HNLMS Groningen was the lead ship of the Groningen class. She was one of the first Dutch purpose designed propeller driven warships, but was demolished after only 5 years of service.
Construction
Built by a private shipyard Groningen was constructed by the private shipyard Fop Smit in Slikkerveer / Kinderdijk. For the Netherlands this was exceptional, because since the French period (1794–1815), almost all warships had been built at state shipyards. These state shipyards cost a lot of money. Many politicians thought that closing the state shipyards was a good way to economize. Their opponents claimed that warship construction was fundamentally different from merchant ship construction.
By 1850 there were only two state shipyards left. When the Dutch navy wanted to adapt screw propulsion in about 1852, these state shipyards could not handle the work. In 1855 Navy minister de Smit van den Broecke then dared to order some ships at private shipyards. By July 1855 he had ordered 'two ships of a completely new type' at Fijenoord shipyard. Fijenoord would build the engines herself, but was allowed to subcontract another shipyard.
It is not certain what De Smit van den Broecke meant with 'two ships of a completely new type'. He could have referred to two Bali-class sloops, or to one Bali-class sloop and Groningen.
Construction by Fop Smit The main reason to contract with Fijenoord had been that the minister acknowledged that the machinery was the crucial aspect of a screw ship. On the other hand, Fijenoord herself only built iron ships. Therefore, Fijenoord subcontracted with Fop Smit, a famous shipyard that was also proficient in building wooden ships.
Groningen was laid down in 1855. She was launched on 9 April 1857 by the shipyard 'F. Smit at Slikkerveer'. This is a strange mention, because Fop Smit had his shipyard at Kinderdijk. Indeed, there was a Jan Smit Shipyard at Slikkerveer. It therefore seems that Jan Smit Shipyard was the actual builder of Groningen. This seems strange, but Jan Smit Slikkerveer actually launched multiple ships for Fop Smit, e.g. on 15 April 1858. Groningen was commissioned on 1 July 1857
On 28 December 1857 made a trial run, attained a speed of 8.25 knots. This is slow, but as she left for the East Indies on the 30th, this run was made while loaded. As such it is hard to compare with results of other trial runs, which were generally made with an empty ship.
Service
To the Mediterranean with the Prince of Orange
On 27 July 1857 Groningen made a trial run on the Western Scheldt. On 30 July she was in Vlissingen and was ready for her first trip. The commanding officers were: Captain-Lt J.D. Wolterbeek, ADC Lieutenant F. de Casembroot, and D. Bowier, J.P.M. Willinck, J.D.J. van der Hegge Spies, L. Rautter, P.J. Losgert, H.J.E. van de Watering, J.H. Jullien, and scribe D.W. Muller. In the Mediterranean, Groningen would be accompanied by Wassenaar, which sailed from Texel.
On 30 July 1857 William, Prince of Orange (1840–1879) left The Hague by train, and with the royal steam yacht he arrived alongside Groningen at about 5 PM. William had with him his governor Lt-Colonel E.A.O. de Casembroot, Lieutenant K.W. de Kock, and W.C. Aylva van Pallandt. Therefore, the captain would occupy a temporary cabin that had been built on the deck. On 31 July the prince visited Vlissingen and its guard ship, and lunched with Vlissingen's naval commander VA H. Ferguson.
In the early hours of 1 August Groningen left Vlissingen for the Mediterranean. In the night of 1–2 August Groningen was on the latitude of Deal. Groningen then sailed a course between the Isle of Wight and the English coast.
On 5 August Cape Ortegal was sighted. On 6 August Groningen anchored in A Coruña. The local authorities were received on board. In the evening the prince visited the opera. On 8 August the prince and officers of Groningen visited a parade and dined in the city. In the evening the opera performed La sonnambula. Groningen continued her voyage on 9 August.
In the morning of 9 August Groningen crossed the bay and at about noon, she anchored before Ferrol. After the local authorities had visited Groningen, the Prince went ashore in the afternoon. On 10 August the prince visited the Reales Astilleros de Esteiro (Ferrol state shipyard), the docks, and was at a grand dinner at the admiral's. Groningen left on the 11th.
On 12 August Groningen arrived in Vigo Bay. Here the usual formalities took place. In the evening there was a military concert and fireworks. At 9 AM on 13 August Groningen left.
On the 14 August Groningen arrived at Lissabon at half past noon. Here she met the sailing frigate HNLMS De Ruyter, which had been there since 18 July. On 15 August they were joined by the screw frigate HNLMS Wassenaar.
On the day that the prince of Orange arrived he was visited on board by several dignitaries, among them the Duke of Terceira. On the 15th the prince and his entourage went to Sintra, where they received at court. The next day, the prince went on a hunt near Mafra, and stayed in the Palace of Mafra. Meanwhile, some officers of Groningen visited Pena Palace. On 19 August, the prince arrived back on board Groningen escorted by the Duke of Porto. After several more visits, Groningen left Lissabon on the 22nd.
On 23 August Groningen passed the Strait of Gibraltar. In the evening of the 25th she arrived in Málaga. On the morrow the prince visited the city. That evening there was a big dinner on board Groningen. On the 27th the prince left for Granada. Here he visited many sights. On 4 September he was back in Málaga. On 7 September Groningen left Málaga.
