View source for Atjeh-class cruiser

{{Short description|Class of unprotected cruisers of the Royal Netherlands Navy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=Hr. Ms. Tromp KM.jpg
|Ship caption=''Tromp''
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Name=''Atjeh'' class
|Builders=''[[Rijkswerf (Amsterdam)|Rijkswerf]]'', Amsterdam
|Operators={{navy|Netherlands}}
|Class before=
|Class after=
|Subclasses=
|Cost= 2,000,000+ guilders{{sfn|Tideman|1880|p=Livret A, p 2}}
|Built range=
|In service range=
|In commission range=1877–1908
|Total ships building=
|Total ships planned=
|Total ships completed=6
|Total ships cancelled=
|Total ships active=
|Total ships laid up=
|Total ships lost=
|Total ships scrapped=6
|Total ships preserved=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship type=[[Unprotected cruiser]]
|Ship displacement= 3,425&nbsp;tons
|Ship length= *{{convert|93.05|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} (overall)
*{{convert|80.00|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} ([[Length between perpendiculars|p/p]])
|Ship beam={{convert|12.497|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|6.706|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=
|Ship propulsion={{convert|3300|hp|kW|order=flip|abbr=on}}
|Ship speed={{convert|14|kn|km/h}}
|Ship range=
|Ship complement=306
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*6 × [[17 cm RK L/25|17 cm A No. 1]]{{sfn|Departement van Marine|1900|p=78}} (6 × 1)
* 8 x [[12 cm K.A.]] No. 1 (8 × 1)
|Ship armour=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
The '''''Atjeh'' class''' was a [[Ship class|class]] of [[unprotected cruiser]]s of the [[Royal Netherlands Navy]]. The class comprised ''Atjeh'', ''Tromp'', ''Koningin Emma der Nederlanden'', ''De Ruyter'', ''Van Speyk'' and ''Johan Willem Friso''.

== Context ==

=== Replacing steam corvettes with unprotected cruisers ===
In the 1860s the Netherlands had given priority to building an armored fleet for coastal defense in Europe. Meanwhile, the [[Dutch East Indies]] were primarily defended by the steam [[corvette]]s called screw steamships first class ({{sclass|Djambi|corvette|1}}s, {{sclass|Zilveren Kruis|corvette|1}}). In late 1870 the minister for the navy ordered the first ship meant to replace these,<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB08:000089260:mpeg21:p005 | work = Arnhemsche courant | title= Staatsbegrooting voor 1871|date= 28 September 1870}}</ref> the [[Ironclad warship|ironclad]] {{HNLMS|Koning der Nederlanden||2}}. Somewhat later the government decided to replace part of the screw steamships first class with [[unprotected cruiser]]s ({{lang|nl|ongepantserde kruisers}}), even though these would also be called screw steamships first class. Later, the armored part would be supplemented by the ironclad {{HNLMS|Prins Hendrik der Nederlanden||2}}, which would be sent to the Indies in 1876. A third armored ship was planned, but postponed 'in order to first gain more experience in the use of armored ships in the tropics'.{{sfn|Departement van Marine|1877|p=11}}

There were two very different perspectives on the ''Atjeh'' class. In December 1882 the [[Minister of the Navy (Netherlands)|minister of the navy]] dismissed the term 'cruiser' for the ''Atjeh'' class, and stated that he was replacing the old screw corvettes. Furthermore, that the design fit the requirements for the defense of the Dutch East Indies. The well known [[columnist]] Nautilus had a very different view. He stated that the ''Atjeh'' class was only suitable for cruiser tasks, not for defending the colonies. As a cruiser he thought that it might be a good design, but rather costly.{{sfn|Nautilus|1883}}

==Design==

=== The first unprotected cruiser design ===
[[File:Atjeh Class First Design September 1874.png|thumb|First design of the ''Atjeh'' class]]
The first requirements for the ship were determined by Minister for the Navy, [[Taalman Kip]], who had been appointed in May 1874.{{sfn|Tideman|1880|p=Livret A, p 1}} These called for a ship of no more than 200 men, costing less than 1.5 million [[guilder]]s. It would be armed with one central [[RML 9-inch Armstrong Gun|23 cm Armstrong RML]], two [[RML 7-inch Armstrong Gun|18 cm Armstrong RML]] (fore and aft) and four 12&nbsp;cm breechloaders. The machines could not be compound, and cruising speed should be {{convert|11|kn|lk=in}}, with a trial speed of {{convert|14|kn}}. The proposed design was a ship {{cvt|72.00|m|ftin}} [[Length between perpendiculars|long between perpendiculars]], had a {{cvt|11.32|m|ftin}} [[Beam (nautical)|beam]], a {{cvt|5.66|m|ftin}} [[Draft (hull)|draft]], and {{cvt|2345|t|LT}} [[Displacement (ship)|displacement]].{{sfn| Departement van Marine|1877|p=13}}

