WesWorld

The Netherlands 1928 News

April 2nd,
Commencing this quarter, the Admiralty has laid the keels for a dozen new fleet destroyers. The Chief of the Royal Dutch Navy's Naval Design Bureau, Mr. Martin De Vries stated that the new Z53 class is a modern destroyer with a better weapons suite and form than it’s predecessors. The Z53 will introduce the 40mm MkVIII and 20mm MkIIc to the fleet.

The 4h Tri-Annual naval wargames have commenced in the Banda Sea. Lieutenant-Admiral Hans Pienaar announced that the games would last three weeks and feature the carrier CVx Hund in a variety of scenarios.

May 16th
The Netherlands Naval Times reports the Tri-annual wargames were held last month over a period of three weeks. Each “fleet problem” lasted from 2-5 days. The series of fleet problems centered on the aircraft carrier Hund, featuring several airgroup configurations, were held. While the Admiralty has not released details such as in 1925, the prominence of the Hund seems to have been unhealthy for the ship, talk in the Navy is that the Hund was “sunk” repeatedly in the exercise.

While numerous other ships were “losses” it is understood that the Hund was the only multiple victim. The principle problem cited by those talking were only a pair of Z13 class destroyers as escorts. Rumor has it the “losses” were once to the 6th cruiser group, twice by opposing airplanes and once by the K-3. The Navy is publicly quite pleased with the Hund as a reconnaissance asset and in her strike role, however there is scuttlebutt that the losses to enemy aircraft were are being blamed on a slow rate of the ship’s fighters in combination with damage control failings.

March 15th
Koninklijke Fabriek van der Artillerie has announced that, in consultation with the USA’s John Browning, a new 13.2mm heavy machine gun has been designed. The 13.2mm HMG will replace the 13mm HMGs, of which various makes have been in use since 1900. Like Browning’s M2 USA design, the 13.2mm will chamber the anti-tank round in use in the Army’s Anti-tank rifles since 1919.

June 13th
The admiralty announced today that the 4 Breda class cruisers had been completed. The vessels shall form the 7th Cruiser Group. The Breda class shall commence a North Atlantic cruise before returning to Amsterdam in August.

July 1st
The Admiralties quarterly announcement of ships includes the new K-17 class of coastal submarines, the new O-1 Class of fleet submarines and two new carriers, the Eendracht and Brederode are named for Dutch flagships of the golden age. Chief of the Royal Dutch Navy's Naval Design Bureau, Martin De Vries, stated that particular attention had been paid to a logical arrangement of quarters and internal work areas, powerful elevators. The flying off deck and improved elevators are expected to improve the launch rate. Ship’s ventilation has been improved with a more open hanger and the flying off deck forward. A series of overhead saltwater sprays in conjunction with secondary pumping systems have been provided to address concerns regarding vulnerability to fire.

The new O-1 submarines will introduce into service the 105mm QF MkXIe. This is not the same as the Army’s new 105mm gun/howitzer, but a naval rifle. The new K-17s will bear the 75mm Mk IIIb which features a new breech and HA mount.

August 29th
With pomp and ceremony the two Utrecht Class Battleships were commissioned into the fleet today. The Utrecht and Oceaan are powerful modern units fully capable of engaging any nations battleships. The two vessels are expected to form the backbone of the fleet for many years to come.

September 1st
The Admiralty has announced that, with the commissioning of the Utrechts, a reorganization of the Fleet has been enacted. Principle elements of the reorganization are the detachment of elderly vessels to serve as training ships, formation of a carrier group consisting of CVx and escorting vessels, and rebasing of the submarine flotillas.
The 1st Battle division, consisting of the Utrechts, and the 7th Cruiser Group departed for the DEIs today.

October 31st
The old predreadnaughts Molluca and Ijseelmeer, decommissioned since August, were brought into drydocks in Den Helder and the Hauge today. SubSecretary of Defense Frank Meijer has announced they will be converted to a target vessel and training vessel respectively. Minister Meijer stated that “There has long been a pressing need for vessels dedicated to these purposes. While there will be substantial cost in the conversion, these vessels will be first rate examples of their type and considerably enhance the professionalism of the Navy.

