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{{more citations needed|date=July 2008}}
{| align="right" border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin-left:1em; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;" width="300"

| colspan="2" align="center"| ]<br><small></small>
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=]
|Ship caption=''Flores''-class gunboat HNLMS ''Soemba''
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Builders=
|Operators={{Navy|Netherlands}}
|Class before={{sclass|Brinio|gunboat|4}}
|Class after={{HNLMS|Johan Maurits van Nassau|1932|2}}
|Built range=1925–1926
|In commission range=1926–1956
|Total ships completed=2
|Total ships scrapped=2
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship type= ]
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|1457|LT|t|order=flip|abbr=on}} standard
*{{convert|1793|LT|t|order=flip|abbr=on}} full load
|Ship length= {{convert|75.6|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam= {{convert|11.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught= {{convert|3.6|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=2 shafts, 2 ]
|Ship speed= {{convert|15|kn|abbr=on}}
|Ship range=
|Ship complement=145
|Ship power=*{{convert|2000|shp|abbr=on|order=flip}}
*4 ]s
|Ship armament=*''As built'':
*3 × {{convert|5.9|in|mm|abbr=on|order=flip}} No. 7 guns
*1 × 75 mm gun
*4 × ]
*''Added to Flores'':
*1 × ]
*4 × 20 mm Hotchkiss
*8 × .303 machine guns
*''Added to Soemba'':
*6 × ]
|Ship armour=*]: {{convert|50|mm|in|abbr=on}}
*]: {{convert|25|-|50|mm|in|abbr=on}}
*Ammunition hoists: {{convert|25|mm|in|abbr=on}}
*]s: {{convert|14|-|80|mm|in|abbr=on}}
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
The '''''Flores''-class gunboats''' were a ] of two ] built in the mid-1920s for the ]. {{HNLMS|Flores||2}} and {{HNLMS|Soemba|1925|2}} were intended to patrol the ]. During ], they served in the ]. They were in several ways the most successful surface ships of the Dutch navy during the war.

They were squat ships, both commissioned in 1926, with a relatively heavy armament for their size (three {{convert|150|mm|abbr=on}} ] guns, the same type and calibre as for the cruisers ]). Their main asset was an advanced fire control system that made them very accurate in bombarding shore targets, as a similar gunboat, '']'', demonstrated in ] when she silenced a German battery from a distance of some {{convert|10|nmi|km|abbr=on|order=flip}}.

==Construction==
{| class="wikitable"
|- |-
! width="120" | Name
!style="color: white; height: 30px; background: #000080;"| Careers
! width="90" | Laid down
!style="color: white; height: 30px; background: #000080;"| ]
! width="90" | Launched
! width="90" | Commissioned
! width="90" | Decommissioned
|- |-
| {{HNLMS|Flores||2}}
|Built By:
| 13 January 1925
|], ]
| 15 August 1925
| 25 March 1926
| 16 September 1968
|- |-
| {{HNLMS|Soemba|1925|2}}
||''''Flores'''':
| 24 December 1924
|-
| 24 August 1925
|Laid down:
| 12 April 1926
|] ]
| 9 June 1985
|-
|Launched:
|] ]
|-
|Commissioned:
|] ]
|-
|Fate:
|Scrapped ] ]
|-
|Penants:
|F-66, N-1, F-803, A-877
|-
||''''Soemba'''':
|-
|Laid down:
|] ]
|-
|Launched:
|] ]
|-
|Commissioned:
|] ]
|-
|Fate:
|Scrapped ] ]
|-
|Penants:
|T-199, HX-1, A-891
|-
!colspan="2" style="color: white; height: 30px; background: #000080;"|General Characteristics
|-
|Type:
| ]s
|-
| Displacement:
| 1457 tons (standard) / 1793 tons (loaded)
|-
| Length:
| 75.6 metres
|-
| Beam:
| 11.5 metres
|-
| Draught:
| 3.6 metres
|-
| Propulsion:
| 4 Yarrow boilers, 2 Triple-expansion engines, 2 shafts, 2000 shp
|-
| Speed:
| 15 knots
|-
| Complement:
| 145
|-
|valign="top"|Armament:<br>Original configuration:
|3 x 5.9 inch No. 7<br>1 x 75 mm<br>4 x .50 Browning machine guns
|-
|Added to ''Flores'':
|1 single 40 mm "]"<br>4 x 20 mm ]<br>8 x .303 machine guns
|-
|Added to ''Soemba'':
|6 x ]
|-
|valign="top"|Armour:
|Bridge:50 mm<br>deck: 25-50 mm,
<br>Ammunition hoists: 25 mm,
<br>Gunshields: 14 - 80 mm,
|} |}
The '''Flores class ]s''', HNLMS ''Flores'' and ''Soemba'' were ] in the ] during the World War II. They were in several ways the most successful surface ships of the Dutch navy during the war.


==Service history==
They were squat ships, both commissioned in 1926, with a relatively heavy armament for their size (3 x 5.9 inch ] guns, the same type and calibre as for the cruisers ]). Their main asset was an advanced fire control system that made them very accurate in bombarding shore targets, as a similar sloop, '']'', demonstrated in ] when she silenced a German battery from a distance of well over 10 miles.
''Flores'' was brought back to the Netherlands at the start of World War II where she patrolled home waters until the Germans invaded in 1940. Slightly damaged, she escaped to Britain and was employed as a coastal escort. ''Soemba'' was withdrawn to ] in March 1942, before she could be captured or destroyed by the Japanese invasion of the East Indies.
]
''Flores'' and ''Soemba'' were united in the ] and played an active and successful role in the landings in ], ], ], ], ] and finally, at the beaches of ] in June 1944. The ships came under fire from shore based artillery and bombers many times, but survived all attacks, although they incurred damage several times. British war correspondents referred to them as "the terrible twins".


