Hydra-class minelayer

For other ships with the same name, see Hydra class frigate and Hydra class battleship.

300px HNLMS Hydra
Class overview
Builders:	Rijkswerf, Amsterdam
Operators:	Royal Netherlands Navy
Built:	1910–1912
In commission:	1911–1964
Completed:	2
Lost:	1
General characteristics
Type:	Minelayer
Displacement:	593 t (584 long tons) standard 657 t (647 long tons) full
Length:	49.7 m (163 ft 1 in)
Propulsion:	800 hp engine
Speed:	11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Complement:	59
Armament:	Hydra: 3 × 75 mm (3 in) guns (3×1) 2 × .50 calibre machine guns 70 sea mines Medusa: 2 × 75 mm (3 in) HA/LA semi-automatic guns 1 × 75 mm (3 in) L/55 No. 2 semi-automatic gun 2 × .50 calibre machine guns 1 × .25 calibre machine gun 73 sea mines

The Hydra class were two minelayers of the Royal Netherlands Navy, built to serve in the Dutch East Indies and Dutch territorial waters in Europe. The construction of the ships began in 1910 and was completed in 1912. The ships were built by the navy yard (Rijkswerf) in Amsterdam. Both ships were still in service during the Second World War. Only the Medusa escaped to the United Kingdom, however. The Hydra was lost after it was fired on by an anti-tank weapon. It sank in the waters off Zeeland.

Ships in class

• Hr. Ms. Hydra (1912–1940)
• Hr. Ms. Medusa (1911–1964)

Sources

• netherlandsnavy.nl : Hydra-class minelayers (English)