Dutch Navy
Light Cruiser

Dimensions (m)
155.3 | 16 | 6

Aircraft
2 x Fairey III

Captain
Ph.B.M. Van Straelen RNN

Kevin Denlay 2002

Ship History
Built in May 31, 1916 and used in Colonial service by the Netherlands.

Sinking History
During the Battle of the Java Sea, both Hr Ms De Ruyter and Hr Ms Java were sunk minutes apart by 24" torpedoes from Japanese Cruisers Nachi and Haguro around midnight on February 27, 1942.

Shipwreck
Discovered on December 1, 2002 by divers from MV Empress and using side-scan sonar and dived to positively identify the shipwreck, lying is on her starboard side off Bawean Island in the Java Sea.

Expedition member Kevin Denlay reports that although the team's principal objective was to locate HMS Exeter, sunk two days later, they were thrilled to find the two Dutch cruisers instead.

References
Thanks to Kevin Denlay for discovery information and all photos.

Contribute Information

67m

Photo Archive