Flores was brought back to the Netherlands at the start of World War II where she patrolled home waters until the Germans invaded in 1940. Slightly damaged, she escaped to Britain and was employed as a coastal escort.
Soemba was withdrawn to
Colombo in March 1942, before she could be captured or destroyed by the Japanese invasion of the East Indies.
Flores and
Soemba were united in the
Mediterranean Sea and played an active and successful role in the landings in
Sicily,
Salerno,
Anzio,
Garigliano,
Gaeta and finally, at the beaches of
Normandy in June 1944.https://www.strijdbewijs.nl/nl/nl.htm The ships came under fire from shore based artillery and bombers many times, but survived all attacks, although they incurred damage several times. British war correspondents referred to them as "the Terrible Twins". https://www.netherlandsnavy.nl/Special_twins.htm With their guns worn out due to intensive use, the two ships were retired from active duty shortly after the war and used for artillery instruction and as floating barracks. Soemba was converted to a radar training ship, most of her guns removed and enlarged superstructure fitted to house radar equipment and classrooms. On November 10, 1948,
Flores and
Soemba were awarded the .https://www.marinemuseum.nl/nl/stories/marine-inzet-d-day/
Flores was decommissioned in 1968 and
Soemba in 1986. ==Notes==