Tromp class cruiser
Encyclopedia
The Tromp-class was a class of light cruiser
s of the Royal Netherlands Navy
. The hull shape was also known as the Argonaut 600. Originally the ships could not be called "cruiser" for political reasons. They were designed as "flotilla leader
s" and their intended role was to be the backbone of a squadron
of modern destroyer
s that was planned at the same time (only one of those was completed before the war broke out). The ships were ordered in 1935; was launched in 1937, and her sister ship in 1939.
At the outbreak of World War II
, Tromp was sent to the Dutch East Indies
. Jacob van Heemskerk was still being completed in the naval shipyard in Den Helder
when the German
attack started on 10 May 1940, but she succeeded in escaping to the United Kingdom
, where she was completed with a completely different armament set, as an anti-aircraft cruiser. Both ships served in the Far East and survived the war, Tromp to be decommissioned in 1955 and sold for scrap in 1969 and Jacob van Heemskerk to become an artillery instruction ship in 1947, decommissioned in 1969 and sold for scrap in 1970.
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
s of the Royal Netherlands Navy
Royal Netherlands Navy
The Koninklijke Marine is the navy of the Netherlands. In the mid-17th century the Dutch Navy was the most powerful navy in the world and it played an active role in the wars of the Dutch Republic and later those of the Batavian Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
. The hull shape was also known as the Argonaut 600. Originally the ships could not be called "cruiser" for political reasons. They were designed as "flotilla leader
Flotilla leader
A flotilla leader was a warship suitable for commanding a flotilla of destroyers or other small warships, typically a small cruiser or a large destroyer...
s" and their intended role was to be the backbone of a squadron
Squadron (naval)
A squadron, or naval squadron, is a unit of 3-4 major warships, transport ships, submarines, or sometimes small craft that may be part of a larger task force or a fleet...
of modern destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s that was planned at the same time (only one of those was completed before the war broke out). The ships were ordered in 1935; was launched in 1937, and her sister ship in 1939.
At the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Tromp was sent to the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
. Jacob van Heemskerk was still being completed in the naval shipyard in Den Helder
Den Helder
Den Helder is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Den Helder occupies the northernmost point of the North Holland peninsula...
when the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
attack started on 10 May 1940, but she succeeded in escaping to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, where she was completed with a completely different armament set, as an anti-aircraft cruiser. Both ships served in the Far East and survived the war, Tromp to be decommissioned in 1955 and sold for scrap in 1969 and Jacob van Heemskerk to become an artillery instruction ship in 1947, decommissioned in 1969 and sold for scrap in 1970.