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Revision as of 13:24, 27 March 2006 editFolks at 137 (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Pending changes reviewers26,577 editsm moved HNLMS Flores to Flores class sloops: The article describes both ships of the Flores class not just the ''Flores''← Previous edit Revision as of 14:48, 27 March 2006 edit undoFolks at 137 (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Pending changes reviewers26,577 edits Sub-ed; fix links; add box, ref & infoNext edit →
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The Flores class ]s, Flores and Soemba, were gun boats in the ] during the second World War. They were in several ways the most successful surface ships of the Dutch navy during the war. The '''Flores class ]s''', HNMLS ''Flores'' and ''Soemba'', were ] in the ] during the second World War. They were in several ways the most successful surface ships of the Dutch navy during the war.
{| 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>
|-
!style="color: white; height: 30px; background: #000080;"| Careers
!style="color: white; height: 30px; background: #000080;"| ]
|-
|Built By:
|], ]
|-
||''''Flores'''':
|-
|Laid down:
|January 13 1925
|-
|Launched:
|August 15 1925
|-
|Commissioned:
|March 25 1926
|-
|Paid off:
|
|-
|Fate:
| Scrapped November 12 1968
|-
|Penants:
|F-66, N-1, F-803, A-877
|-
||''''Soemba'''':
|-
|Laid down:
|December 24 1924
|-
|Launched:
|August 24 1925
|-
|Commissioned:
|April 12 1926
|-
|Paid off:
|
|-
|Fate:
|Scrapped July 12 1985
|-
|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
|-
| Range:
|
|-
| 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,
|-
| Aircraft:
|
|}


They were squat ships, commissioned in 1926, with a relatively heavy armament for their size (3 x 5.9 inch Krupp 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 bombing shore targets, as their sister ship HNLMS John Maurits van Nassau demonstrated during the German attack on the ] when she silenced a German battery from a distance of well over 10 miles. 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 their sister ship HNLMS ] demonstrated during the German attack on the ] when she silenced a German battery from a distance of well over 10 miles.


The two ships 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 and Soemba were united in the Mediterranean 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".


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

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.

==External references==
*




Revision as of 14:48, 27 March 2006

The Flores class sloops, HNMLS Flores and Soemba, were gunboats in the Royal Netherlands Navy during the second World War. They were in several ways the most successful surface ships of the Dutch navy during the war.

]
Careers
Royal Netherlands Navy Jack
Built By: Mij Feijenoord, Schiedam
'Flores':
Laid down: January 13 1925
Launched: August 15 1925
Commissioned: March 25 1926
Paid off:
Fate: Scrapped November 12 1968
Penants: F-66, N-1, F-803, A-877
'Soemba':
Laid down: December 24 1924
Launched: August 24 1925
Commissioned: April 12 1926
Paid off:
Fate: Scrapped July 12 1985
Penants: T-199, HX-1, A-891
General Characteristics
Type: sloops
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
Range:
Complement: 145
Armament:
Original configuration: 		3 x 5.9 inch No. 7
1 x 75 mm
4 x .50 Browning machine guns
Added to Flores: 1 single 40 mm "pom-pom"
4 x 20 mm Hotchkiss
8 x .303 machine guns
Added to Soemba: 6 x Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
Armour: Bridge:50 mm
deck: 25-50 mm,


Ammunition hoists: 25 mm,
Gunshields: 14 - 80 mm,

Aircraft:

They were squat ships, both commissioned in 1926, with a relatively heavy armament for their size (3 x 5.9 inch 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 their sister ship HNLMS John Maurits van Nassau demonstrated during the German attack on the Low Countries when she silenced a German battery from a distance of well over 10 miles.

The two ships were intended to provide protection for the vast Dutch East Indies. 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.

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. On November 10 1948, Flores and Soemba were awarded the Koninklijke Vermelding bij Dagorder

Flores was decommissioned in 1968 and Soemba in 1986.

External references


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