This ship would have been considerably longer and narrower, and somewhat bigger than the preceding ''Zilveren Kruis''-class corvettes. The result would have been a screw corvette with a [[Sloop-of-war|sloop]]-like armament. With considerably higher speed and better armament, it might have stood up to foreign designs. However, while judging this design, it was noted that the boilers were too high above the normal [[waterline|load line]]. This would make the ship extremely vulnerable, because it primarily depended on its engines for propulsion. Therefore a new requirement was added, demanding that the steam engines and boilers should be below the empty load line, and be protected by the coal [[Bunkering|bunkers]].{{sfn|Departement van Marine|1877|p=13}}

=== The final design ===
The requirement to place the steam engines of the new unprotected cruisers below the load line necessitated the design of a substantially bigger ship. Meanwhile, the bridge, fore- and aft castle of the original design were replaced by a [[spar deck]]. This new design was approved on 18 December 1874.{{sfn|Departement van Marine|1877|p=14}} All this made the ''Atjeh'' class {{cvt|21|m|ftin}} longer, but still narrower than the ''Zilveren Kruis'' class it was to replace. Such a narrow hull was not desirable, but a wider hull would have required much heavier engines, making the ship too expensive in total.{{sfn|Departement van Marine|1877|p=13}}

=== Two subclasses ===
At least two subclasses can be discerned in the ''Atjeh'' class. The first three ships had traditional steam engines, later ships had compound engines, which led to a substantial difference in power and range. The second group was also somewhat larger in overall length and draft.{{sfn|Departement van Marine|1894|p=92}}

The beam was largest for ''Johan Willem Friso''. She was planned to be different from the second group (''De Ruyter'', ''Van Speyk'', ''Doggersbank'' and ''Kortenaer''), but when the last two were burnt, she had to re-use the engines of ''Doggersbank'' (which had not been installed yet), and the stern of ''Kortenaer''. This made her almost equal to ''De Ruyter'' and ''Van Speyk''. Nevertheless, her depth of hold was also significantly larger than that of the other two.

=== Dimensions ===
According to the final design, the ships of the class were {{cvt|80.00|m|ftin}} long between perpendiculars and {{cvt|92|m|ftin}} [[Length overall|overall]]. Their beam was {{cvt|12.50|m|ftin}}, [[depth of hold]] {{cvt|10.00|m|ftin}}, and maximum draft was {{cvt|5.56|m|ftin}} fore and {{cvt|6.10|m|ftin}} aft. Displacement would be {{cvt|3180|t|LT}}.{{sfn|Departement van Marine|1877|p=14}} However, displacement depends on load. Normally empty and fully loaded displacement differ significantly. With the ''Atjeh'' displacement was further increased by adding extra guns later.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Length overall
! scope="col" | Beam
! scope="col" | Draft 1884{{sfn|Departement van Marine|1885|p=24}} 
! scope="col" | Draft 1893{{sfn|Departement van Marine|1894|p=86}} 
! scope="col" | Displacement 1884{{sfn|Departement van Marine|1885|p=24}} 
! scope="col" | Displacement 1893{{sfn|Departement van Marine|1894|p=86}} 
! scope="col" | Coal
|-
! scope="row" | {{HNLMS|Atjeh||2}}
| rowspan="3" | {{cvt|91.85|m|ftin}}
| rowspan="3" | {{cvt|12.5|m|ftin}}
| rowspan="6" | {{cvt|6.3|m|ftin}}
| rowspan="3" | {{cvt|6.5|m|ftin}}
| rowspan="6" | {{cvt|3160|t|LT}}
| rowspan="3" | {{cvt|3565|t|LT}}
| {{cvt|440|t|LT}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{HNLMS|Tromp|1877|2}}
| rowspan="2" | {{cvt|470|t|LT}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{HNLMS|Koningin Emma der Nederlanden||2}} (ex-''De Ruyter'')
|-
! scope="row" | {{HNLMS|De Ruyter|1880|2}}
| rowspan="3" | {{cvt|92.1|m|ftin}}
| rowspan="3" | {{cvt|13.1|m|ftin}}
| {{cvt|6.8|m|ftin}}
| {{cvt|3480|t|LT}}
| rowspan="2" | {{cvt|360|t|LT}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{HNLMS|Van Speyk|1882|2}}
| {{cvt|7|m|ftin}}
| {{cvt|3575|t|LT}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{HNLMS|Johan Willem Friso|1886|2}}
| {{cvt|6.9|m|ftin}}
| {{cvt|3598|t|LT}}
| {{cvt|400|t|LT}}
|}

