7100 HNLMS TROMP 1942

HNMLS Tromp was a Dutch light cruiser, keel laid in January 1936, launched in May 1937 and entry into service in 1938. The vessel was about 132 meters long with a width of about 12.4 meters. Standard displacement did not exceed 3,500 tons, and the maximum speed was up to 33 knots. The armament of the ship consisted of: 6 150 mm guns, 4 75 mm guns and 8 40 mm AA guns. The unit could also set mines and perform air operations with a single seaplane. HNMLS Tromp was the first of two entities belonging to the class with the same name - ie Tromp. Units of this type were built to protect Dutch possessions in what is roughly what is now Indonesia, and their main potential enemy was seen in the light naval forces of the Empire of Japan - especially the destroyers of this country. HNMLS Tromp was constructed in accordance with these assumptions, as a result of which a relatively fast unit was created, with good artillery armament. At the time of the accession of the Netherlands to World War II on the side of the Allies in May 1940, HNMLS Tromp carried out convoy tasks in the Indian Ocean and in the area of today's Indonesia, and in February 1942 it became part of the international team of ABDA ships operating in the area of the Dutch East Indies. . The unit took part in the battle (battle) in the Badung Strait, in the course of which it received numerous hits and was seriously damaged. As a result, it was sent for renovation to Australia. In its course, the anti-aircraft armament of the ship was also strengthened. Following these actions, HNMLS Tromp carried out convoy missions in the Indian Ocean and other waters surrounding Australia. From January 1944, the unit operated within the British Eastern Fleet, operating mainly from Ceylon. In 1945, HNMLS Tromp covered, inter alia, Allied landings in Borneo. The unit returned to the Netherlands in May 1946. Ten years later, it was withdrawn from active service, and in 1968 it was removed from the fleet list.