On 9 September Groningen anchored before Valencia. Here the prince stayed at the very comfortable inn Fonda del Cid at Archbishop's square. ON the 10th and 11th the prince was sightseeing. On the 13th, there was a big parade of 5,400 soldiers, after which Groningen left Valencia, and the Prince went the visit the Spanish court at Madrid.
On 15 September Groningen arrived at Barcelona. Here Groningen again met Wassenaar and both stayed over there till the 19th. Groningen then went back to Valencia, and arrived there on the 20th. On the 21st the prince arrived back from Madrid. On the 22nd Groningen was at Palma de Mallorca, and on the 23rd the prince made a tour of the island. In the evening there was a ball for 450 persons at the Captain-general's residence. It lasted till 5 in the morning. On the 24th Groningen left again. On the 25th Menorca was visited. On the 26th, she left again for Sicily.
Already on 26 September Groningen ran into a storm. On the 29th Cape San Vito was sighted. In the evening Groningen anchored before Palermo. The prince visited Palermo incognito. On 2 October Groningen left Palermo.
She next visited Naples, capital of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. After Wassenaar had again joined Groningen, the prince and the officers of both ships visited the Teatro di San Carlo on 4 October. On the 5th Prince Louis, Count of Aquila visited Groningen. That same day the prince visited the Museo Borbonico. On the 7th he visited the king in his residence Gaeta. On 11 October, the prince went to visit Pompeii by train. Later he went to Portici, Herculaneum and climbed Mount Vesuvius. On the 13th the prince went by train to Maddaloni, and then to Caserta by carriage. Next came Capua and Pozzuoli. After some more detours, he then returned to Groningen.
On 18 October Groningen and the prince left Naples. On 25 October she was before the Strait of Gibraltar, but a storm made that she dropped anchor before Algeciras. On the morrow she continued to Cadiz. After bunkering, Groningen left Cadiz under sail on the 29th. With favorable winds, Groningen entered the English Channel after 5 days. In the night of 5–6 November there was a dense fog. The Vlissingen and Texel pilots came aboard after much gunfire and sounding of the bell. At noon on 6 November Groningen anchored on the roadstead of Vlissingen.
To the Dutch East Indies On 1 December 1857 Groningen was commissioned again. The new commander was Captain-lt M.F. Courier dit Dubikart. On 30 December 1857 Groningen left Vlissingen for the Dutch East Indies. She had a shipment of coins on board. On 1 March 1858 Groningen anchored at Cape Town. Just before reaching Batavia, Groningen had been caught in a heavy tropical cyclone 175 miles south of Sunda Strait. Afterwards the commander was enthusiastic about Groningen's qualities as a sea ship. It had not been badly shaken in the cyclone, and the machinery had also not been damaged. Both would indicate that the ship was rigid enough.
On 26 April Groningen arrived at Batavia. The damage from The cyclone was then restored at Onrust Island. On 2 June Groningen left for Telukbetung (Bandar Lampung) and the coast of Sumatra on Sunda Strait. On 1 July 1858 Groningen arrived back at Batavia.
The Jambi expedition In late early August 1858 an expedition would be sent against Jambi Sultanate. It consisted of the warships: Groningen, Celebes, Onrust and Van Kinsbergen, and the government ship Bennett, all commanded by Courier dit Dubekart. The transports hired for the expedition were: Regina Maria, Capt. Ouwehand; Cornelia Mathilda, skipper Snoeij, and Acadia skipper der Greefkens. The troops were the 1st, 3rd and 4th company of the 12th infantry battalion, and an artillery detachment, all commanded by Major van Langen.
On 5 August the expedition left Batavia, and on the 8th it reached Muntok on the Bangka Belitung Islands. On 20 August it was before the Batang Hari River. It then steamed up the river. At Muara Kumpeh it was reinforced with 13 vessels, and on 2 September it anchored at the Sedingjang Islands before Jambi city. On 6 August the expedition attacked Jambi and the many fortresses. The navy participated with the Celebes, Onrust, Van Kinsbergen, and the government ship Bennett. Groningen stayed before the river. Four officers and 110 sailors joined the army troops that landed. The expedition conquered Jambi in one day, losing 5 dead and 55 wounded. Courier dit Dubikart commanded the naval element from one of the ships on the river. On 14 November 1858 Groningen, Regina Maria and Acadia arrived back in Batavia from Jambi.
Second Bone War
Groningen next became involved in the Second Bone War against the Bone state on Sulawesi. The conflict with Bone or Boni, was a very serious affair. The navy would participate with: Groningen, Gedeh, Amsterdam, Merapi, Phoenix, Madura, Celebes, Van Kinsbergen, Medusa, 3 schooners and 6 cruising vessels under the overall command of Captain B.H. Staring. The army fielded the 3rd, 10th and 14th battalion, as well as a cavalry squadron and artillery. The overall command of the expedition was with Major-General E.C.C. Steinmetz.
On 6 January 1859 Groningen left Batavia for Semarang. From Samarang Groningen left for Boni on 14 January. She was accompanied by Phoenix and several troop ships. On 7 February the expedition had united before Sinjai and Bajoe. On 12 February part of the expedition landed and took Bajoe, just east of the capital Boni, now officially named Watampone. On 18 February Groningen arrived Surabaya from Boni. Meanwhile, the expedition seemed well on its way. On 28 February the troops succeeded in taking and burning Boni. All troops then returned to Bajoe, and the fort which was under construction there. On 2 March Groningen was back at Bajoe.