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|Ship caption=''Flores'' |Ship caption=''Flores''
}} }}
{{Infobox Ship Career {{Infobox Ship Class Overview
|Builders=
|Hide header=
⚫ |Operators={{Navy|Netherlands}}
|Ship country=
|Class before={{sclass|Brinio|gunboat|4}}
⚫ |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Netherlands}}
|Class after={{HNLMS|Johan Maurits van Nassau||2}}
|Ship name= ''Flores''
|Built range=1925–1926
|Ship namesake=
|In commission range=1926–1956
|Ship ordered=
|Total ships completed=2
|Ship builder=], ]
|Total ships scrapped=2
|Ship laid down=13 January 1925
|Ship launched= 15 August 1925
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned= 25 March 1926
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship homeport=
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honours=
|Ship fate= Scrapped 12 November 1968
|Ship status=
|Ship notes= Pennant numbers: F-66, N-1, F-803, A-877
}}
{{Infobox Ship Career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=
|Ship flag=
|Ship name= ''Soemba''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=], ]
|Ship laid down= 24 December 1924
|Ship launched= 24 August 1925
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned= 12 April 1926
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship homeport=
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honours=
|Ship fate= Scrapped 12 July 1985
|Ship status=
|Ship notes= Pennant numbers: T-199, HX-1, A-891
}} }}
{{Infobox Ship Characteristics {{Infobox Ship Characteristics
|Hide header= |Hide header=
|Header caption= |Header caption=
|Ship type= ] |Ship type= ]
|Ship displacement= {{convert|1457|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} standard<br /> {{convert|1793|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} full load |Ship displacement= {{convert|1457|LT|t}} standard<br /> {{convert|1793|LT|t}} full load
|Ship length= {{convert|75.6|m|ft|abbr=on}} |Ship length= {{convert|75.6|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam= {{convert|11.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship beam= {{convert|11.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught= {{convert|3.6|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship draught= {{convert|3.6|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=4 Yarrow boilers, 2 Triple-expansion engines, 2 shafts, {{convert|2000|shp|0|abbr=on}} |Ship propulsion=2 shafts, 2 ]
|Ship speed= {{convert|15|kn|mph km/h|lk=in}} |Ship speed= {{convert|15|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range= |Ship range=
|Ship complement=145 |Ship complement=145
|Ship power={{convert|2000|shp|lk=in|abbr=on}}<br />4 ]s
|Ship sensors=
⚫ |Ship armament=''As built'':<br/ >3 × {{convert|5.9|in|mm|abbr=on}} No. 7 guns<br/ >1 × 75 mm gun<br/ >4 × ]<br/ >''Added to Flores'':<br/ >1 × ]<br/ >4 × 20 mm Hotchkiss<br/ >8 × .303 machine guns<br/ >''Added to Soemba'':<br/ >6 × ]
|Ship EW=
⚫ |Ship armour=]: {{convert|50|mm|in|abbr=on}}<br/ >]: {{convert|25|-|50|mm|in|abbr=on}}<br/ >Ammunition hoists: {{convert|25|mm|in|abbr=on}}<br/ >]s: {{convert|14|-|80|mm|in|abbr=on}}
⚫ |Ship armament=''As built'' :<br/ >• 3 × {{convert|5.9|in|mm|abbr=on}} No. 7 guns<br/ >• 1 × 75 mm gun<br/ >• 4 × ]<br/ >''Added to Flores'' :<br/ >• 1 × ]<br/ >• 4 × 20 mm Hotchkiss<br/ >• 8 × .303 machine guns<br/ >''Added to Soemba'' :<br/ >• 6 × ]
⚫ |Ship armour=Bridge: {{convert|50|mm|in|abbr=on}}<br/ >Deck: {{convert|25|-|50|mm|in|abbr=on}}<br/ >Ammunition hoists: {{convert|25|mm|in|abbr=on}}<br/ >Gunshields: {{convert|14|-|80|mm|in|abbr=on}}
|Ship notes= |Ship notes=
}} }}
|} |}
The '''Flores class sloops''', ''Flores'' and ''Soemba'' were ] in the ] during World War II. They were in several ways the most successful surface ships of the Dutch navy during the war. The '''''Flores'' class gunboats''' were a ] of two ] built in the mid-1920s for the ] (''Indische Militaire Marine)''. {{HNLMS|Flores||2}} and {{HNLMS|Soemba||2}} were intended to patrol the vast ]. 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 5.9&nbsp;inch (150&nbsp;mm) ] 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 ], '']'', demonstrated in ] 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 (three 5.9&nbsp;inch (150&nbsp;mm) ] 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 well over 10 miles.


==Service history== ==Service history==
''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 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". ''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".
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] ]
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Flores gun boatFlores
Class overview
Operators Royal Netherlands Navy
Preceded byBrinio class
Succeeded byJohan Maurits van Nassau
Built1925–1926
In commission1926–1956
Completed2
Scrapped2
General characteristics
TypeGunboat
Displacementlist error: <br /> list (help)
1,457 long tons (1,480 t) standard
1,793 long tons (1,822 t) full load
Length75.6 m (248 ft 0 in)
Beam11.5 m (37 ft 9 in)
Draught3.6 m (11 ft 10 in)
Installed powerlist error: <br /> list (help)
2,000 shp (1,500 kW)
4 Yarrow boilers
Propulsion2 shafts, 2 Triple-expansion steam engines
Speed15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement145
Armamentlist error: <br /> list (help)
As built:
3 × 5.9 in (150 mm) No. 7 guns
1 × 75 mm gun
4 × .50 Browning machine guns
Added to Flores:
1 × single 40 mm "pom-pom"
4 × 20 mm Hotchkiss
8 × .303 machine guns
Added to Soemba:
6 × Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
Armourlist error: <br /> list (help)
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 Dutch Indies Navy (Indische Militaire Marine). Flores and Soemba were intended to patrol the vast 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 5.9 inch (150 mm) 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 well over 10 miles.

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.

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.

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


Dutch naval ship classes of World War II
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ex-American
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Completed after the war
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Single ship of class
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Never completed/Cancelled
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