When the Hr. Ms. Tromp, a Tromp-class cruiser, was built between 1936 and 1938, it was the most modern ship in its class.
The cruiser’s involvement in the search for HMAS Sydney, following its battle with the German raider Kormoran, stands out as a crucial moment. Subsequently, Tromp undergoes repairs and modifications in Australia, becoming part of the Allied forces in the Pacific theatre.
The ship participated in various operations, including the Balikpapan campaign, where it played a significant role in bombarding Japanese positions. The post-war period sees Tromp’s service in the Dutch East Indies, its classification as immobile, and its role as an accommodation ship.
The following list is abstracted from the information on this ship from the Netherlands Navy. It shows the main activities in relation to Australia. After the Fall of the Netherlands East Indies in March 1942 Hr.Ms. Tromp mainly operated from Australia.
- February 27, 1942: Arrival in Fremantle, on the west coast of Australia.
- March 4, 1942: Arrival in Port Jackson, the harbor of Sydney. The ammunition for the guns and torpedoes are taken off board, and she is taken into drydock two days later at the Cockatoo Docks in Sydney.
- April 1942: Tromp escorts an important outbound convoy with the destroyer Van Galen.
- October 6, 1942: Tromp departs Fremantle for Sydney.
- December 16, 1942: Tromp has an overhaul at Sydney (type 272 surface warning radar fitted in lieu of the old set).
- February 1943: Tromp escorts an important convoy, known as Operation Pamphlet, in the Indian Ocean.
- August 1943: Tromp escorts again an important outbound convoy with the destroyer Van Galen.
- October 1943: The ship goes into overhaul, first in Fremantle, then in Melbourne (for most of the month), and finally in Sydney until November 24.
- February 1945: Tromp departs Fremantle to rejoin the British Eastern Fleet.
- March 14, 1945: Arrival in Trincomalee. Before she arrives here, it had already been decided to allocate her to the US 7th fleet. This fleet was about to progress into Netherlands East Indies territorial waters with the invasion of Tarakan and Balikpapan (Operation “Oboe”) LINK
- May 23, 1945: Tromp leaves Trincomalee for Australia.
- June 1, 1945: Arrival in Port Darwin. She soon departs for Makassar Strait, arriving in Morotai via Port Moresby and Manus.
- June 14, 1945: Arrival in Morotai. She would take part in Operation “Oboe II” as part of Task Force 74.2 under Rear-Admiral R.S. Riggs, USN.
- July 6, 1945: The cruiser bombards two positions, reported gunsites, and troop concentrations near Balikpapan, Borneo.
- July 20, 1945: Tromp arrives in Morotai, where she remains until August 14.
- August 16, 1945: Attached to the British East Indies Fleet.
- October 21, 1945: Present at the capitulation ceremony at Billiton, Netherlands East Indies.
- August 23, 1945: Tromp arrives in Sydney via Morotai and Manus.
- September 16, 1945: The Tromp arrives in Batavia. She remains there until January 1946, when she returns to the Netherlands with some 150 liberated prisoners of war on board.
Source Netherlands Navy
