He stated that in the previous years the establishment of an armored squadron for the defense of the sea harbors and lower rivers had been a top priority.

However, with 5 monitors expected to be complete by the end of the year, and 5 more under construction, the demands for that defense could be considered to have been met.

In the interest of coastal and river defense two heavily armed gunboats modeled on the (British) Staunch class would be built.

[9][10] By mid 1871 the Dutch authorities were negotiating with William Armstrong & Co in Newcastle on Tyne for two Ever class gunboats.

The first order to commercial shipyards in the Netherlands was for three gunboats at the Koninklijke Fabriek in Amsterdam and three at Fijenoord.

The obvious reason to do this was that the Dutch navy had recently ordered ironclads and monitors with the same 9 inch gun.

The design was completely tuned to bearing one heavy gun of 23 cm caliber, with ammunition, crew and propulsion.

For travel in rough weather or at open sea, the gun could then be fastened at a position lower in the hold for better stability.

[13] The gunboats had no armor, but a parapet of iron sheaths covered the crew from rifle fire.

The Staunch or the Hydra was the first vessel to use the system invented by Major Alexander Moncrieff on a ship.

The apparatus on the Hydra was tested on the Rede van Texel in September 1875, with three Russian officers present.

[22] The machines for Dog[23] and Havik were built by Christie, Nolet en De Kuyper in Delfshaven.