Ships that never where: Neterlands

[lordroel]

CELEBES

CELEBES, an light cruiser, was built by Wilton-Fijenoord, Netherlands; laid down 14 Juni 1917 ; launched 13 November 1921; and commissioned 14 May 1927.

CELEBES was the third and last of the JAVA-class build, commissioned in 1927 she spend most of here time in the Netherlands East Indies, only returning to the Netherlands in 1938 where she relived here sistership JAVA in convoy duties during the Spanish Civil War in the Strait of Gibraltar, she then spend 1939 in the Netherlands where she was refitted before returning to the Netherlands East Indies in January 1940.

When war broke out with Japan in December 1941, CELEBES and here sistership JAVA performed convoy duties in conjunction with British forces. On 15 February 1942, the force which CELEBES was attacked by "Kate" bombers from the carrier RYUJO although no damage was sustained.

On 19 February 1942, the ABDA naval forces which CELEBES was part of sailed to Bali to attempt to disrupt Japanese landings there, and she took part in the Battle of Badung Strait. In this action, fire was exchanged with the Japanese but the CELEBES took no damage. The Japanese successfully captured Bali while severely damaging the cruiser TROMP and a destroyer, and sinking the PIET HEIN.

On 27 February 1942 CELEBES took part in the Battle of the Java Sea, she along with the cruisers PERTH and HOUSTON remained; low on fuel and ammunition, and following Doorman's last instructions, the three ships retired, arriving at Tanjung Priok on 28 February.

CELEBES, PERTH and HOUSTON were at Tanjung Priok on 28 February when they received orders to sail through Sunda Strait to Tjilatjap. Material was running short in Java, and neither was able to rearm or fully refuel. Departing at 19:00 on 28 February for the Sunda Strait, by chance they encountered the main Japanese invasion fleet for West Java in Bantam Bay. The Allied ships were engaged by at least three cruisers and several destroyers.

In a ferocious night action that ended after midnight on 1 March, CELEBES, PERTH and HOUSTON were sunk. A Japanese minesweeper and two troop transports were sunk by friendly fire, while two other transports were damaged and had to be beached.

[lordroel]

GERALD CALLENBURGH

GERALD CALLENBURGH, lead ship of the GERALD CALLENBURGH class destroyers, laid down on 12 October 1938 at RDM Rotterdam; launched 12 October 1939; towed to England, completed and commissioned on 11 October 1942. Together with TJERK HIDDES was allocated to serve with the British Royal Navy's 7th Destroyer Flotilla in the Eastern Fleet.

Took part in supporting landings to complete the occupation of Madagascar (Operation Streamline Jane), which was under the control of Vichy forces, and participated in preparatory exercises. On 9 September, during the operation she and TJERK HIDDES were deployed as screen for HMS ILLUSTRIOUS.

GERALD CALLENBURGH was detached from the 7th Flotilla on 30 September 1942 when VAN GALEN took over here place (had done service in Mediterranean), GERALD CALLENBURGH then headed to the Mediterranean where she remained until January 1944 when she, TJERK HIDDES, VAN GALEN and the cruiser TROMP were transferred to the Eastern Fleet, GERALD CALLENBURGH rejoined the 7th Destroyer Flotilla for fleet screening and convoy protection duties in the Indian Ocean which she did until January 1945 before returning to the United Kingdom for maintenance.

On 24 July 1945 GERALD CALLENBURGH arrived at Amsterdam, the first Dutch warship to do so after Liberation Day. In September of that year she set sail for the Netherlands East Indies, where she performed patrol duties until 11 October 1946. She returned to the Netherlands in December of that year.

She remained in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy until being decommissioned in 1955.

[belushitd]

Question - Why was there almost 6 year gap between Celebes being launched and comissionned?

Thanks

Belushi TD

[lordroel]

Aug 25, 2021 3:36:02 GMT belushitd said:

Question - Why was there almost 6 year gap between Celebes being launched and comissionned?

Thanks

Belushi TD

Politics, in OTL there where even attempts by some parties to have the Royal Navy disbanded, but that did not happen, JAVA and SUMATRA where build and commissioned only which the promise that CELEBES and the remaining 3 other cruiser of where not build.

[oscssw]

I don't think two more 1916 era light cruisers would have done much good Lordroel.
The only thing that might have helped was if ABDA had decent air cover and the USN torpedoes worked 1/4 as well as the Japanese Long lance. Still one very, very long shot that anything material would be accomplished aside from a minor thinning out a bit of the IJN cruiser force.

The USN and RN Battle fleet was crippled in the Pacific and Mac's Air Force annihilated on day one on the ground all of West Pac was lost. Personally, I find it hard to fault the Dutch or the Brits. Neither had the ships and aircraft to spare for the Pacific with the war in Europe and the Med raging. The USA, on the other hand should never have moved the Pac fleet to Hawaii. It belonged in Dego, per prewar plans.

[lordroel]

Sept 1, 2021 23:34:04 GMT oscssw said:

I don't think two more 1916 era light cruisers would have done much good Lordroel.
The only thing that might have helped was if ABDA had decent air cover and the USN torpedoes worked 1/4 as well as the Japanese Long lance. Still one very, very long shot that anything material would be accomplished aside from a minor thinning out a bit of the IJN cruiser force.

The USN and RN Battle fleet was crippled in the Pacific and Mac's Air Force annihilated on day one on the ground all of West Pac was lost. Personally, I find it hard to fault the Dutch or the Brits. Neither had the ships and aircraft to spare for the Pacific with the war in Europe and the Med raging. The USA, on the other hand should never have moved the Pac fleet to Hawaii. It belonged in Dego, per prewar plans.

You are right Senior Chief, the NEI was to big to be defended with what the Netherlands had, even if they had more ships and better cooperation with the other allies.