Page 66 - Dutch Ships in Tropical Waters

cargoes from Siam; in some instances the old ships literally floated on their cargo of wood. Old homeward-bounders were often used to transport soldiers and food from Batavia to the Spice Islands. The ships could then be used in that area as floating fortresses (Coolhaas , p. ) or could return with spices. It must be kept in mind that spices were precious commodities in the European market, but were bulk cargo with a low cost price in Asia. After  to  years, barring accidents, a homeward-bounder usually ended its career as a steenhaalder (stone car- rier), a floating warehouse or a ‘carpenters-ship’ (NA .., VOC , fol. ). In this last- named function, the vessel was used to assist with the careening of other ships. When it became too difficult to keep them afloat, the wood was used as firewood, or the hulls sold to local Chinese to be burned down to salvage the structural iron that was still useful (Van der Chijs , p. ). An interesting observation in this respect is that almost every homeward-bounder which had made a successful voyage back to Europe was selected again to make another voy- age to Asia. This is in contrast with the practice in Asia, where homeward–bounders were often decommissioned for the return voyage if their condition was considered deteriorated, most of them staying in service of the VOC in Asia for many years. This could lead to the conclusion that the VOC was less concerned with sending large quantities of money and crew on the out- ward sailing ships of dubious quality than risking the return of valuable cargo. Initially, it may appear that the reuse potential of a homeward-bounder would be greater in the Netherlands than Asia. However, due to their size they were too large for almost every shipping activity in Europe, and the economic value of these ships on the European market must have been low compared to the exploitation possibilities in the Asian network. These factors might have con- tributed to the VOC decision to send inferior ships to Asia. Men-of-war \[Rate \] Though the homeward-bounder was heavily armed, it was originally designed as a ship to transport a large number of people and large amounts of cargo, not a warship. In Asia, the VOC also used ships originally built for military purposes. Up to , these vessels were not built by the VOC, but provided for by the State as support for the role the VOC played in conflicts. Substantial financial exchanges took place between the VOC and the Dutch State. The VOC had to pay the State large sums of money in taxes and a share of the profit generated by the VOC’s many conquests of Portuguese ships. On the other hand, the State agreed to sub- sidise part of the VOC’s activities as their share in the war against the Iberian enemies. Support from the State was provided in the form of ships and equipment seconded from the Admiral- ties, but could also be a grant or a loan. The Netherlands navy in this period was decentralised like the VOC and there were various Admiralties in the Netherlands all with their own facilities for shipbuilding. They were regularly ordered to hand over ships to the VOC. This category, men-of-war, includes all ships provided by the Admiralties if there is evidence to suggest that they were built in an Admiralty shipyard for military purposes and not commis- sioned by the VOC. After , the Admiralties did not provide the VOC with any more ships and the company bought or built a few warships itself. This category also comprises those vessels mentioned in the VOC records as an oorlogschip (man-of-war) of which the origin is not known. Jachten are often mentioned in historical sources as being built or used as oorlogsjacht (war- yacht). The rate of a yacht was not sub-classified as the terminology used in the source texts is inconsistent and jachten could often operate as both military and trade vessels with equal suc- cess. For the explicitly named men-of-war this was not the case. They are distinctly different from cargo ships both in the way they were built and in the way they were used. It is apparent that ships of a certain size were built either as cargo ships or as men-of-war. Distinctive differ- ences include the layout of the decks and the weight of the construction needed for reinforcing the hull and decks. Of course men-of-war could still transport cargo but the difference in the cargo capacity for vessels of comparable size is striking. The Hollandias which both operated during the same period and under the same name are good examples. Both Hollandias were The development of the VOC fleet 