Decrease Font Size Increase Font Size
Login

Military Photos



Royal Navy Cruisers, 1928 - 1946: The Treaty Cruisers

(5591 total words in this text)
(3571 Reads)  Printer-friendly page
Kent, London, Dorsetshire, York, Leander, Amphion, Arethusa, Southampton, Gloucester, Edinburgh, Dido, Bellona, Fiji, Ceylon, Swiftsure & Tiger Classes.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kent Class Heavy Cruisers

Displacement: 9,750 tons standard ; 13,450 tons full load
Dimensions: 590 pp, 630 oa x 68.25 x 16.25 feet
Propulsion: 4 shaft Parsons geared turbines (Brown Curtis in Berwick), 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 80,000 shp. = 31.5 knots
Range: 3,100 miles at 31.5 knots, 13,300 miles at 12 knots ; 3,400 tons fuel oil
Complement: 700
Armament: 4 dual 8-inch / 50 Mk 8 ; 4 single 4-inch / 45 QF Mk 5 HA (later replaced by 4 dual 4-inch / 45 QF Mk 16 HA) ; 2 quad 2 pdr ; 2 quad 0.5-inch MG (added 1936-1939) ; 2 quad 21-inch TT (later removed from all but Kent) ; 1 seaplane from 1930 (later 3)
Armour: 1 to 4 inch magazine box protection ; 1.375 inch deck ; 1 inch side-plating, turrets and bulkheads (4.5 inch narrow belt and 4 inch internal boiler room sides added 1936-1940)

aka County Class

The first RN Cruisers built within the confines of the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, limiting standard displacement for heavy (8-inch gun) cruisers to 10,000 tons. Modifications shortly before WWII increased the displacement to 10,300 tons standard. Further additions during the war (including various combinations of light AA guns) increased displacement to 10,900 tons standard and 14,500 tons full load.

Two other ships of this class, Australia (completed 24 April 1928, broken up 1955) and Canberra (completed 10 July 1928, sunk 9 August 1942) were built for the Royal Australian Navy.




HMS Berwick
Built by Fairfield, Govan. Laid Down 15 September 1924. Launched 30 March 1926. Completed 15 February 1928. Paid off 1946. Broken up by Hughes Bolckow, Blyth, 1948




HMS Suffolk
Built by Portsmouth Dockyard. Laid Down 30 September 1924. Launched 16 February 1926. Completed 31 May 1928. Paid off 1946. Broken up by Cashmore, Newport, 1948.




HMS Cornwall
Built by Devonport Dockyard. Laid Down 9 October 1924. Launched 11 March 1926. Completed 8 May 1928. Sunk 5 April 1942, with Dorsetshire, by bombs from Japanese carrier aircraft, west of Ceylon (198 lost).




HMS Cumberland (C57)
Built by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow. Laid Down 18 October 1924. Launched 16 March 1926. Completed 23 February 1928. Paid off 1946. In reserve 1946-1951. Refitted as trials cruiser 1949-1951, used 1951-1959. Broken up by Cashmore, Newport, 1959.




HMS Kent
Built by Chatham Dockyard. Laid Down 15 November 1924. Launched 16 March 1926. Completed 25 June 1928. Paid off 1946. In reserve 1946-1947. Broken up by West of Scotland Shipbreaking, Troon, 1948.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

London Class Heavy Cruisers

Displacement: 9,750 tons standard ; 13,220 tons full load
Dimensions: 595 pp, 633 oa x 66 x 17 feet
Propulsion: 4 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 80,000 shp. = 32.25 knots
Range: 2,930 miles at 31 knots, 12,500 miles at 12 knots ; 3,210 tons fuel oil
Complement: 700
Armament: 4 dual 8-inch / 50 Mk 8 ; 4 single 4-inch / 45 QF Mk 5 HA (4 further 4-inch added, 4 dual Mk 16 in London) ; 2 quad and 4 single 2 pdr ; 2 quad 0.5-inch AA (added 1936-1939) ; 2 quad 21-inch TT. ; 1 seaplane (later 3)
Armour: 1 to 4 inch magazine box protection ; 1.375 inch deck ; 1 inch side-plating, turrets and bulkheads (4.5 inch narrow belt and 3.5 inch internal boiler room sides added 1938-1941)

aka County Class

Modified Kents with internal bulges and slight layout changes. Devonshire and Sussex had their X turret removed towards the end of WWII to allow increases in their AA battery.




HMS London (C69)
Built by Portsmouth Dockyard. Laid Down 23 February 1926. Launched 14 September 1927. Completed 31 January 1929. Badly damaged by Chinese gunfire during rescue of Amethyst in the Yangste river, 21 April 1949 (70 lost). Paid off 1949. Broken up by Ward, Barrow, 1950.




