Netherlands Cruiser HNLMS Sumatra

HNLMS Sumatra was the second of the Java-class light cruisers built for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Laid down on 15 July 1916, she was not launched until 20 December 1920. Her commissioning did not occur until 26 May 1926 because her intended turbines were destroyed in a fire.

Sumatra spent most of the inter-war years in the Dutch East Indies. In 1938 she returned to the Netherlands. When Germany over-ran the Netherlands, Sumatra left for England. After transporting Princess Juliana of the Netherlands and her daughters to Canada, Sumatra undertook convoy escort duties until late 1940. She then left for the Dutch East Indies where she was laid up for an extensive overhaul.

At the start of hostilities with Japan, she was still undergoing the refit but was quickly re-activated and manned mainly by midshipmen, sailed for England. Problems with her propulsion made her unfit for duty and she was laid up in Portsmith. In 1944 she was transferred to the Royal Navy and scuttled off the coast of Normandy on 9 June 1944 at Ouistreham, as part of a gooseberry pier to protect an artificial Mulberry Harbour built by the Allies as part of Operation Overlord.

On 14 February 1951 her wreck was auctioned with other wrecks to be scrapped.