Q&A · 35:41-36:14

Would British cruiser designs have better served the Dutch Navy?

Java and De Ruyter suited Dutch requirements, so the availability of larger British designs does not establish that they were poor choices.

Cruisers Dutch Navy Naval Procurement

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Question

Would County-, Leander-, or York-type cruisers have been better choices for the Dutch Navy?

Short answer

Not necessarily. Java and De Ruyter met Dutch needs, while larger alternatives raised other problems.

Notes

Java and De Ruyter were reasonable ships designed around Dutch requirements. Larger British cruisers were possible alternatives, but building larger ships raised further problems for the Netherlands. Those problems are mentioned without a detailed comparison of costs or designs.