HMS Devonshire (C39)
Built by Devonport Dockyard. Laid Down 16 March 1926. Launched 22 October 1927. Completed 18 March 1929. Training ship 1947-1953. Broken up by Cashmore, Newport, 1954.




HMS Sussex
Built by Beardmore, Dalmuir. Laid Down 24 February 1927. Launched 5 July 1928. Completed 12 September 1929. Paid off 2 February 1949. Broken up by Arnott Young, Dalmuir, 1955.




HMS Shropshire
Built by Beardmore, Dalmuir. Laid Down 24 February 1927. Launched 5 July 1928. Completed 12 September 1929. Transferred to Australia 1943 to replace Canberra. Paid off 1948. Laid up in Australia 1948-1955. Broken up by Arnott Young, Dalmuir and Troon, 1955.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dorsetshire Class Heavy Cruisers

Displacement: 9,900 tons standard ; 13,290 tons full load
Dimensions: 595 pp, 633 oa x 66 x 17 feet
Propulsion: 4 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 80,000 shp. = 32.3 knots
Range: 2,930 miles at 31 knots, 12,500 miles at 12 knots ; 3210 tons fuel oil
Complement: 700
Armament: 4 dual 8-inch / 50 Mk 8 ; 4 single 4-inch / 45 QF Mk 5 HA (later replaced by 4 dual 4-inch / 45 QF Mk 16 HA) ; 4 single 2 pdr (replaced by 2 octuple 2 pdr) ; 2 quad 0.5-inch AA (added 1936-1939) ; 2 quad 21-inch TT. ; 1 seaplane
Armour: 1 to 4 inch magazine box protection ; 1.375 inch deck ; 1 inch side-plating, turrets and bulkheads

aka County Class

Repeat Londons with new lighter Mk II turrets.




HMS Norfolk (C78)
Built by Fairfield, Govan. Laid Down 8 July 1927. Launched 12 December 1928. Completed 30 April 1930. Paid off 1949. Broken up by Cashmore, Newport, 1950.




HMS Dorsetshire
Built by Portsmouth Dockyard. Laid Down 21 September 1927. Launched 29 January 1929. Completed 30 September 1930. Sunk 5 April 1942, with Cornwall, by bombs from Japanese carrier aircraft, west of Ceylon (227 lost).





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

York Class Heavy Cruisers

Displacement: 8,250 York, 8,390 Exeter tons standard ; 10,500 tons full load
Dimensions: 540 pp, 575 oa x 57 York, 58 Exeter x 17 feet
Propulsion: 4 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 80,000 shp. = 32.25 knots
Range: 10,000 miles at 14 knots ; 1,900 tons fuel oil
Complement: 620
Armament: 3 dual 8-inch / 50 Mk 8 ; 4 single 4-inch / 45 QF Mk 5 HA (later replaced by 4 dual 4-inch / 45 Mk 16 HA in Exeter) ; 2 single 2 pdr ; 2 triple 21-inch TT. ; 1 seaplane
Armour: 1 to 4 inch magazine box protection ; 3 inch belt ; 1.375 inch deck ; 1 inch turrets and bulkheads

Smaller version of the County classes, but with better protection. The last heavy cruisers built by the RN.




HMS York
Built by Palmers, Jarrow. Laid Down July 1927. Launched 17 July 1928. Completed 1 May 1930. Disabled by Italian torpedo, 25 March 1941. Sank, Suda Bay, 22 May 1941. Salvaged and scrapped 1952.




HMS Exeter
Built by Devonport Dockyard. Laid Down 1 August 1928. Launched 18 July 1929. Completed 23 July 1931. Damaged by German Admiral Graf Spee at River Plate, December 1939. Sunk 1 March 1942 by gunfire from Japanese cruisers Myoko and Ashigara, plus destroyers, South Java Sea (54 lost).





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Leander Class Light Cruisers

Displacement: 6,985 to 7,270 tons standard ; 8,950 to 9,200 tons full load
Dimensions: 522 pp, 554.25 oa x 55.75 (55.25 Leander) x 16 feet
Propulsion: 4 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 6 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 72,000 shp. = 32.5 knots
Range: 10,300 miles at 14 knots ; 1,800 tons fuel oil
Complement: 570
Armament: 4 dual 6-inch / 50 Mk 23 ; 4 single 4-inch / 45 QF Mk 5 HA (later replaced by 4 dual 4-inch / 45 QF Mk 16 HA) ; 3 quad 0.5-inch MG ; 2 quad 21-inch TT. ; 1 seaplane
Armour: 1 to 3.5 inch magazine box protection ; 4 inch belt ; 1.25 inch deck ; 1 inch turrets ; 1.5 inch bulkheads

6-inch gun version of the York class. Earlier ships were above the design displacement but later ships were closer due to careful monitoring and more use of welding. Improvements to the AA battery were made during WWII with Leander and Achilles having their X turret removed as in the Londons (replaced by 4 quad 2 pdr).




