The Netherlands has never abandoned the navy and continues to "keep the bar" at a fairly high level.
They did not have gigantic defense budgets, and their main projects were ships of the 2nd rank. However, unexpectedly for everyone their modest frigates surpassed cruisers and destroyers in combat capabilities leading maritime powers.
Ships have always been built in small batches of 2-4 units, but their practical value is enormous. Both for the Netherlands itself and its allies, and for the entire military shipbuilding industry as a whole. Dutch projects demonstrate benchmark performance for naval weapons.
Efficiency has a name: HNLMS Tromp.
"Tromp" (not Trump!) - in memory of the dynasty of Dutch admirals of the 17th century. The last three generations of ships bearing this name turned out to be extremely sensible designs.
Light cruisers of the Tromp class (1937)
The threat of capture of the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) became a determining factor in the development of the Dutch Navy in the 1930s. In the upcoming confrontation with Japan, special hopes were pinned on joint actions with the British fleet (later ABDA, American-British-Dutch-Australian Command).
The Dutch were well aware that they were the weak link. Their first battle cruiser (a development of the German Scharnhorst) could have entered service no earlier than 1944. The backbone of the fleet was made up of light forces.
In this situation, the command considered it reasonable to assume some of the responsibilities for neutralizing the Japanese destroyers. Feasible help for allies, within the available opportunities.
This is how the Argonaut 600 project was born, which became a Tromp-class warship.
It defies precise classification. Too large and not fast enough for a destroyer leader. But still too small to meet the standards for a WWII-era cruiser.
Counter-destroyer? Colonial ship? Raider? Gunboat? No
The author of a detailed Russian-language article about "Tromp" ironically called it "Pygmy of the cruiser class". Most sources still consider the Tromp a light cruiser and are optimistic about it. To "run into" such an enemy in the maze of the Sunda Islands did not bode well for the connection of Japanese destroyers.
Combined torpedo-artillery armament with a main caliber of 150 mm. Three main battery towers (3x2), inner citadel, anti-fragmentation armor, ASDIC sonar, anti-submarine bombers, anti-aircraft guns, reconnaissance seaplane. Speed - 32 knots.
With a full displacement of 4800 tons, it is only 15% more than that of the leader "Tashkent".
Of course, the leaders were different. For objectivity, it should be noted that "Tashkent" was the largest, simply outstanding representative of its class. Most of the leaders and large destroyers of that time lagged behind the "Tashkent" in displacement by 1.5-2 times.
The Dutch ship is even bigger. But he also did not grow up to cruisers.
Nevertheless, the size of the Tromp already allowed many of the advantages of such a severe caliber to be realized. Fully enclosed 70-ton turrets of the main battery with barrel elevation angles of 60 °, two of which are in the bow, in a linearly elevated pattern. A full-fledged rangefinder post with a base of 6 meters. And an extended forecastle, which provided a freeboard of 6 to 7 meters at half the length of the hull. The Trompa's side was higher than that of the Iowa!
When viewed from the side, the "pygmy" seemed much larger than it really was
In this sense, "Tromp" was similar to modern ships, which, with relatively small displacement values, have sides of an outstanding height.
Due to the general "lightness" of its designs (outstanding affinity with destroyers), the 4800-ton Tromp was guaranteed a high side. But the cruiser did not receive advanced superstructures due to the presence of 450 tons of armor. Those reserves of mass, which modern ships of similar size spend on superstructure-skyscrapers, in the light cruiser "went" inside the hull.
Estimates of his booking begin with a "belt" - a skin that had a thickness of 16 mm for 2/3 of the hull. In fact, some destroyers, for example, the American "Fletcher", could boast of a similar bulletproof armor (from shrapnel and bullets from aircraft machine guns). The Fletcher's planking and deck planking reached a thickness of 0.5 inches (12.7 mm). Even on the Soviet "sevens", often criticized for the fragility of the hulls, the thickness of the shirstrek was 10 mm. (Shirstrek - sheathing strip, in the upper part of the side, where the stresses from bending loads reach the highest values.)
But the creators of Tromp went even further.
The real shell was hidden inside from prying eyes. The "external" compartments located along the side were separated from the "internal" compartments with important mechanisms by a longitudinal bulkhead 20-30 mm thick, which also played the role of a PTZ bulkhead. And in the same way - from the opposite side. From above, both bulkheads were connected by a deck made of Krupp armor 25 mm thick.
In order to strengthen the protection of the underwater part, the ship had a double bottom for 57% of its length.
Of course, the designers paid attention to the protection of weapons - the main battery towers and barbets received walls with a thickness of 15 to 25 mm.
Of course, such a spaced reservation could not protect the Dutch cruiser even from 5 '' shells. But this did not mean that 450 tons were wasted. The calculation of the designers was based on the localization of damage and protection from fragments.
