FOKKER T.IVa 1935 In 1935 a modernized version with two 768 hp Wright Cyclone engines was built by Fokker, which was equipped with rotating gun turrets in the front and on the upper fuselage. This T.IVa was also used in the Indies by the MLD and could carry 4 x 200 kg or 18 x 50 kg bombs, or two torpedoes. Special cylinders were fitted in the fuselage to lay a smoke screen. 12 T.IVa aircraft were delivered to the Navy, with registration numbers T-13 - T-24.

The construction of the first T.IVa took place in the period 1935/36. It is an improved, enlarged and faster version. Here still under construction in the Amsterdam-Noord factory with a second one diagonally behind it. Technical data of this T.IVa. Type: Cantilever shoulder-wing aircraft. Purpose: Torpedo and bomber aircraft on floats. Construction: Mixed, with welded steel tubes, wooden wings and linen fuselage covering. Engines: 2 x 768 hp. Wright Cyclone air-cooled SR-1820F-2. Height: 6 meters. Length: 17.80 m. Width: 26.4 m . Wing area: 97.8 m2. Empty weight: 4,650 kg. Total: 7,200 kg. Crew: 4 or 5 men. Payload: 2,050 kg. Total weight: 6,700 kg. Max. speed: 235 km/h. Cruising speed: 197 km/h. Landing speed: 102 km/h. Fuel tank capacity: 1,500 litres. Flight range: 970 to 1,560 km, depending on the bombs or torpedoes carried and the other ammunition. Altitude limit: 5,900 metres. Armament: three or four movable 7.9 mm machine guns in nose turret, on roof of fuselage or tail and the side windows in the fuselage.

Here the T-13 c/n 5393 still in Dutch waters, shortly before departure to the Dutch East Indies. It will be the first T.IVa delivered to the MLD there. On 27 April 1936 the aircraft is delivered with all its innovations. Incidentally, a number of the older T.IV aircraft will still receive various adjustments as with the T.IVa. The aircraft was certainly not bad, and had properties that could serve as both a float plane and a flying boat.

Fokker T.IVa MLD T-13 c/n 5393 The T-13 that had arrived in the Dutch East Indies at Air Camp Morokrembangan near Surabaya. The T-13 was provided with additional test equipment from the RSL for a short time from 27 April 1936. The RSL (National Study Service for Aviation) later continued as NLL (National Aviation Laboratory). A number of improvements are clearly visible, such as the metal propellers, the closed cockpit, and the partially closed nose dome.

The T-13 visiting one of the lakes of Sumatra. In the background is another of the Dornier Wal flying boats of MLD. In this case the D-25 from the large series of no less than 40 pieces. They were largely built at the aircraft factory Aviolanda near Papendrecht. Aviolanda gradually became a formidable competitor of Fokker by building the Wal under license. Here you can actually see the difference between a flying boat (the Dornier Wal) and a sea bomber (the T.IVa). Fokker did not succeed in delivering the flying boats desired by the MLD. The MLD solved this by buying Dornier Wal flying boats, usually built under license by Aviolanda. The T.IV and T.IVa were called sea bombers, or sea cruisers, and that was actually the best name. Bombing was still possible manually, but dropping a torpedo was a disaster. The T.IV and T.IVa were very useful above rough seas, where they outperformed the Dorniers.

ONE OF THE MLD'S MOST SERIOUS AIR DISASTERS. On October 12, 1937, the MLD T-13 crashed while returning from staff meetings in Batavia. They were on their way back to Surabaya from the MVK Morokrembangan. Where normally 4 to 5 crew members flew along, there were now 9 marines. West of Surabaya, the heavily loaded T-13 slid off in a tropical shower and crashed. An enormous burst of flame put a definitive end to the sea scout. West of Surabaya near Tandjong Awarawar, the wreck was found, of which this dramatic picture is. Incidentally, the T-16 that flew along survived this disaster.