HMS Leander
Built by Devonport Dockyard. Laid Down 8 September 1930. Launched 24 September 1931. Completed 24 March 1933. Paid off 1948. Broken up by Hughes Bolckow, Blyth 1950.




HMS Achilles (C70)
Built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead. Laid Down 11 June 1931. Launched 1 September 1932. Completed 6 October 1933. Paid off 1946. Transferred to India in 1948 and renamed Delhi. Paid off 1978 and scrapped in India.




HMS Neptune
Built by Portsmouth Dockyard. Laid Down 24 September 1931. Launched 31 January 1933. Completed 12 February 1934. Sunk 19 December 1941 by a mine off Tripoli (766 lost).




HMS Orion
Built by Devonport Dockyard. Laid Down 26 September 1931. Launched 24 November 1932. Completed 18 January 1934. Paid off 1947. Broken up by West of Scotland Shipbreaking, Troon, 1949.




HMS Ajax
Built by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow. Laid Down 7 February 1933. Launched 1 March 1934. Completed 12 April 1935. Damaged by German Admiral Graf Spee at River Plate, December 1939. Paid off February 1948. Broken up by Cashmore, Newport, 1949.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Amphion Class Light Cruisers

Displacement: 6,830 to 7,105 tons standard ; 8,850 to 9,150 tons full load
Dimensions: 522 pp, 562.25 oa x 56.75 x 15.75 feet
Propulsion: 4 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 72,000 shp. = 32.5 knots
Range: 10,700 miles at 12 knots ; 1,800 tons fuel oil
Complement: 570
Armament: 4 dual 6-inch / 50 Mk 23 ; 4 single 4-inch / 45 QF Mk 5 HA ; 3 quad 0.5-inch MG ; 2 quad 21-inch TT. ; 1 seaplane
Armour: 1 to 3.5 inch magazine box protection ; 4 inch belt ; 1.25 inch deck ; 1 inch turrets ; 1.5 inch bulkheads

Modified Leanders with machinery arranged on the unit system. Phaeton was sold to Australia before completion and was soon followed by the remaining pair.




HMS Amphion
Built by Portsmouth Dockyard. Laid Down 26 June 1933. Launched 27 July 1934. Completed 6 July 1936. Transferred to Australia as Perth, 25 July 1939. Sunk 1 March 1942 by 3 torpedoes and numerous shells from Japanese cruisers and destroyers, Sunda Straits (359 lost).




HMS Apollo
Built by Devonport Dockyard. Laid Down 15 August 1933. Launched 9 October 1934. Completed 13 January 1936. Transferred to Australia as Hobart, 29 September 1938. Paid off 1947. Conversion to training cruiser started 1953, but abandoned 1956. Broken up in Japan 1962.




HMS Phaeton
Built by Swan Hunter, Wallsend. Laid Down 8 July 1933. Launched 22 September 1934. Completed 24 September 1935 for Royal Australian Navy as Sydney. Sunk 19 November 1941 by German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran, East Indian ocean (645 lost).





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Arethusa Class Light Cruisers

Displacement: 5,220 (5,270 Penelope and Aurora) tons standard ; 6,665 (6,715 Penelope and Aurora) tons full load
Dimensions: 480 pp, 506 oa x 51 x 14 feet
Propulsion: 4 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 64,000 shp. = 32.25 knots
Range: unknown ; 1,325 tons fuel oil
Complement: 500
Armament: 3 dual 6-inch / 50 Mk 23 ; 4 dual 4-inch / 45 QF Mk 16 HA (4 single 4-inch / 45 QF Mk 8 HA in Arethusa and Galatea, later replaced by 4 dual Mk 16) ; 2 quad 0.5-inch MG ; 2 triple 21-inch TT. ; 1 seaplane
Armour: 1 to 3 inch magazine box protection ; 2.25 inch belt ; 1 inch deck, turrets and bulkheads

Smaller light cruisers, suitable for acting as destroyer leaders. Light AA armament was increased during WWII.




HMS Arethusa
Built by Chatham Dockyard. Laid Down 25 January 1933. Launched 6 March 1934. Completed 23 May 1935. Paid off 1945. Target trials ship 1948. Broken up by Cashmore, Newport, 1950.




HMS Galatea
Built by Scotts, Greenock. Laid Down 2 June 1933. Launched 9 August 1934. Completed 4 August 1935. Sunk 15 December 1941 by a torpedo from German U557, off Alexandria (470 lost).




