HNLMS Java (1921): Difference between revisions

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== Construction ==

[[File:Kruiser Hr.Ms. Sumatra (1926-1942) Oplegperiode tijdens WOII in Portsrmouth, UK. Oefeningen 15 cm- geschut (2158 011547).jpg|thumb|''Java'''s single-barrel open turrets were already obsolete by the time she entered service (image from sister ship ''Sumatra'').]]

Dutch [[Naval architecture|naval architects]] had no experience with a ship such as ''Java'', so design work and construction of various components was done by German firms such as [[Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft|Germaniawerft]] and [[Krupp]]. On 15 November 1915, she was ordered from the [[NV Koninklijke Maatschappij De Schelde|N.V. Koninklijke Maatschappij De Schelde]] shipyard in [[Vlissingen]] and laid down on 31 May 1916.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|pages=|page=8}} The reliance on German expertise soon backfired as [[World War I]] and the [[Treaty of Versailles]] crippled the German arms industry, which leadled to supply shortages. In conjunction with a series of [[Strike action|strikes]] and delays in building the ship's engines, construction stalled for years.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|pages=|page=8,9}}<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=van Oosten |first=F. C. |title=Warship Profile 40: Her Netherlands Majesty's Ship De Ruyter |date=1 January 1974 |publisher=Profile Publications |isbn=9780853830627 }}</ref>{{Rp|pages=73}} Progress restarted in 1920, although the third ship of the class, ''Celebes'', was canceled during the pause.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|pages=|page=8,9}} ''Java'' was launched on 9 August 1921, and finally completed on 1 May 1925.<ref name=":8" />{{Rp|pages=|page=190}}

The significant delays of her construction saw the ship outdated by the time she entered service, primarily regarding her armament. By 1922, the [[Washington Naval Treaty]] created a [[Heavy cruiser#Washington Treaty|new standard of cruiser]] equipped with {{Convert|203|mm|in|abbr=on}} guns, which Japan heavily invested in. In addition, the single-barrel turrets protected by [[Gun shield|gun shields]] used on ''Java'' had already been replaced by enclosed, multi-gun turrets fed by independent [[Magazine (artillery)#Naval magazines|magazines]] in other navies.<ref name=":74" />{{Rp|page=138|pages=}}<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=10}}

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==== Sinking ====

[[File:NH 111605 Japanese heavy cruiser, HIJMS NACHI (cropped)Nachi-19420306.jpgpng|thumb|Japanese heavy cruiser ''[[Japanese cruiser Nachi|Nachi]]'' (pictured)days after she torpedoed ''Java'' with devastating effect.]]

During the night of 26 February, the cruisers were temporarily followed by Japanese [[Floatplane|floatplanes]], which gave the enemy an understanding of the fleet's route. Unaware, the Allied cruisers passed near the invasion force but were ambushed by the Japanese [[Heavy cruiser|heavy cruisers]] ''[[Japanese cruiser Haguro|Haguro]]'' and ''[[Japanese cruiser Nachi|Nachi]]''. Under cover of darkness, the Japanese closed to {{Convert|9,000|yd|m}} undetected and fired a spread of torpedoes followed by a renewed gun duel. ''Java''{{'}}s crew, exhausted and low on ammunition, did not shoot back at such a long range.<ref name=":74" />{{Rp|page=314-316|pages=}}