The ships would be made of [[iron]], covered with wood and [[zinc]].{{sfn|Departement van Marine|1877|p=14}} The third ship of the class, ''Koningin Emma'' (ex-''De Ruyter''), would use steel for that part of the hull which was above the load line, and also in some other parts of the hull. This would save weight.{{sfn|Departement van Marine|1878|p=6}} As mentioned, under water, the hull was iron covered with teak and then zinc. This gave [[cathodic protection]], making that the zinc corroded instead of the iron, and the zinc caught the stuff that grew on the hull. The Iron and wood were connected by Haij's Marine Composition. On ''Atjeh'' this connection was made without closing the seams. On ''Tromp'', these seems were closed, and contact [[nail (fastener)|nails]] were hammered through the wood to make contact with the iron hull, so the galvanic effect was increased.{{sfn| Departement van Marine|1879|p=XV}} The last ship, ''Johan Willem Friso'', would use [[copper]] on the outside, instead of zinc.

=== Propulsion ===
The steam engines of the first three ships were [[reciprocating engine]]s. The specifications were made by the inspectors of the national steam service, F.H.P. van Alphen and F.W. Hudig. Next [[Van Vlissingen en Dudok van Heel|Koninklijke Fabriek van Stoom- en andere Werktuigen]] and [[Fijenoord]] together made a design for the engines.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010101733:mpeg21:p006 | work = Algemeen Handelsblad | title= Vervolg der Nieuwstijdingen | date= 31 July 1881}}</ref> The steam engines for ''Atjeh'' were built by [[Van Vlissingen en Dudok van Heel|Koninklijke Fabriek van Stoom- en andere Werktuigen]]. Those for ''Tromp'' were built by [[Fijenoord]].{{sfn|Departement van Marine|1877|p=19}} The steam engines for ''Koningin Emma'' were built by Koninklijke Fabriek.{{sfn|Departement van Marine|1878|p=12}}

These reciprocating engines had two cylinders of {{cvt|1.83|m}} diameter. Stroke length was {{cvt|0.66|m}}. There were four boilers, which were fired at both ends. At each boiler end, there were three fires.{{sfn|Tideman|1880|p=Livret A, p 4}} The engines were rated at {{convert|3300|ihp|kW|order=flip|lk=on}} and produced a top speed of {{convert|14|kn}}. On her trials, ''Atjeh'' made the required speed by steaming {{convert|14.5|kn}}. The engine had {{cvt|2750|ihp|order=flip}} and a modest coal consumption.{{sfn|Departement van Marine|1879|p=XII}}

The fourth and later ships got compound steam engines. The steam engines of ''De Ruyter'' were built by Fijenoord,{{sfn|Departement van Marine|1879|p=XXIV}} according to 'Sell's' system. This enabled the use of the machine as a regular steam engine, with lower pressure. This was useful if the boilers were weak, or in case the ship was fighting batteries.{{sfn|Departement van Marine|1879|p=XIV}}

The first three ships had a machine to lift the propeller. With some provisions this enabled the crew to clean the propeller without visiting a shipyard.{{sfn|Departement van Marine|1879|p=XIII}}

In 1878 ''Atjeh'' made a trial cruise in the [[North Sea]]. With a wind of 5-6 [[beaufort scale|beaufort]], she made {{convert|8.5|kn}} under sail. This was deemed very good for a steamer with auxiliary sailing capacity.{{sfn|Departement van Marine|1879|p=22}}