Later a MLD monument was placed in memory of the victims on Morokrembangan. After the transfer of the Dutch East Indies to Indonesia in 1949, part of it was relocated to one of the Antiquity Rooms at MLD Airfield De Kooij. The 9 victims were. M. Vethake, Off-Vlieger | HG De Bruijne, Captain Lieutenant at Sea | H. Uurbanus, Off Marine Stoombootdienst | PS Spronk Sergeant-Vlieger | FH Plevier, Corporal-telegraphist | HJ Rutte Corporal Aircraft Maker | AA Goedhart, Corporal Aircraft Maker | GJ Zuijderhoudt, Milic-Sailor and PJ De Groot Milic - sailor

Cn 5396. The T-16 has its turret on the fuselage covered. The T-16 escorted the T-13 that tragically crashed. The T-16 that fared much better is landing here on one of the Javanese lakes. It could be Lake Lengkok east of the city of Bandung on Java. Quite a few T.IVa naval cruisers were destroyed on this lake during the Japanese advance in World War II. This took place around 3 March 1942 and affected the T-16, T-15, T-17, T-18 and T-19. A number of these were also used for reconnaissance around Bandung and Surabaya. They were assigned to Aircraft Groups 11 and 12 of LA/KNIL (Luchtvaart Afdeeling Koninklijk Nederlandsch Indisch Leger). They were also stationed for various reconnaissance purposes and patrol flights. But then at Balikpapan (South Borneo) and at Tarakan (North Borneo, now Kalimantan).

C/n 5397 here as T-17 on dry land at Marine Air Base Morokrembangang near Surabaya. This sea cruiser was also assigned to Aircraft Groups 11 and 12. On March 2, 1942, this operation ended on Lake Lengkok during the Japanese invasion of Java, among others.

C/n 5435 designated T-22 by the MLD and patrolling above the Dutch East Indies. This photo could therefore have been taken during research above Dutch New Guinea. The Royal Geographical Society was given the opportunity to work with the T-21, T-22 and T-23. Around March 1938, the Society started expeditions above the many lake areas as well as at the Australian border and Etna Bay. There was interest in all kinds of minerals and there was a base to supply the T.IVa's. The Dutch New Guinea Petroleum Company (Shell) was also one of the clients. Various reconnaissance flights were made that sometimes reached 3500 and 4500 meters. Incidentally, the T-22 and T-23 were finally flown from Ambon on the Moluccas to New Guinea on 28 June 1939.

The T-23 did not arrive at the MLD in the Dutch East Indies until 1938, together with the last T.IVa, the T-24. In the photo, the T-23 (c/n 5436) is still completing its last test program at Marine Vliegkamp Schellingwoude (east of Amsterdam) in the IJ. For whatever reason, the gun turret in the nose is now covered. Upon arrival in the Dutch East Indies, it quickly flew on to New Guinea to continue reconnaissance there together with the T-21 and T-22. There, it was flown to altitudes between 4800 and 6000 m. Together with the considerable heat on the ground, it provided a strong contrast. After the many reconnaissance flights, T-21, T-22, and T-23 flew back to Java. Due to the approaching Japanese advance, the T.IVa's were still frequently used for reconnaissance from Morokrembangan. The majority of the T-series met their end in Lake Lengkong. This concerned the T-15-16-17-18 - 19-21-23 and 24.

The T-24 (c/n 5437) of MLD here on the roadstead of Marine Air Base Morokrembangan. Judging by the position it has just landed. This sea cruiser was the last delivered T.IVa, delivered in 1938, just like the T-23.

In 1935 a modernised version with two 768 hp Wright Cyclone engines was built by Fokker, which was equipped with rotating gun turrets in the nose and on the upper fuselage. This T.IVa was also used entirely in the Dutch East Indies by the MLD and could carry 4 x 200 kg or 18 x 50 kg bombs, or two torpedoes. Special cylinders were fitted in the fuselage to lay a smoke screen. It was also suitable for underwater bombardments. Twelve T.IVa aircraft were delivered to the MLD, with registration numbers T-13 to T-24. The T-21, T-22 and T-23 were temporarily used for mapping purposes in New Guinea from March 1938. The Royal Geographical Society gave an order for this. The large complex of lakes was recorded in particular, as well as the places with the presence of many minerals.

Rare photo of 3 T.IVa sea cruisers on the shore in front of one of the colossal hangars of the Naval Aviation Service. They had already been adapted to the mobilization of the Dutch East Indies with the orange triangles on the fuselage, tail and wing. They also flew with a tropical camouflage for a while. It is not certain whether this camouflage was applied before or after the mobilization. What is also noticeable is that the MLD indications are painted very small under the tail plane. Therefore not clearly visible in this photo.