- Arethusa class cruiser (1913)
The "Arethusa"-class cruisers were a class of eight oil-fired
light cruiser s of theRoyal Navy all ordered in September1912 , primarily for service in theNorth Sea . They had three funnels with the middle one somewhat larger in diameter than the others. All served inWorld War I . They were designed as follow on to the earlierscout cruiser s, to operate withdestroyer s in the North Sea but incorporated improvements on the previous ships. They retained the side protection introduced in the later ships of the previous Town class, but reverted to a mixed main armament that was a feature of earlier ships. The ships of the class underwent modification during the war, receiving an additional pair of 21 inchtorpedo tubes and an upgraded anti aircraft armament, whilst all but HMS "Undaunted" were fitted to lay mines and five of the class had the aft pair of 4 inch guns replaced by a single 6 inch gun. They were found to be very cramped internally.In order to achieve the high speeds designed they were the first British cruisers with all oil propulsion and lightweight destroyer type machinery. The cruisers cost £285,000 each on average.
Ships
* "Arethusa", built by Chatham Dockyard, laid down
28 October 1912 , launched25 October 1913 , and completed August1914 . She was sunk by mine offFelixstowe on11 February 1916 .
* "Aurora", built by Devonport Dockyard, laid down24 October 1912 , launched30 September 1913 , and completed September1914 . She took part in the sinking of the German raider "Meteor" on9 August 1915 , was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy in November1920 , and for sold for breaking up in August1927 .
* "Galatea", built by William Beardmore and Company, Dalmuir, laid down9 January 1913 , launched14 May 1914 , and completed December1914 . She also took part in the sinking of the German raider "Meteor" on9 August 1915 , and was sold for breaking up25 October 1921 .
* "Inconstant", built by Beardmore, laid down3 April 1914 , launched6 July 1914 , and completed January1915 . She was sold for breaking up9 June 1922 .
* "Penelope", built by Vickers, Barrow in Furness, laid down1 February 1913 , launched25 August 1914 , and completed December1914 . She was damaged by a torpedo from the German submarine "UB-29" on25 April 1916 , but repaired, and was sold for breaking up in October1924 .
* "Phaeton", built by Vickers, laid down12 March 1913 , launched21 October 1914 , and completed February1915 . She fought at the Dardanelles in 1915, and was sold for breaking up16 January 1923 .
* "Royalist", built by Beardmore, laid down3 June 1913 , launched14 January 1915 , and completed March1915 . She was sold for breaking up24 August 1922 .
* "Undaunted", built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan, laid down21 December 1912 , launched28 April 1914 , and completed August1914 . She took part in the sinking of four German torpedo boats on17 October 1914 , and was sold for breaking up9 April 1923 ."Galatea", "Inconstant", "Phaeton" and "Royalist" fought in the
battle of Jutland on31 May 1916 .References
*Colledge
*Jane's Fighting Ships of World War One (1919), Jane's Publishing Company
* [http://www.worldwar1.co.uk/lightcru.htm WWI British light cruisers]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.