HMS Penelope
Built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast. Laid Down 30 May 1934. Launched 15 October 1935. Completed 13 November 1936. Sunk 18 February 1944 by a torpedo from German U410, off Anzio (415 lost).




HMS Aurora (C12)
Built by Portsmouth Dockyard. Laid Down 23 July 1935. Launched 20 August 1936. Completed 12 November 1937. Paid off April 1946. Transferred to China 1948.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Southampton Class Light Cruisers

Displacement: 9,100 tons standard ; 11,350 tons full load
Dimensions: 558 pp, 591.5 oa x 61.75 x 17 feet
Propulsion: 4 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 72,000 shp. = 32 knots
Range: 12,100 miles at 12 knots ; 2,075 tons fuel oil
Complement: 750
Armament: 4 triple 6-inch / 50 Mk 23 (one turret later removed) ; 4 dual 4-inch / 45 QF Mk 16 HA ; 2 quad 2 pdr ; 2 quad 0.5-inch MG (later replaced by 8 40 mm AA) ; 2 triple 21-inch TT. ; 2 seaplanes
Armour: 1 to 4.5 inch magazine box protection ; 4.5 inch belt ; 1.5 inch deck ; 1 inch turrets ; 2.5 inch bulkheads

Light cruisers built up to treaty limits in response to American and Japanese designs. X turrets were removed from Glasgow, Sheffield and Newcastle in exchange for AA armament.




HMS Newcastle (C76)
Built by Vickers Armstrong, Tyne. Laid Down 4 October 1934. Launched 23 January 1936. Completed 5 March 1937. Paid off 1948. Broken up by Shipbreaking Ltd., Faslane, 1959.




HMS Southampton
Built by John Brown, Clydebank. Laid Down 21 November 1934. Launched 10 March 1936. Completed 6 March 1937. Scuttled 11 January 1941 after being bombed by German aircraft in the Sicilian Narrows (81 lost).




HMS Sheffield (C24)
Built by Vickers Armstrong, Tyne. Laid Down 31 January 1935. Launched 23 July 1936. Completed 25 August 1937. Paid off 1959. Reserve 1960-1966. Broken up by Shipbreaking Industries, Faslane, 1967.




HMS Glasgow (C21)
Built by Scotts, Greenock. Laid Down 16 April 1935. Launched 20 June 1936. Completed 9 September 1937. Paid off November 1956. Broken up by Hughes Bolckow, Blyth, 1958.




HMS Birmingham (C19)
Built by Devonport Dockyard. Laid Down 18 July 1935. Launched 1 September 1936. Completed 18 November 1937. Paid off December 1959. Broken up by Ward, Inverkeithing, 1960.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gloucester Class Light Cruisers

Displacement: 9,400 tons standard ; 11,650 tons full load
Dimensions: 558 pp, 591.5 oa x 62.25 x 17.5 feet
Propulsion: 4 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 82,500 shp. = 32.25 knots
Range: 12,100 miles at 12 knots ; 2,075 tons fuel oil
Complement: 800
Armament: 4 triple 6-inch / 50 Mk 23 (one turret later removed) ; 4 dual 4-inch / 45 QF Mk 16 HA ; 2 quad 2 pdr (further 4 quad and 4 single 2 pdr added) ; 2 quad 0.5-inch MG (later replaced by 6 dual and 7 single 20 mm AA) ; 2 triple 21-inch TT. ; 2 seaplanes
Armour: 1 to 4.5 inch magazine box protection ; 4.5 inch belt ; 1.5 inch deck ; 2 to 4 inch turrets ; 2.5 inch bulkheads

aka Southampton Group 2

Repeat Southampton class with slight modifications including increased turret armour. Manchester and Gloucester were sunk before the above modifications were carried out.




HMS Liverpool (C11)
Built by Fairfield, Govan. Laid Down 17 February 1936. Launched 24 March 1937. Completed 2 November 1938. Paid off 1952. Broken up by McLellan, Bo'ness, 1958.




HMS Manchester
Built by Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn. Laid Down 28 March 1936. Launched 12 April 1937. Completed 4 August 1938. Sunk 13 August 1942 by torpedoes from Italian MTBs MAS16 and MAS22, off Tunisia (150 lost).




HMS Gloucester
Built by Devonport Dockyard. Laid Down 22 September 1936. Launched 19 October 1937. Completed 31 January 1939. Sunk 22 May 1941 by bombs from German and Italian aircraft, north-west of Crete (736 lost).





