HMS Bellona (1909)

HMS "Bellona" was one of two "Boadicea" class scout cruisers which served with the Royal Navy. She was launched from Pembroke Dockyard on 20 March 1909 and completed in February 1910.

The class was designed to combine the speed of a destroyer with the hitting power of a light cruiser but her experience in both peace and war highlighted the flawed nature of the concept. She proved barely fast enough, at 25 knots to keep up with the River class destroyers of the 2nd Flotilla in 1909, despite being the Senior Officer's ship, and was removed from the flotilla entirely in 1912 when outpaced by the new 27 knot "Acorn" class destroyers.

In August 1914 she joined the Grand Fleet as the First World War broke out, and was attached to the First Battle Squadron at Scapa Flow. She was present at the Battle of Jutland, but was removed to the back of the fleet for safety as the capital ships engaged the enemy, and did not directly see action. She was converted to a minelayer in June 1917 and laid 306 mines in four missions. After the end of the war she was considered surplus to post war requirements. She was paid off in 1919 and sold for scrapping on 9 May 1921 to Ward, of Lelant.

References

*Colledge
*Jane's Fighting Ships of World War One (1919), Jane's Publishing Company
* Gray, Randal (ed), "Conway's All The Worlds Fighting Ships, 1906-1921", (Conway Maritime Press, London, 1985), ISBN 0-85177-245-5
* [http://www.worldwar1.co.uk/light-cruiser/hms-Boadicea.html Boadicea class in World War I]
* [http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_HMS_Bellona.html History of HMS Bellona]