Content deleted Content added
→Peace time: condensed refs |
image captions now sentences |
||
Line 77:
== Construction ==
[[File:Kruiser Hr.Ms. Sumatra (1926-1942) Oplegperiode tijdens WOII in Portsrmouth, UK. Oefeningen 15 cm- geschut (2158 011547).jpg|thumb|Her single-barrel open turrets were already obsolete by the time ''Java'' 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 lead 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 |asin=B0007C1ABY}}</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}}
Line 97:
On the night of 19 February, the battle began when the two cruisers found the destroyers ''[[Japanese destroyer Asashio (1936)|Asashio]]'' and ''[[Japanese destroyer Ōshio|Ōshio]]'' escorting a transport off Bali. After catching the Japanese by surprise, the ships opened fire. However, limited communication and poor visibility prevented the ships from hitting each other. After ten minutes, Doorman believed the destroyers were sufficiently damaged and took the cruisers north, and hoped he was followed.<ref name=":74" />{{Rp|page=|pages=230–232}} The Japanese did not take the bait. Instead, they then engaged the Allied destroyers, routing them and sinking the Dutch destroyer ''[[HNLMS Piet Hein (1927)|Piet Hein]]'' in the process.<ref name=":74" />{{Rp|page=233|pages=}}
[[File:Aerial view of HNLMS Java (cropped).jpg|thumb|''Java'' at anchor several weeks before she was sunk.]]
==== Battle of the Java Sea ====
Line 107:
Once reunited, he then broke off from the engagement and circled around the Japanese to intercept the transports somewhere in the north.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=89|pages=}} The force was now reduced to the cruisers ''De Ruyter'', ''Java'', ''[[USS Houston (CA-30)|Houston]]'', and ''[[HMAS Perth (D29)|Perth]]''. The destroyers had either been sunk, severely damaged, tasked with escorting the crippled ''Exeter'', or forced to break off due to lack of fuel and torpedoes.<ref name=":03" />{{Rp|page=89, 92, 96|pages=}}
===== Sinking =====
[[File:NH 111605 Japanese heavy cruiser, HIJMS NACHI (cropped).jpg|thumb|Japanese heavy cruiser ''Nachi'' (pictured) torpedoed ''Java'' with devastating effect.]]During the night of the 26th, 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''<nowiki/>'s crew, exhausted and low on ammunition, did not shoot back at such a long range.<ref name=":74" />{{Rp|page=314-316|pages=}}
When the torpedoes were detected, the fleet took evasive action. ''Java'', at the end of the battle line, did not turn in time and was struck by a torpedo from ''Nachi'' near her magazine at 11:36 PM. The older ship, which lacked modern protections, was obliterated in the following explosion. The rear-most gun and {{Convert|100|ft|m}} of her stern was blown off in an explosion so large it was felt onboard other ships in formation. [[Damage control (maritime)|Damage control]] was hopeless and the [[engine room]] began to flood. The order to abandon ship was given by [[captain]] {{Interlanguage link|Philippus Bernardus Maria van Straelen|lt=Philippus van Straelen|nl}}. Crews were initially calm, but they struggled to access the ship's [[Personal flotation device|life vests]]. The vests were kept locked in a compartment with one hatch, and a mod formed when sailors struggled to pass each other to reach the compartment. The ship sank in 15 minutes, which left little time to deploy [[Lifeboat (rescue)|lifeboats]]. Crew members jumped ship and clung onto anything thrown overboard.<ref name=":74" />{{Rp|page=316-317|pages=}} There was only 19 survivors from her compliment of 525 sailors.<ref name=":8" />{{Rp|page=190}}<ref name=":022">{{Cite book |last=Noppen |first=Ryan K. |title=The Royal Netherlands Navy of World War II |date=2020 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing Plc |others=Paul Wright |isbn=978-1-4728-4191-9 |edition=1st |series=New Vanguard Series |___location=London}}</ref>{{Rp|pages=|page=44}}
| |||