=== Armament ===
When ''Atjeh'' was laid down, she was reported to get an armament of one central 23&nbsp;cm RML, four 15&nbsp;cm Krupp breechloaders (two fore and two aft), and some 12&nbsp;cm breechloaders in the sides.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010264795:mpeg21:p002 |work=De Tijd |title= Binnenland |date=25 August 1875 }}</ref> The two 18&nbsp;cm RMLs of the first design had been replaced, but the 23&nbsp;cm RML was still part of the plan at that time. In October 1875 another change in plan determined the armament of ''Atjeh'' and ''Tromp'' to the all breechloaders configuration (six 17&nbsp;cm guns) with which they were launched.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB23:001401095:mpeg21:p00002 |work=Het vaderland |title= Land- en Zeemacht | date=20 October 1875 }}</ref>

When she was launched, the armament of ''Atjeh'' had been determined at six 17&nbsp;cm [[Krupp]] breechloaders. These were all placed on the [[gun deck]]. One near the bow, one near the stern, and four more to the center of the ship. Large [[gun port]]s in bow and stern would enable these guns to fire along the line of the [[keel]].<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:011066350:mpeg21:p002 | work = De standaard | title= Binnenland | date=7 December 1876 }}</ref> The [[Broadside (naval)|broadside]] would be four 17&nbsp;cm guns. 

At the time the Dutch referred to the 17&nbsp;cm Krupp breechloader simply as 'Kanon van 17 cm A.' with 'A' standing for {{lang|nl|Achterlaad}} i.e. breechloader. Later a different 17&nbsp;cm breechloader model was used on other ships. The gun on the Atjeh class then became known as 17 cm A. No. 1, the newer gun used on [[HNLMS Koningin Wilhelmina der Nederlanden]] and [[HNLMS Reinier Claeszen]] became known as 17 cm A. No. 2.{{sfn|Departement van Marine|1900|p=78}}

The secondary armament of ''Atjeh'' would be determined later on. One hoped to add four [[12 cm K.A.]] No. 1 breechloaders, and after launch this indeed proved to be possible.{{sfn|Departement van Marine|1877|p=15}} Therefore, the first ships were finished with six {{convert|6.7|in|mm|abbr=on|order=flip}} guns and four single {{convert|4.7|in|mm|abbr=on|order=flip}} guns. The fourth ship, ''De Ruyter'', was planned to have eight 12&nbsp;cm breechloaders from the start.{{sfn|Departement van Marine|1880|p=24}}

==Construction==

All eight ships were laid down at the ''Rijkswerf'' in [[Amsterdam]] and launched between 1876 and 1886. Two were destroyed in a yard fire in 1883 and never completed.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Laid down
! scope="col" | Launched
! scope="col" | Commissioned
! scope="col" | Fate
|-
! scope="row" | {{HNLMS|Atjeh||2}}
| 3 March 1875{{sfn| Departement van Marine|1877|p= 16}}
| 6 November 1876{{sfn| Departement van Marine|1878|p= 7}}
| 1 November 1877{{sfn| Departement van Marine|1879|p= 23}}
| 1899 decommissioned, 1906 rebuilt as accommodation ship, 1922 out of service
|-
! scope="row" | {{HNLMS|Tromp|1877|2}}
| 23 August 1875{{sfn| Departement van Marine|1877|p= 16 & 17}}
| December 1877{{sfn| Departement van Marine|1879|p= XXI}}
| 1 September 1882{{sfn| Departement van Marine|1883|p= 9}}
| 5 June 1902 decommissioned, 1904 sold for scrapping
|-
! scope="row" | {{HNLMS|Koningin Emma der Nederlanden||2}} (ex-''De Ruyter'')
| November 1876{{sfn| Departement van Marine|1878|p= 7}}
| 20 February 1879{{sfn| Departement van Marine|1879|p= XXI}}
| 1 December 1880{{sfn| Departement van Marine|1882|p= 6}}
| Named ''De Ruyter'' until January 1879. Decommissioned in 1900, scuttled in 1943
|-
! scope="row" | {{HNLMS|De Ruyter|1880|2}}
| 7 January 1879
| 22 September 1880{{sfn| Departement van Marine|1881|p= 3}}
| 1 August 1885<ref name="deruyter.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.deruyter.org/diversen_link_schepen%20in%20de%20marine%20met%20de%20naam%20de%20ruyter.html?reload |title=deruyter.org |accessdate=13 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224114721/http://www.deruyter.org/diversen_link_schepen%20in%20de%20marine%20met%20de%20naam%20de%20ruyter.html?reload |archive-date=24 December 2013 }}</ref>
| 27 May 1899 decommissioned, 1900 sold for scrapping<ref name="deruyter.org"/>
|-
! scope="row" | {{HNLMS|Van Speyk|1882|2}}
| 9 February 1880{{sfn| Departement van Marine|1881|p= 3}}
| 7 June 1882{{sfn| Departement van Marine|1883|p= 3}}
| 1 March 1887
| 16 September 1897 decommissioned, 1904 accommodation ship, 1946 sold for scrapping<ref name="defensie.nl">{{cite web |url=http://www.defensie.nl/organisatie/marine/inhoud/eenheden/schepen/zr-ms-van-speijk|title=defensie.nl|accessdate=9 March 2014}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | ''Doggersbank'' (ex-''Kortenaer'')
| 1881
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| Renamed ''Doggersbank'' on 5 August 1881.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB19:003583082:mpeg21:p00002 | work = Dagblad van Zuidholland en 's Gravenhage | title= Doggersbank 1781 5 August 1881 | date= 6 August 1881}}</ref> 20 June 1883 destroyed by fire shortly before launch.
|-
! scope="row" | ''Kortenaer''
| November 1882 
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| Laid down as ''Kortenaer'', seventh of the class.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB23:001395106:mpeg21:p00002 | work = Het vaderland | title= Land- en Zeemacht. | date= 1 November 1882}}</ref> Lost to fire on 20 June 1883, while only a keel and some frames.
|-
! scope="row" | {{HNLMS|Johan Willem Friso|1886|2}}
| 22 October 1883
| 10 June 1886
| 1 February 1888{{sfn| Departement van Marine|1889|p= 36}}
| 16 September 1897, scrapped 1899
|}