With their guns worn out due to intensive use, the two ships were retired from active duty shortly after the war and used for artillery instruction and as floating barracks. Soemba was converted to a radar training ship, most of her guns removed and enlarged superstructure fitted to house radar equipment and classrooms. On November 10, 1948, ''Flores'' and ''Soemba'' were awarded the {{Interlanguage link|Koninklijke Vermelding bij Dagorder|nl}}.
The sloops ''Flores'' and ''Soemba'' were intended to provide protection for the vast ]. ''Flores'' was brought back to the Netherlands at the start of World War II where she patrolled home waters until the Germans invaded in 1940. Slightly damaged, she escaped to Britain and was employed as a coastal escort. ''Soemba'' was withdrawn to ] in March 1942, before she could be captured or destroyed by the Japanese invasion of the East Indies.


''Flores'' was decommissioned in 1968 and ''Soemba'' in 1986.
''Flores'' and ''Soemba'' were united in the ] and played an active and successful role in the landings in ], ], ], ], ] and finally, at the beaches of ] in June 1944. The ships came under fire from shore based artillery and bombers many times but survived all attacks, although they incurred damage several times. British war correspondents referred to them as "the terrible twins".


With their guns worn out due to intensive use, the two ships were retired from active duty shortly after the war and used for artillery instruction and as floating barracks. On November 10 1948, ''Flores'' and ''Soemba'' were awarded the '']''

''Flores'' was decommissioned in 1968 and ''Soemba'' in 1986.


==Notes==
==External references==
{{reflist|2}}
*


==References==
*{{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|editor1-last=Chesneau|editor1-first=Roger|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=Greenwich, UK|year=1980|isbn=0-85177-146-7}}
*{{cite book|last=Cruijff|first=Henryk J.|title=Warship 2012|editor=John Jordan|publisher=Conway|location=London|date=2012|pages=170–72|chapter=HNLMS Soemba : Radar-Instruction Ship & Aircraft Direction Ship, 1946–1954 |isbn=978-1-84486-156-9}}


==External links==
]
*
*


{{Flores class gunboat}}
{{WWII Dutch ships}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Flores Class Sloops}}
{{mil-ship-stub}}
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 18:00, 13 December 2024

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Soemba gun boatFlores-class gunboat HNLMS Soemba
Class overview
Operators Royal Netherlands Navy
Preceded byBrinio class
Succeeded byJohan Maurits van Nassau
Built1925–1926
In commission1926–1956
Completed2
Scrapped2
General characteristics
TypeGunboat
Displacement
  • 1,480 t (1,457 long tons) standard
  • 1,822 t (1,793 long tons) full load
Length75.6 m (248 ft 0 in)
Beam11.5 m (37 ft 9 in)
Draught3.6 m (11 ft 10 in)
Installed power
Propulsion2 shafts, 2 Triple-expansion steam engines
Speed15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement145
Armament
Armour
  • Bridge: 50 mm (2.0 in)
  • Deck: 25–50 mm (0.98–1.97 in)
  • Ammunition hoists: 25 mm (0.98 in)
  • Gun shields: 14–80 mm (0.55–3.15 in)

The Flores-class gunboats were a class of two gunboats built in the mid-1920s for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Flores and Soemba were intended to patrol the Dutch East Indies. During World War II, they served in the Royal Netherlands Navy. They were in several ways the most successful surface ships of the Dutch navy during the war.

They were squat ships, both commissioned in 1926, with a relatively heavy armament for their size (three 150 mm (5.9 in) Krupp guns, the same type and calibre as for the cruisers Java and Sumatra). Their main asset was an advanced fire control system that made them very accurate in bombarding shore targets, as a similar gunboat, Johan Maurits van Nassau, demonstrated in 1940 when she silenced a German battery from a distance of some 19 km (10 nmi).

Construction

Name Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned
Flores 13 January 1925 15 August 1925 25 March 1926 16 September 1968
Soemba 24 December 1924 24 August 1925 12 April 1926 9 June 1985

Service history

Flores was brought back to the Netherlands at the start of World War II where she patrolled home waters until the Germans invaded in 1940. Slightly damaged, she escaped to Britain and was employed as a coastal escort. Soemba was withdrawn to Colombo in March 1942, before she could be captured or destroyed by the Japanese invasion of the East Indies.

Gunboat Flores

Flores and Soemba were united in the Mediterranean Sea and played an active and successful role in the landings in Sicily, Salerno, Anzio, Garigliano, Gaeta and finally, at the beaches of Normandy in June 1944. The ships came under fire from shore based artillery and bombers many times, but survived all attacks, although they incurred damage several times. British war correspondents referred to them as "the terrible twins".

With their guns worn out due to intensive use, the two ships were retired from active duty shortly after the war and used for artillery instruction and as floating barracks. Soemba was converted to a radar training ship, most of her guns removed and enlarged superstructure fitted to house radar equipment and classrooms. On November 10, 1948, Flores and Soemba were awarded the Koninklijke Vermelding bij Dagorder [nl].

Flores was decommissioned in 1968 and Soemba in 1986.


Notes

References

  • Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
  • Cruijff, Henryk J. (2012). "HNLMS Soemba : Radar-Instruction Ship & Aircraft Direction Ship, 1946–1954". In John Jordan (ed.). Warship 2012. London: Conway. pp. 170–72. ISBN 978-1-84486-156-9.

External links

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