HNLMS Van Ghent (DD-1936)
These were the standard destroyer class of the 1930's. With the twin 4.7" turret fore and aft and torpedoes and light AA they were destroyers to be proud of. Every boys dream of serving aboard this class of ship.
The ships of the class prior to WW2 spent time in both the East Indies and Home waters. The ships were used a lot to patrol the areas on both sides of Sumatra right accross to Aden and up the Red Sea to the Suez Canal. This was the Dutch anti-piracy patrol that was shared with the Royal Navy ships from Singapore and the Red Sea force. The other way accross the East Indies through Java - Timor and around the coasts of the Island of New Guinea the Dutch shared with Australis. While up and around Borneo and the lower Phillipines the Dutch shared duties with the US fleet units out of Subic Bay.
| Displacement | 1750 tons std 2440 tons full load |
| Length | 320.5 ft |
| Breadth | 34 ft |
| Draught | 12 ft |
| Machinery | 2 shaft diesel engines, 39,000shp |
| Speed | 35 knots |
| Range | 5000 miles at 15 knots |
| Armour | nil |
| Armament | 4 x 4.7" (2x2) 6 x 40mm (3x2) 4 x 20mm (4x1) |
| Aircraft | nil |
| Torpedoes | 6 x 21" (3x2) |
| Complement | 150 |
| Notes | HNLMS Van Ghent |
As can be seen from the photo a single 3" AA gun was fitted between the funnels on completion. This was replaced by a pair of 40mm twin mountings in the late 1930's. The gun tubs for the 40mm extended out to the ships side.