The Dutch Gunboot Flores arrived in Sydney on January 17, 1938, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the city’s founding. The ship was a 1,200-ton gunboat that was built in 1925. She was armed with four 120mm guns and two 75mm guns, and had a crew of 150 officers and men.
The Flores’s visit was a sign of the strong ties between the Netherlands and Australia. The Flores’s visit was also a way for the Netherlands to show its support for Australia as it faced the growing threat of Japanese aggression in the Pacific.
During her stay in Sydney, the Flores took part in a naval review and a fleet sailpast. Others visiting ships included: Royal Navy Cruiser HMS Achilles, US Cruisers USS Trenton, Memphis, Milwaukee and Louisville, French Sloop Rigault de Genouilly and Italian cruiser Raimondo Montecuccoli.
Flores also visited Melbourne and Adelaide. The ship’s crew was warmly welcomed by the Australian people, and the visit was seen as a success by both governments.
The Flores left Australia on January 25, 1938, and returned to the Netherlands.
The Flores’s visit to Australia was a significant event in the history of the two countries. It was a sign of the strong ties between the Netherlands and Australia, and it helped to strengthen their relationship in the years leading up to World War II.
The Flores was a relatively small ship, but she was well-armed and had a experienced crew. She was a capable warship, and her visit to Australia was a reminder of the Netherlands’s naval power.
Wikipedia: Flores-class gunboats
