Ram-class minelayer
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- Droogdok Maatschappij Tandjong Priok, Tandjong Priok
- Droogdok Maatschappij Soerabaja, Soerabaja
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ram class |
| Builders |
|
| Operators | |
| Planned | 2 |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Type | Minelayer |
| Displacement | 2,400 t (2,400 long tons) |
| Length | 88 m (288 ft 9 in) |
| Beam | 12.7 m (41 ft 8 in) |
| Draft | 4.2 metres (13 ft 9 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Crew | 120 |
| Armament |
|
The Ram class was a ship class of two minelayers built in the Dutch East Indies for the Government Navy.[2][3] However, before the minelayers could be completed the Dutch East Indies was invaded by the Japanese.[4] As a result, the ships were completed as gunboats by the Japanese and taken into service of the Imperial Japanese Navy.[5]
The Ram class minelayers were originally built for the Government Navy.[6][7] While the ships were still being built the Japanese invaded the Dutch East Indies.[4] To prevent capture or destruction several measures were taken, such as towing the incomplete Ram to Tjilatjap in December 1941.[2][8] As the invasion progressed and the Dutch were forced to retreat it was decided in March 1942 to destroy both ships.[4]
Design and construction
The two minelayers of the Ram class were built at different shipyards in the Dutch East Indies.[9] Ram was built at the Droogdok Maatschappij Tandjong Priok, while Regulus was built at Droogdok Maatschappij Soerabaja.[2][10] It was estimated that the construction of the ships would take one and a half years to be completed.[11] The ships were at the time the largest ships to be built in the Dutch East Indies.[12] Besides being minelayers, the ships could also function as seaplane tender.[13]
Armament
When it came to armaments the Ram class minelayers were to be equipped with two 7.5 cm cannons, two 40 mm machine guns, 80 mines and 25 depth charges.[5]