==Notes==
{{Reflist|2}}

==References==
* Staatsbegrooting voor het dienstjaar [http://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=sgd:18961897:0001013:pdf 1897]
* {{citation |last=Departement van Marine |year=1877|title= Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemagt 1875-1876 |publisher= De Gebroeders van Cleef |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB16:003542001:00007}}
* {{citation |last=Departement van Marine |year=1878|title= Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemagt 1876-1877 |publisher= De Gebroeders van Cleef |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB16:003543001:00007}}
* {{citation |last=Departement van Marine |year=1879|title= Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemagt 1877-1878 |publisher= De Gebroeders van Cleef |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB16:003544001:00007}} 
* {{citation |last=Departement van Marine |year=1880|title= Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemagt 1878-1879 |publisher= De Gebroeders van Cleef |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB16:003545001:00009}}
* {{citation |last=Departement van Marine|year=1881|title=Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemagt 1879-1880 |publisher= De Gebroeders van Cleef |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB16:003546001:00009}}
* {{citation |last=Departement van Marine|year=1882|title=Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemagt 1880-1881 |publisher= De Gebroeders van Cleef |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB16:003547001:00009}}
* {{citation |last=Departement van Marine|year=1883|title=Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemagt 1881-1882 |publisher= De Gebroeders van Cleef |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB16:003548001:00009}}
* {{citation |last=Departement van Marine |year=1885|title= Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemagt 1883-1884 |publisher= De Gebroeders van Cleef |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB16:003550001:00007}} 
* {{citation |last=Departement van Marine |year=1889|title= Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemagt 1887-1888 |publisher= De Gebroeders van Cleef |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB16:003554001:00007}} 
* {{citation |last=Departement van Marine |year=1894|title= Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemagt 1892-1893 |publisher= De Gebroeders van Cleef |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB16:003559001:00007}} 
* {{citation |last=Departement van Marine |year=1900|title= Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemagt 1898-1899 |publisher= De Gebroeders van Cleef |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB16:003565001:00007 }} 
* {{citation |last=Nautilus |year=1883|work= Algemeen Handelsblad |title=Iets over kruisers|url= https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010165430:mpeg21:p005 }} 
* {{citation |last=Tideman |first=B.J. |year=1880 |title=Memoriaal van de Marine |publisher=Van Heteren Amsterdam |url=https://proxy.archieven.nl/0/7F6BF76519C84FD7B51DF5FF91D869A9 }}

==External links==
* [http://navalhistory.flixco.info/H/284423x53056/8330/a0.htm Description of class]

{{Atjeh-class cruiser}}
{{Royal Netherlands Navy cruisers}}

{{1865-1889DutchShips}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Atjeh-class cruiser}}
[[Category:Atjeh-class cruisers| ]]
[[Category:19th-century naval ships of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Cruiser classes]]