NAVYPEDIA

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Carlisle 1919  

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Carlisle (ex-Cawnpore)	41, D67	580	Fairfield, Govan	2.10.1917	9.7.1918	11.1918	CTL 9.10.1943, BU 1948
Calcutta	74, D82	548	Vickers, Barrow	18.10.1917	9.7.1918	8.1919	sunk 1.6.1941
Cairo	97, D87	870	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead	28.11.1917	19.11.1918	10.1919	sunk 12.8.1942
Colombo	7A, D89	581	Fairfield, Govan	8.12.1917	18.12.1918	7.1919	sold for BU 1.1948
Capetown	88, D88	871	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead // Pembroke D Yd	23.2.1918	18.6.1919	4.1922	sold for BU 4.1946

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	4290
Displacement full, t	5250
Length, m	137.6
Breadth, m	13.3
Draught, m	4.70
No of shafts	2
Machinery	Cairo, Calcutta, Capetown: 2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 6 Yarrow boilers Carlisle, Colombo: 2 sets Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, 6 Yarrow boilers
Power, h. p.	40000
Max speed, kts	29
Fuel, t	oil 935
Endurance, nm(kts)	5900(10)
Armour, mm	belt: 76 - 38, deck: 25, gun shields: 25
Armament	Carlisle: 5 x 1 - 152/45 BL Mk XII, 2 x 1 - 76/45 20cwt QF Mk I, 4 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II, 4 x 2 - 533 TT, flying-off platform, 1 aircraft (Pup or Camel) others: 5 x 1 - 152/45 BL Mk XII, 2 x 1 - 76/45 20cwt QF Mk I, 4 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II, 4 x 2 - 533 TT
Complement	432

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Five more light cruisers were ordered in June-July 1917, basically repeats of the Ceres class, bur with a raised 'trawler' bow to prevent spray from blanketing 'A' and 'B' guns. Stem height have increased by 1.5m at the expense of what the forecastle deck fwd from "A" gun had enough steep slope.

"C" type cruisers were created for service in the North Sea under 1915 year design and became obsolete to the beginning of 1930th, and in 1935 the decision to convert them to AA ships was accepted. Modernization of prototypes Coventry and Curlew has appeared successful, and during the period 1936-1940 it was planed rearm similarly remained 11 "C" type ships. However the program has been put aside, and only in 1938 works on Cairo and Calcutta have begun. Unlike first two ships they received twin 102mm mounts and only one quadruple pompom. They became operational in May and July, 1939 respectively. In the middle of the same year works on Carlisle have begun. It was planned that other ships of class will follow them but the begun of war was compelled to be limited to end of works on this ship which has become operational in 1940. Program was restarted only in 1942, when Colombo was reconstructed (June, 1942 - March, 1943). Her armament structure significantly differed from others: the number of 102mm mounts was cut to three, but number of small calibre AA guns was significantly increased. After conversion of Colombo and last Caledon the program have ultimately ended: there was no sense to spend means for obsolete ships.

Ship protection

Armoured belt protected ship at full length, its thickness was 76mm abreast machinery spaces (51mm 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

1920, Carlisle: flying-off platform and hangar were removed

(1938 - 5.1939, Chatham DYd), Cairo; (1938 - 7.1939, Chatham DYd), Calcutta: full new armament consisted of 4 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 1 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, full displacement was 5215t

(1939 - 4.1940, Chatham DYd), Carlisle: full new armament consisted of 4 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 1 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, type 280 radar, full displacement rose to 5391t, including 200t of solid ballast

7/1940, Cairo: + type 279 radar

2/1941, Cairo: + 5 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV (m. b.), type 285 radar

4/1941, Carlisle: + 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII

early 1942, Carlisle: + 7 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

11/1942, Carlisle: - 7 x 1 - 20/70, type 280 radar; + 5 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 273, type 281, type 282, type 285 radars

(8/1942 - 6.1943, Plymouth DYd), Colombo: full new armament consisted of 3 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 2 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors Mk IV/VIII, 3 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 273, type 279, 2x type 282, type 285 radars

late 1943, Capetown: + type 273 radar

4/1945, Colombo: + 4 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk I/III, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

1.1946, Colombo: 3 x 2 - 102/45 Mk XIX, 2 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 4 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 3 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 6 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, type 273, type 279, 2x type 282, type 285 radars

1.1946, Capetown: 5 x 1 - 152/45 P Mk XIII, 2 x 1 - 76/45 Mk II, 4 x 1 - 47/40 Mk I, 2 x 1 - 40/39 HA Mk II, 4 x 2 - 533 TT, type 273 radar

Naval service

Calcutta was sunk by German Ju 88 bombers NW of Alexandria 1.6.1941. Cairo was sunk at Bizerte by Italian submarine Axum 12.8.1942. Carlisle was badly damaged by German Ju 87 bombers 9.10.1943, she was not repaired and used as escort forces depot ship at Alexandria. Capetown was damaged 8.4.1941 by a torpedo from Italian MTB MAS213 and repaired till July, 1942.

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