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Edinburgh Class Light Cruisers

Displacement: 10,260 tons standard ; 12,675 tons full load
Dimensions: 579 pp, 613.5 oa x 63.25 x 17.25 feet
Propulsion: 4 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 80,000 shp. = 32.5 knots
Range: 12,200 at 12 knots ; 2,250 tons fuel oil
Complement: 850
Armament: 4 triple 6-inch / 50 Mk 23 ; 6 dual 4-inch / 45 QF Mk 16 HA ; 2 octuple 2 pdr ; 2 quad 0.5-inch MG ; 2 triple 21-inch TT. ; 3 seaplanes
Armour: 4.5 inch belt ; 1.5 to 2 inch deck (3 inch over magazines) ; 2 to 4 inch turrets ; 2.5 inch bulkheads

Enlarged Southampton class with increased armour (abandoning magazine box protection in exchange for a longer belt) and AA battery. Although these ships broke the treaty limitations, they were completed so close to the beginning of WWII that restrictions had lapsed.




HMS Edinburgh
Built by Swan Hunter, Wallsend. Laid Down 30 December 1936. Launched 31 March 1938. Completed 6 July 1939. Scuttled 2 May 1942 after being disabled by German torpedo attacks, Barents Sea (57 lost).




HMS Belfast (C35)
Built by Harland & Wolf, Belfast. Laid Down 10 December 1936. Launched 17 March 1938. Completed 3 August 1939. Reserve 1952-1956. Refitted including replacement of light AA with 6 dual 40 mm, 1956-1959. Paid off 1971. Became museum ship in Pool of London where she is open to the public.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dido Class Light (Anti-Aircraft) Cruisers

Displacement: 5,600 tons standard ; 6,850 tons full load
Dimensions: 485 pp, 512 oa x 50.5 x 14 feet
Propulsion: 4 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 62,000 shp. = 32.25 knots
Range: 1,500 miles at 30 knots, 4,240 miles at 16 knots ; 1,100 tons fuel oil
Complement: 480
Armament: 5 dual 5.25-inch / 50 QF Mk 1 DP (one turret later removed in some) ; 2 quad 2 pdr ; 2 quad 0.5-inch MG ; 2 triple 21-inch TT.
Armour: 3 inch belt ; 1 inch deck (2 inch over magazines) ; 1 inch bulkheads

Small cruisers intended for rapid construction. Due to shortages Bonaventure, Dido and Phoebe were completed without one turret and had a 4-inch starshell gun instead. Scylla and Charybdis were completed with 8 4.5-inch / 45 QF Mk 3 DP guns.




HMS Dido (C37)
Built by Cammel Laird, Birkenhead. Laid Down 20 October 1937. Launched 18 July 1939. Completed 30 September 1940. Paid off 1947. In reserve 1947-1956. Broken up by Ward, Barrow, 1958.




HMS Phoebe (C43)
Built by Fairfield, Govan. Laid Down 2 September 1937. Launched 25 March 1939. Completed 30 September 1940. Paid off March 1951. Broken up by Hughes Bolckow, Blyth, 1956.




HMS Bonaventure
Built by Scotts, Greenock. Laid Down 30 August 1937. Launched 19 April 1939. Completed 24 May 1940. Sunk 31 March 1941 by torpedoes from Italian submarine Ambra, north of Sollum (139 lost).




HMS Naiad
Built by Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn. Laid Down 26 August 1937. Launched 3 February 1939. Completed 24 July 1940. Sunk 11 March 1942 by torpedoes from German submarine U565, south of Crete (77 lost).




HMS Charybdis
Built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead. Laid Down 9 November 1938. Launched 17 September 1940. Completed 3 December 1941. Sunk 23 October 1943 by torpedoes from German MTBs T23 and T27, off northern France (462 lost).




HMS Cleopatra (C33)
Built by Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn. Laid Down 5 January 1939. Launched 27 March 1940. Completed 5 December 1941. Paid off 1953. Broken up by Cashmore, Newport, 1958.




HMS Euryalus (C42)
Built by Chatham Dockyard. Laid Down 21 October 1937. Launched 6 June 1939. Completed 30 June 1941. Paid off 1954. In reserve 1954-1959. Broken up by Hughes Bolckow, Blyth, 1959.




HMS Hermione
Built by Alex. Stephen, Govan. Laid Down 6 October 1939. Launched 18 May 1939. Completed 25 March 1941. Sunk 16 June 1942 by torpedoes from German submarine U205, north of Sollum (87 lost).




HMS Argonaut (C61)
Built by Cammel Laird, Birkenhead. Laid Down 21 November 1939. Launched 6 September 1941. Completed 8 August 1942. Paid off 1946. In reserve 1946-1955. Broken up by Cashmore, Newport, 1955.




