HNLMS Java (1885)

{{Short description|Unprotected cruiser/sloop}}

{{Infobox ship begin}} {{Infobox ship image |Ship image= |Ship caption= }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=Netherlands |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Netherlands}} |Ship name=Java |Ship namesake= |Ship ordered= |Ship builder=Nederlandsche Stoomboot Maatschappij, Rotterdam |Ship original cost= |Ship laid down= |Ship launched=1885 |Ship completed= |Ship commissioned= |Ship fate= |Ship status= |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship type=sloop or unprotected cruiser |Ship displacement=1280 t |Ship length={{convert|205|ft|3|in|m|abbr=on}} |Ship beam= |Ship draft= |Ship propulsion={{convert|1017|ihp|abbr=on}} |Ship speed={{convert|12.6|kn|mph km/h|lk=in|abbr=on}} |Ship range= |Ship capacity= |Ship complement= |Ship armament=*1 × 5.9in./25 cal. gun 3 × 4.7in./18 cal. guns 2 × 1-pounder guns |Ship armor= |Ship notes= }}

{{Hatnote|For the light cruiser, see HNLMS Java (1921)}}

The Dutch ship HNLMS Java launched in 1885 at Rotterdam was a sloop or small unprotected cruiser.Conways, p.376

The ship was named after the island of Java in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). This ship was a small colonial warship, larger than most gunboats but weaker than a protected cruiser. The term sloop in the steamship era was used by some navies including the British Navy for what were essentially large gunboats. The Java resembled the Spanish unprotected cruisers of the Velasco class, which were used for colonial duties (and the unsuccessful defense of Manila Bay in 1898).

On 27 March 1886, she collided with the British full-rigged ship Loch Broom in the Atlantic Ocean {{convert|12|nmi|km}} west of the Eddystone Rock, Cornwall, United Kingdom and was severely damaged. Four of her crew got aboard Loch Broom. HNLMS Java was on a voyage from Rotterdam, South Holland to Java, Netherlands East Indies. She put in to Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Disasters At Sea |date=29 March 1886 |issue=31719 |page=7 |column=C }}{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Disasters At Sea |date=31 March 1886 |issue=31721 |page=10 |column=D }}