enroute, she was attacked by German aircraft, which damaged her. She made it to the Merwehaven, where she sank. Raised by the Germans on October 23 1941, and scrapped in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht

Witte de With Took part in the Battle of the Java Sea, and escorted the British heavy cruiser HMS Exeter to Soerabaja. She was damaged by a Japanese bomb hitting the fo'c'scle on March 1 1942. She was then scuttled on March 2. No casualties.

Banckert In action off Kangean against Japanese bombers on February 4 1942. Took part in the Allied sortie against the invasion convoy for Palembang on February 15, during which she evacuated the crew of her sistership Van Ghent. Damaged by Japanese aerial attacks on February 24 and 28 1942, after which she was scuttled on March 2. Raised by the Japanese, who intended to commission her as Patrolboat 106, but the repairs were never completed. Found postwar and sunk as targetship during gunnery excercises in Madura Strait, September 1949

Van Nes Escorted the Dutch passengership Sloet van de Beele, which carried a detachment of troops from Billiton for Batavia. Attacked and sunk by Japanese aircraft from the Japanese carrier Ryujo in position 03.27 S-106.38 E, February 17 1942, with the loss of 68 crew.

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Admiralen-class photo special

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	Witte de With design drawing
	Banckert as she was to be rebuilt as Patrol Boat 106

Construction details (batch 1)
	Evertsen	Piet Hein	Van Ghent ex-De Ruyter*	Kortenaer
Dockyard	Burgerhout **	Burgerhout	Schelde ***	Burgerhout
Laid down	August 5 1925	August 16 1925	August 21 1925	August 24 1925
Launched	September 29 1926	June 30 1927	October 23 1926	April 24 1927
Completed	April 12 1928	January 25 1929	May 31 1928	September 3 1928
Pennants	EV	PH	DR (GT)	KN
Construction details (batch 2)
	Van Galen	Witte de With	Banckert	Van Nes
Dockyard	Wilton-Fijenoord****	Wilton-Fijenoord	Burgerhout	Burgerhout
Laid down	May 28 1927	May 28 1927	August 25 1927	August 15 1928
Launched	June 28 1928	September 11 1928	November 14 1929	March 20 1930
Completed	October 22 1929	February 20 1929	November 14 1930	March 12 1931
Pennants	VG	WW	BK	VN
* De Ruyter was renamed to Van Ghent in 1934 to allow a new cruiser to take this name. Dockyard's name in full: Burgerhout's Scheepswerf en Machinefabriek, Rotterdam * Dockyard's name in full: Koninklijke Mij "De Schelde", Vlissingen (Flushing) **** The Van Galen and Witte de With were originally ordered at the Mij. Fijenoord dockyard in Rotterdam, but this company merged with Wilton, Schiedam in 1929. The new name Wilton-Fijenoord was used for all ships completed in 1929.

Specifications
	First batch	Second batch
Displacement	1316 t / 1680 t
Dimensions	98,1 (oa) x 9,5 x 3,0 m
Crew	149
Armament	4 x 120 mm Bofors No. 4 (4 x 1) 2 x 75 mm 4 x .50 Browning MG	4 x 120 mm Bofors No. 5 (4 x 1) 1 x 75 mm 4 x 40 mm Vickers (1 x 4) 4 x .50 Browning MG
Torpedoes	6 x 21 inch (2 x 3)
Other	1 floatplane* 24 Vickers mines on 2 minerails	1 floatplane*
ASW	4 depthchargethrowers with 12 charges Asdic **
* By World War II, it appears that the floatplane was no longer used in operations ** British type, only for Van Ghent and Witte de With.

Propulsion details
Boilers	3 Yarrow
Machinery	2 sets of Parsons geared turbines
Shafts	2
Range	3300 nautical miles @ 15 knots
Bunkerage	330 tons oil
Performance	31000 hp
Max speed	34 knots
* Piet Hein reached 36 knots during trials in Scotland.

Propulsion details
Evertsen	Deployed as convoy escort during 1940-1942. In February 1942, she became part of the Western Striking Force, a squadron based at Batavia. During its last sortie in the night of February 27 and 28, it became seperated from the main force, after which she returned to her base on the 28th. During the following night, she was ordered to escape to Colombo via Sunda Strait, but the ship was intercepted by the Japanese destroyers Murakumo and Shirakumo enroute. Several hits caused a large fire, after which the captain saw no other option than to beach his ship on the reef Seboekoe Besar. Nine men were killed. More information here
Piet Hein	In the night of February 19 and 20, she was part of the Allied force which tried to destroy the Japanese invasion forces at Bali. During the following gunfight, she was hit by shells and several torpedoes, after which she sank with the loss of 64 crew. More information here
Van Ghent	In action off Kangean against Japanese bombers on February 4 1942. Took part in the Allied sortie against the invasion convoy for Palembang on February 15, but during the transfer through Stolze Strait, she was accidentally beached on the reef of Bamidjo between Banka and Billiton island. Position 03.05 S-107.21 E. No casualties.
Kortenaer	Took part in the Allied sortie against the invasion convoy for Palembang on February 15, and escaped unharmed. Also took part in the Battle of the Java Sea, during which she was hit by a Japanese torpedo, reportedly from the heavy cruiser Haguro, which broke her back in position 06.29 S-112.05 E. 56 or 59 of a crew of about 150 were killed.
Van Galen	In service in the Netherlands East Indies until 1939, when she was recalled to Holland. Arrived in Den Helder on May 8. On May 10, she was ordered to steam to Rotterdam to take the German forces at the captured airfield Waalhaven under fire. While still enroute, she was attacked by German aircraft, which damaged her. She made it to the Merwehaven, where she sank. Raised by the Germans on October 23 1941, and scrapped in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht
Witte de With	Took part in the Battle of the Java Sea, and escorted the British heavy cruiser HMS Exeter to Soerabaja. She was damaged by a Japanese bomb hitting the fo'c'scle on March 1 1942. She was then scuttled on March 2. No casualties.
Banckert	In action off Kangean against Japanese bombers on February 4 1942. Took part in the Allied sortie against the invasion convoy for Palembang on February 15, during which she evacuated the crew of her sistership Van Ghent. Damaged by Japanese aerial attacks on February 24 and 28 1942, after which she was scuttled on March 2. Raised by the Japanese, who intended to commission her as Patrolboat 106, but the repairs were never completed. Found postwar and sunk as targetship during gunnery excercises in Madura Strait, September 1949
Van Nes	Escorted the Dutch passengership Sloet van de Beele, which carried a detachment of troops from Billiton for Batavia. Attacked and sunk by Japanese aircraft from the Japanese carrier Ryujo in position 03.27 S-106.38 E, February 17 1942, with the loss of 68 crew.