HMS Scylla
Built by Scotts, Greenock. Laid Down 19 April 1939. Launched 24 July 1940. Completed 12 June 1942. Badly damaged by mines June 1944, then used as target ship. Broken up by Ward, Barrow, 1950.




HMS Sirius (C82)
Built by Portsmouth Dockyard. Laid Down 6 April 1938. Launched 18 September 1940. Completed 6 May 1942. Paid off 1949. In reserve 1949-1956. Broken up by Hughes Bolckow, Blyth, 1956.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bellona Class Light (Anti-Aircraft) Cruisers

Displacement: 5,950 tons standard ; 7,200 tons full load
Dimensions: 485 pp, 512 oa x 50.5 x 15 feet
Propulsion: 4 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 62,000 shp. = 32 knots
Range: 1,500 miles at 30 knots, 4,240 at 16 knots ; 1,100 tons fuel oil
Complement: 530
Armament: 4 dual 5.25-inch / 50 QF Mk 1 DP ; 3 quad 2 pdr ; 6 dual 20 mm AA ; 2 triple 21-inch TT.
Armour: 3 inch belt ; 1 inch deck (2 inch over magazines) ; 1 inch bulkheads

aka Dido Group 2

Modified Dido design with only 4 turrets but improved AA armament.




HMS Bellona (C63)
Built by Fairfield, Govan. Laid Down 30 November 1939. Launched 29 September 1942. Completed 29 October 1943. Loaned to the Royal New Zealand Navy 1946-1956. Returned to RN April 1956. In reserve 1956-1957. Broken up by Ward, Briton Ferry, 1959.




HMS Royalist (C89)
Built by Scotts, Greenock. Laid Down 21 March 1940. Launched 30 May 1942. Completed 10 September 1943. In reserve 1946-1956. Loaned to RNZN 1956-1966. Returned to RN 1967. Scrapped in Japan, 1968.




HMS Black Prince (C81)
Built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast. Laid Down 2 November 1939. Launched 27 August 1942. Completed 20 November 1943. Loaned to RNZN 1946-1961. Returned to RN 1961. Scrapped in Japan, 1962.




HMS Diadem (C84)
Built by Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn. Laid Down 15 November 1939. Launched 26 August 1942. Completed 6 January 1944. Paid off 1950. In reserve 1950-1956. Sold to Pakistan 29 Febraury 1956 and renamed Babur. Later renamed Jahangir.




HMS Spartan
Built by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow. Laid Down 21 December 1939. Launched 27 August 1942. Completed 10 August 1943. Sunk 29 January 1944 by German bomb (64 lost).





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fiji Class Light Cruisers

Displacement: 8,525 tons standard ; 10,450 tons full load
Dimensions: 538 pp, 555.5 oa x 62 x 16.5 feet
Propulsion: 4 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 72,500 shp. = 31.5 knots
Range: 10,200 miles at 12 knots ; 1,700 tons fuel oil
Complement: 730
Armament: 4 triple 6-inch / 50 Mk 23 (one turret later removed) ; 4 dual 4-inch / 45 QF Mk 16 HA, 2 quad 2 pdr ; 4 quad 0.5-inch MG, 2 triple 21-inch TT. ; 2 seaplanes
Armour: 3.25 to 3.5 inch belt ; 2 inch deck ; 1 to 2 inch turrets ; 1.5 to 2 inch bulkheads

aka Crown Colony Class

Development of the Southampton design. X turret removed from all surviving ships except Nigeria towards the end of WWII.




HMS Fiji
Built by John Brown, Clydebank. Laid Down 30 March 1938. Launched 31 May 1939. Completed 5 May 1940. Sunk 22 May 1941 by bombs from German and Italian aircraft, south-west of Crete (241 lost).




HMS Kenya (C14)
Built by Alex. Stephen, Govan. Laid Down 18 June 1938. Launched 18 August 1939. Completed 27 September 1940. Paid off 1958. Broken up by Shipbreaking Industries, Faslane, 1962.




HMS Nigeria (C60)
Built by Vickers Armstrong, Tyne. Laid Down 8 February 1938. Launched 18 July 1939. Completed 23 September 1940. Paid off 1950. In reserve 1950-1954. Sold to India 1954 and renamed Mysore. Paid off 1985.




HMS Mauritius (C80)
Built by Swan Hunter, Wallsend. Laid Down 31 March 1938. Launched 19 July 1939. Completed 1 January 1941. Paid off 1952. In reserve 1953-1960, then placed on disposal list. Broken up by Ward, Inverkeithing, 1965.




HMS Trinidad
Built by Devonport Dockyard. Laid Down 21.4.1938. Launched 21 March 1940. Completed 14 November 1941. Scuttled 15 May 1942 after being damaged the previous day by torpedoes from German aircraft, Barents Sea (80 lost).




