NAVYPEDIA

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Champion 1919 Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Calliope	76,23, 78		Chatham DYd	1.1.1914	17.12.1914	6.1915	sold for BU 8.1931
Champion	C8, 37, 25	472	Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn	9.3.1914	29.5.1915	12.1915	sold for BU 7.1934

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	4228
Displacement full, t	4695
Length, m	135.9
Breadth, m	12.6
Draught, m	4.50
No of shafts	Calliope: 4 Champion: 2
Machinery	Calliope: 4 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 6 Yarrow boilers Champion: 2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 6 Yarrow boilers
Power, h. p.	Calliope: 37500 Champion: 40000
Max speed, kts	Calliope: 29.5 Champion: 29
Fuel, t	oil 805 - 895
Endurance, nm(kts)	2000(28)
Armour, mm	belt: 102 - 38, deck: 25, CT: 152, gun shields: 102
Armament	2 x 1 - 152/45 BL Mk XII, 8 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V, 1 x 1 - 76/23 13pdr 6cwt QF Mk V, 4 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, 2 - 533 TT (beam)
Complement	368

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

In the last two cruisers of the 1913 Programme the opportunity was taken to introduce gearing to improve the efficiency of the turbines. A 4-shaft arrangement was tried in the Calliope but the double helical type of gearing and the 2-shaft arrangement in Champion proved more successful. On trials she reached 28.2kts at 31,418shp and 29.5kts at 41,188shp, whereas the fastest direct-drive ships had only reached 29kts, at much higher revolutions. By rearranging the boilers it proved possible to reduce the funnels to two, marking the beginning of the classic 'C' class cruiser profile, with one fat fore funnel and a thinner after funnel. They were completed with the extra pair of 102mm guns on the forecastle, but in 1916-17 these gave way to a third 152mm gun. A year later a fourth 152mm was mounted on a platform abaft the funnels, and the remaining 102mm guns were removed.

Ship protection

Armoured belt protected ship at full length, its thickness was 102mm abreast machinery spaces (76mm armour on 25mm plating), 51mm (38mm armour on 13mm plating) aft and 38mm (25mm armour on 13mm plating) fore. Belt was closed by aft 25mm bulkhead near stern. It extended to main deck (and to upper deck abreast machinery). Machinery and steering gear were covered by 25mm deck.

Modernizations

1916 - 1917, both: - 2 x 1 - 102/45; + 1 x 1 - 152/45 BL Mk XII

1917 - 1918, Calliope: - 6 x 1 - 102/45, 1 x 1 - 76/23; + 1 x 1 - 152/45 BL Mk XII, 2 x 1 - 76/45 20cwt QF Mk I, 2 x 2 - 533 TT

1917 - 1918, Champion: - 6 x 1 - 102/45, 1 x 1 - 76/23; + 1 x 1 - 152/45 BL Mk XII, 1 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V (AA), 2 x 2 - 533 TT

1918, Calliope: + flying-off platform and 1 airplane, sweeps

1918, Champion: + winch for kite balloon

1919, Calliope: - flying-off platform and airplane

3/1920, Calliope: - 2 x 2 - 533 TT; + 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II

1924, Champion:+ 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II

1927, Champion: - 1 x 1 - 102/45, 2 x 2 - 533 TT; + 2 x 1 - 76/45 20cwt QF Mk I

Naval service

Calliope suffered severe boiler room fire 19.3.1916 but repaired before Jutland, second fire now in engine room was in October 1919, repaired till March 1920. Champion served as gunnery TS from May 1925 and was attached to Signal School in 1928.

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.