December 15th
SubSecretary of Defense Frank Meijer has announced that the easiest of the tasks regarding the Molluca and Ijseelmeer has been completed and the armament removed.
“I am pleased to announce that the removed armament, with a minimal effort to increase the possible elevations, shall be reused. The two twin 320mm turrets will be incorporated into the defenses of Jakarta, while Medan, Balikpapan, Surabaia, Matadi and Paramaribo will each receive four single 240mm mounts and a further four 100mm mounts.

Interesting to note that Hund was sunk repeatedly. Maybe it has something to do with the small size and slowness of the vessel? Eendract seems more capable, like min-Glorious I think.

Well- my concepts –

The CVx Hund is still fairly new for the Dutch, and this was there first real chance to give it a workout.
I’m thinking it would have numerous deficiencies in doctrine, training, and mechanical.

1) Doctrine : In it’s general employment as a scouting platform, keeping it separate from combat elements that seek gun range makes sense. A pair of old Z13 class work as plane guards and to keep Subs away. Unfortunately they would be inadequate against airstrikes or a fast moving cruiser formation. Further with only two vessels they can not triangulate a sub’s positions with hydrophones at all. If the carrier stays in a racetrack route, then a submarine becomes a much greater threat.
2) Doctrine : I saw this exercise as exploration of the different potentials, thus the reference to additional planes. The Dutch gave tries in the Naval Strike, Land Strike, Ground support, Air Defense, and Reconnaissance.
3) Training : While the additional naval squadrons flying on/off gave additional options, integration would have been an issue, further degrading performance.
4) Training : The principle day-to-day operations have been Reconnaissance. Most strike operations can allow you to prep, bring the planes up, and fly them off. All somewhat leisurely. Keeping a fresh CAP, scrambling fighters, vectoring on incoming bogies – not in the common training.
5) Training : Damage control was an issue in the 1925 tri-annual. While the battleships have improved some, the carrier would be home to a host of new problems. I expect Damage Control training to improve in the fleet once the Ijseelmeer gives room for large scale practice drills.
6) Mechanical : I’m thinking the crew quarters/ briefing rooms on a collier conversion may not be most conveniently located for quickly manning aircraft. Crew is still divided fore/aft by rank, passages were not laid out with an idea for quick manning. Lastly, the elevators were probably built to do a job reliably, though not necessarily quickly. This works in the CAP/Reconn/Strike situations, but being on the defending side.
7) This does lead to the Eendracht’s resemblance to HMS Glorious with a hint of USS Enterprise. I did some…poor…modeling to figure the needed fighter airgroup, taking wild guesses at detection range, future (1930s) bomber speeds, plane availability, and a slightly better guess at launch rates.

CAP 4
Detection to ready launch 3 minutes
Launch 2 planes / minute

Max detection Range : presumed 40,000 yards

Time for enemy to close @ 200mph
0.11365
6.819
Time for enemy to close est 7 minutes.

Detection Min 1 4
Min 2 4
Min 3 Launch 5
Min 3.5 Launch 6
Min 4 Launch 7
Min 4.5 Launch 8
Min 5 Launch 9
Min 5.5 Launch 10
Min 6 Launch 11
Min 6.5 Launch 12
CONTACT

The usable altitude of the 11th and 12th planes is debatable.
Conclusion : 12 Planes can reasonably be expected to intercept at best
Flying off deck could double scramble rate to 24
Availabilty estimated at 75%
To have 24 planes ready, 32 must be on board

Fighter Squadrons will be organised with 16 planes and 2 spares each.

One Torpedo/Recon squadron will be carried.
This will number 16 planes and 2 spares.

This gives an Airgroup of 48, with 6 spares.
Total 54

Now I expect that training and mechanical improvements will eventually mean the scramble rate will improve, allowing the flight deck of the Eendracht to be extended over the flying off deck if needed.