HMS Gambia (C48)
Built by Swan Hunter, Wallsend. Laid Down 24 July 1939. Launched 30 November 1940. Completed 21 February 1942. Loaned to RNZN 1943-1946. Paid off December 1960. In reserve 1960-1964. Broken up by Ward, Inverkeithing, 1968.




HMS Bermuda (C52)
Built by John Brown, Clydebank. Laid Down 30 November 1939. Launched 11 September 1941. Completed 21 August 1942. Paid off 1962. Broken up by Ward, Briton Ferry, 1965.




HMS Jamaica (C44)
Built by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow. Laid Down 28 April 1939. Launched 16 November 1940. Completed 29 June 1942. Paid off 1957. Broken up by Arnott Young, Dalmuir, 1960 and Troon 1962.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ceylon Class Light Cruisers

Displacement: 8,875 tons standard ; 10,850 tons full load
Dimensions: 538 pp, 555.5 oa x 62 x 17.5 feet
Propulsion: 4 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 72,500 shp. = 31.5 knots
Range: 10,200 miles at 12 knots ; 1,700 tons fuel oil
Complement: 730
Armament: 3 triple 6-inch / 50 Mk 23 ; 4 dual 4-inch / 45 QF Mk 16 HA ; 4 quad 2 pdr ; 10 dual 20 mm AA ; 2 triple 21-inch TT.
Armour: 3.25 to 3.5 inch belt ; 2 inch deck ; 1 to 2 inch turrets ; 1.5 to 2 inch bulkheads

aka Crown Colony Group 2

These ships, originally intended to be the last of the Fiji class, were finished to a modified design with heavier AA armament.




HMS Ceylon (C30)
Built by Alex. Stephen, Govan. Laid Down 27 April 1939. Launched 30 July 1942. Completed 13 July 1943. Paid off 1959. Sold to Peru 1960 and renamed Coronel Bolognesi. Deleted 1980.




HMS Newfoundland (C59)
Built by Swan Hunter, Wallsend. Laid Down 9 November 1939. Launched 19 December 1941. Completed 20 January 1943. Paid off 24 June 1959. Sold to Peru 1959 and renamed Almirante Grau, renamed Captain Quinones in 1973. Deleted 1979.




HMS Uganda
Built by Vickers Armstrong. Laid Down 20 July 1939. Launched 7 August 1941. Completed 3 January 1943. Transferred to Royal Canadian Navy 21 October 1944. Renamed Quebec 1952. Paid off 1956. Placed on disposal list 1958. Broken up at Osaka, 1961.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Swiftsure Class Light Cruisers

Displacement: 8,800 (8,885 Superb) tons standard ; 11,130 (11,560 Superb) tons full load
Dimensions: 538 pp, 555.5 oa x 63 (64 Superb) x 17.25 feet
Propulsion: 4 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 72,500 shp. = 31.5 knots
Range: 2,000 miles at 30 knots, 8,000 miles at 16 knots ; 1,850 tons fuel oil
Complement: 867
Armament: 3 triple 6-inch / 50 Mk 23 ; 5 dual 4-inch / 45 QF Mk 16 HA ; 4 quad 2 pdr ; 6 single 40 mm AA ; 2 triple 21-inch TT.
Armour: 3.25 to 3.5 inch belt ; 2 inch deck ; 1 to 2 inch turrets ; 1.5 to 2 inch bulkheads

A further development on the Crown Colony design, incorporating war modifications. Superb was completed to a slightly different design as the only ship of the second group of the class.




HMS Swiftsure (C08)
Built by Vickers Armstrong, Tyne. Laid Down 22 September 1941. Launched 4 February 1943. Completed 22 June 1944. Paid off 1953 after being damaged by colliding with destroyer HMS Diamond. Broken up by Ward, Inverkeithing, 1962.




HMS Minotaur
Built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast. Laid Down 20 November 1941. Launched 29 July 1943. Completed 25 May 1945. Transferred to Royal Canadian Navy on completion and renamed Ontario. Training cruiser 1946-1958. Broken up at Osaka, 1960.