No one from the ships closest in size and purpose (French and Italian-built counter-destroyers) had no constructive protection at all … And the concepts of "citadel", "traverse", "horizontal protection", PTZ were found only in ships of a class no lower than a cruiser.
Tromp: a truly unique pygmy
The best rank 2-3 ship? In my opinion, Tromp deserves a more cautious assessment. No matter how powerful her artillery was, in the battle in Badang Bay the cruiser was unable to sink any of the opponents (destroyers Asashio and Oyashio), receiving 11 hits in response. However, one episode is not an indicator. In 1942, the Allies suffered heavy losses, regardless of the quality of ships and weapons.
Or the aforementioned seaplane - not a single image of "Tromp" with a plane on board has been found. Most likely, the cruiser carried aircraft weapons only in theory.
It is clear that such "pygmies" could not be of interest to the fleets of the leading naval powers.
To understand why Tromp is a successful project, you need to look at the situation differently.
The Dutch found a way, with a lack of funds and technology, to strengthen the fleet with something more serious than the leader of the destroyers. And this practice could be useful for the Navy of many states. Unfortunately, the command of weak fleets often suffered from an inferiority complex. Outward shine and extreme speed were important to them - as proof of its high value.
The 1937 Tromp is perhaps not the most convincing example of Dutch craftsmanship. In his era, too much depended on the size of the ship itself. But the emergence of microelectronics and guided missile weapons completely "untied" the hands of the Dutch designers.
URO frigates of the "Tromp" type (1973)
A series of two ships built as flagships of the Netherlands Navy. Wait to laugh!
With a full displacement of 4300 tons, the Dutch the frigate carried half of the weapons of the nuclear cruiser "California" … And something else …
Comparison with a nuclear-powered cruiser is not accidental. After all, the comparison of "Tromp" with "classmates" from the 1970s will look absurd.
The Oliver Perry-class frigate (4200 tons) will immediately lose on all counts. He has the same "one-armed" launcher Mk.13 with ammunition load of 40 missiles … but how many fire control channels? Only one. What kind of surveillance radar? I'm ashamed to speak.
Hidden under the huge white hood of the Trompa is a powerful three-dimensional radar SPS-01, originally designed to operate as part of the British Sea Dart air defense system.
In addition, the "Tromp" was equipped with an additional short-range air defense system. Protection at the bow corners was provided by the container Sea Sparrow.
Here's another example. British Type 42 destroyer known as Sheffield. Having a two-channel medium / long-range air defense system similar in purpose, the destroyer was definitely inferior to the Tromp because of the lack of near-range air defense systems, weak artillery and the absence of anti-ship missiles.
Paradoxical as it may seem, only the cruiser California can be considered as the closest analogue of the Tromp in terms of capabilities in the 1970s. Where the Tartar / Standard air defense complex was also used as the main weapon.
At the same time, the little “Dutchman” turned out to be “toothy enough” to look decent against the background of such a high-ranking rival. And even superior in something! For example, "California" did not have a helicopter hangar.
The most unsightly, but the most efficient NATO ship in European waters
The Dutch probably knew the magic word. If we evaluate the situation logically, then the disproportionate capabilities of the "Tromps" have their own explanation.
The US Navy is accustomed to considering any ship, even cruisers and destroyers, in the context of mass production. Mass product, "commodity", consumable.
As part of the compact European fleets, each ship was on a special account and had an exclusive status. And the attitude towards him was appropriate.
The Netherlands, as one of the most developed and wealthy members of NATO, could afford more than the rest. They independently created or purchased the best weapons, turning their 2nd rank ships into real "death stars".
Command frigate "Tromp" (2001)
Sea rafting "Aegis", "Patriot", C-400, "Torah", "Pantsir S-1" and radar "Voronezh". The dimensions of the 6000-ton ship allow it to be equipped with any existing air defense / missile defense systems.
Radars with active antennas of any selected bands and dozens of missile launchers, without deployment delays. The ship's weapons are on immediate alert! Against the background of a flat sea surface, from horizon to horizon, where aviation and air attack weapons have nowhere to hide behind the folds of the terrain.
The Dutch have made the most of these opportunities. There are only four types of ships in the world that can compare with the Dutch frigate in terms of air defense / missile defense capabilities.
The current Tromp is a representative of the Seven Provinces command frigate series. Command - because he is able to be the first to see the air target and provide target designation to other ships, distributing their actions when repelling an attack.
In addition, unlike its predecessors, it is very beautiful.
A detailed article about these frigates: The Flying Dutchman, setting the standard for the destroyer Leader.
It's too late to compete with the current Tromp, next year it will be 20 years old. On the way - a new generation of frigates (destroyers) for the Netherlands Navy. You need to look and draw conclusions.
The magic word "Tromp" helps to find the right and effective solutions among the myriad of projects in the field of military shipbuilding.
