I finally got all the variants of the Dutch last cruiser type! One of the lesser known features of NAVWAR (producer of 1:3000 naval miniatures) is that they provide for some ‘future’ or ‘planned’ warships. Some have been build, but some never…
The Dutch ‘Zeven Provincien’ class cruisers consisted of 2 light cruisers. These vessels were designed in 1938 as improved and enlarged versions of the Dutch 1936 ‘De Ruyter’ light cruiser (which has been destroyed by a Japanese torpedo during the 1942 Battle of the Java Sea). Both ships were designed with 10 guns of 5.9 inch (Bofors): 2 twin turrets and 2 triple turrets. They were planned to carry 2 water planes (for reconnaissance) and had some armour. Both vessels (at that stage named as ‘Eendracht’ and ‘Zeven Provincien’) were in a very early stage of construction (25% and 12%) when the Netherlands was overrun by the German Army in May 1940. Although the Germans tried to continue the building proces (the ships were called ‘Kreuzer Holland 1’ (KH 1) and KH 2, they were never finished. Unfortunately the 5.9 inch guns were never delivered by Sweden and were used for the Swedish ‘Tre Kronur’ class cruisers!
After the war, the Dutch navy had 2 unfinished cruiser hulls and still a desire to complete them. However a different design was required, as radar had replaced water planes and the atomic bomb required some protection against fall out. New drawings resulted in an adapted design: 8 x 5.9 inch Bofors guns in 4 twin turrets, 4 twin Bofors turrets of 57 mm guns and 8 single 40 mm guns. Not one but 2 funnels and lots of brand new Dutch radar systems. Their armour was already part of the hull and so it remained. Both ships were commissioned in 1953 as HNLMS ‘De Ruyter’ (C801) and HNLMS ‘De Zeven Provincien’ (C802). Most of the time these cruisers were used as flagship for a (Dutch) Task Group.
After the war, the Dutch navy had 2 unfinished cruiser hulls and still a desire to complete them. However a different design was required, as radar had replaced water planes and the atomic bomb required some protection against fall out. New drawings resulted in an adapted design: 8 x 5.9 inch Bofors guns in 4 twin turrets, 4 twin Bofors turrets of 57 mm guns and 8 single 40 mm guns. Not one but 2 funnels and lots of brand new Dutch radar systems. Their armour was already part of the hull and so it remained. Both ships were commissioned in 1953 as HNLMS ‘De Ruyter’ (C801) and HNLMS ‘De Zeven Provincien’ (C802). Most of the time these cruisers were used as flagship for a (Dutch) Task Group.
During the 1960’s the newest ship was used for a modernization: HNLMS De Zeven Province deleted her aft gun armament, which was replaced with a twin launcher for RIM-2 Terrier missile system, together with some associated US radar systems. There was no money available to re-arm the first ship as well. Therefore HNLMS ‘De Ruyter’ (C801) was sold to Peru in March 1973, as BAP ‘Almirante Grau’. And HNLMS ‘De Zeven Provincien’ (C802) was also sold to Peru, 2 years later (as BAP ‘Aquirre’), because the Royal Netherlands Navy converted in those days from a ‘complete navy’ (with 1 carrier, 2 cruisers, destroyers, etc.) into a primarily Anti-Submarine Warfare navy (with frigates, submarines and MPA’s).
BAP ‘Aquirre’ apparently wasn’t allowed (by the USA) to use the RIM-2 Terrier system, so the ship was re-designed as a helicopter cruiser: with helo-deck and hangar for Seaking helo’s. Both ships sailed on for a lot of years. BAP ‘Aquirre’ was decommissioned in 1999 and scrapped in 2000. BAP ‘Almirante Grau’ was decommissioned in 2017 and sold to be scrapped.
BAP ‘Aquirre’ apparently wasn’t allowed (by the USA) to use the RIM-2 Terrier system, so the ship was re-designed as a helicopter cruiser: with helo-deck and hangar for Seaking helo’s. Both ships sailed on for a lot of years. BAP ‘Aquirre’ was decommissioned in 1999 and scrapped in 2000. BAP ‘Almirante Grau’ was decommissioned in 2017 and sold to be scrapped.
My four 1:3000 miniatures are from NAVWAR. I painted the original 1938 design as HNLMS ‘Eendracht’ (planned to be commissioned in 1943; NAVWAR nr. ‘N8911’). HNLMS ‘De Ruyter’ (C801) is painted as she (and her sister ship) was finished and commissioned in 1953 (NAVWAR nr. ‘890’). HNLMS ‘De Zeven Provincien’ (C802) is painted as the RIM-2 Terrier equipped variant (after 1964; NAVWAR nr. ‘N890A’). And BAP ‘Aguirre’ (CH 84) is painted as the helicopter cruiser variant (after 1976; NAVWAR nr. ‘N8M2’).
