by Michel Baartmans
1/700 Hr.Ms. Z5 (HP Models)
A footnote to a footnote of the Second World War: Hr.Ms. Z5 at May 10th, 1940.
Just before the Great War, the Netherlands ordered four torpedoboats from the Vulcan yards in Germany. The outbreak of war saw these ships confiscated and pressed into Imperial service. The Dutch navy then decided to build the ships at home turf. Built during WWI, these ships were obsolete by the 1930's. One of them, Z5, was converted into a patrol vessel: the torpedo tubes were removed and more accomodations were installed in the gap between the bridge and the forecastle. Armed with 2 5.5cm guns and several machine guns, the Z-5 was a small craft, hardly noticable. But she was to have one moment of glory. Or at least, of noteworthiness.
When German forces invaded the Netherlands at may 10th 1940, one of the prime objectives for the paratroops were the bridges in the city of Rotterdam. Being of great strategic importance to the defence of 'fortress holland' the fighting was intense (helped by the fact that the headquarters of the Dutch Marine Corps were literally a few steps away). The Dutch being caught off guard, German troops quickly secured the bridges and held their ground against repeated counterattacks. Enter the Z5, stationed in Rotterdam Harbour. With her guns blazing and her crew only only protected against German fire by canvas lining, she made several 'runs' at the bridges, trying to dislodge the Germans. Under a hail of rifle, machinegun and light artillery fire, her efforts proved useless. The Dutch defence collapsed in the following days, Rotterdam was bombed and at May 15th, the Netherlands surrendered. Z5 escaped to England where she shortly enlisted in the Royal Navy as HMS Blade. In 1943, she was sold for scrap.
The model I used is a HP Models Imperial German Torpedoboat Z-105 1/700, a model of those Dutch torpedoboats in German service. I kitbashed her into Z5 using the official plans, styrene, putty and leftover PE. The base is a CD jewel case with tissue and white glue. I depicted her making a run at the bridge, under fire, with the crew manning the guns and taking cover. It's my first kitbash and my first diorama.