HMS Superb (C25)
(Group 2)
Built by Swan Hunter, Wallsend. Laid Down 23 June 1942. Launched 31 August 1943. Completed 16 November 1945. Paid off 1957. Broken up by Arnott Young, Dalmuir, 1960.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tiger Class Light Cruisers

Displacement: 9,550 tons standard ; 11,700 tons full load
Dimensions: 538 pp, 555.5 oa x 64 x 18 feet
Propulsion: 4 shaft Parsons geared turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 80,000 shp. = 31.5 knots
Range: 2000 miles at 30 knots, 6,500 miles at 12 knots ; 1,940 tons fuel oil
Complement: 716
Armament: 2 dual 6-inch / 50 Mk 26 DP rapid-fire ; 3 dual 3-inch / 70 Mk 6 DP rapid-fire
Armour: 3.25 to 3.5 inch belt ; 2 inch deck ; 1 to 2 inch turrets ; 1.5 to 2 inch bulkheads
Radars: Air Search - Type 960 ; Surface/Low-level Air Search - Type 992 ; Height Finding - Type 277Q ; Gunnery - Type 903 (MRS3 director) per mount

Helicopter Cruiser conversion as above except:
Displacement: 9,500 tons standard ; 12,080 tons full load
Dimensions: 538 pp, 556.6 oa x 64 x 18 feet
Complement: 885
Armament: 1 dual 6-inch / 50 Mk 26 DP rapid-fire, 1 dual 3-inch / 70 Mk 6 DP rapid-fire, 2 quad GWS22 Seacat SAM launchers
Aircraft: 4 Wessex / Sea King HAS
Radars: Air Search - Type 965 ; Surface/Low-level Air Search - Type 992Q ; Height Finding - Type 278 ; Gunnery - Type 903 (MRS3 director) per mount

These three ships were laid down as Group 2 Swiftsures with Superb. All were suspended at the end of war, work not restarting until the mid 1950's. They were then completed to a modified design utilising the new 6-inch and 3-inch rapid-fire DP guns designed for the abandoned 'Minotuar' class. These guns gave the class the greatest fire-power of any cruiser the Royal Navy had ever built, with the water cooled 6-inch and 3-inch guns capable of firing 20 and 90 rounds per minute per gun respectivly (although this rate of fire would empty the magazines in a few minutes). Unfortunately the guns suffered reliability problems.

Shortly after entering service, Tiger & Blake were converted to ASW Helicopter Cruisers embarking 4 Sea King or Wessex anti-submarine helicopters, with the aft 6-inch twin turret replaced by a hanger and flight deck and the two amidships 3-inch twin turrets replaced by Seacat point defense SAMs. Due to the high manpower they required all three ships spent several years in reserve, with Lion only serving 4 years before being paid off.

Blake was the last cruiser in the Royal Navy and in December 1979 ended a 100 year tradition of RN Cruisers.




HMS Tiger (C20)
(ex Bellerophon)
Built by John Brown, Clydebank. Laid down 1 October 1941. Launched 25 October 1945. Completed 18 March 1959. Converted to Helicopter Cruiser at Devonport, 1968-1972. Paid off April 1978. Disposal list 1980. Broken up by Desguaces Varela, Spain, 1986.




HMS Lion (C34)
(ex Defence)
Built by Scotts, Greenock. Laid Down 24 June 1942. Launched 2 September 1944. Renamed 1957. Completed 20 July 1960 by Swan Hunter, Wallsend. Paid off 1964. In reserve 1964-1972, then placed on disposal list. Broken up by Ward, Inverkeithing, 1975.




HMS Blake (C99)
(ex Tiger, ex Blake)
Built by Fairfield, Govan. Laid Down 17 August 1942. Launched 20 December 1945. Completed 18 March 1961. Converted to Helicopter Cruiser at Portsmouth, 1965-1969. Paid off December 1979. Placed on disposal list 1981. Borken up by Shipbreaking (Queenborough) Ltd., Cairnryan, 1982.

Military History
Forum Posts

Military Polls

Are the possible side effects of anthrax and smallpox vaccines worth the risk for the military?

[ Results | Polls ]

Votes: 66

This Day in History
1738: English parliament declares war on Spain.

1800: The USS Essex becomes first U.S. Navy vessel to pass the Cape of Good Hope.

1814: The HMS Phoebe and Cherub capture the USS Essex off Valparaiso, Chile.

1854: Britain and France declare war on Russia.

1862: Union forces stop the Confederate invasion of New Mexico territory when they turn the Rebels back at Glorieta Pass.

1864: A group of Copperheads attack Federal soldiers in Charleston, Illinois. Five are killed and twenty wounded.

1917: The Womens Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) is founded, Great Britains first official service women.

1939: The Spanish Civil War ends as Madrid falls to Francisco Franco.

1941: Andrew Browne Cunningham, Admiral of the British Fleet, commands the British Royal Navys destruction of three major Italian battleships and two destroyers in the Battle of Cape Matapan in the Mediterranean.

1942: A British ship, the HMS Capbeltown, a Lend-Lease American destroyer, which was specifically rammed into a German occupied dry-dock in France, explodes, knocking the area out of action for the German battleship Tirpitz.