NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Cleopatra 1918 Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Cordelia	78, 50, 69	251	Pembroke DYd	21.7.1913	23.2.1914	1.1915	sold for BU 7.1923
Caroline	87, 30, 44	803	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead	28.1.1914	29.9.1914	12.1914	RNVR drill ship 2.1924
Carysfort	88, 31, 22	252	Pembroke DYd // Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn	25.2.1914	14.11.1914	6.1915	sold for BU 8.1931
Comus	5C, A7, 45, 02	951	Swan Hunter, Wallsend	3.11.1913	16.12.1914	1.1915	sold for BU 7.1934
Cleopatra	1A, 40, 88		Devonport DYd	26.2.1914	14.1.1915	6.1915	sold for BU 6.1931
Conquest	C0, 48, 37		Chatham DYd	3.3.1914	20.1.1915	6.1915	sold for BU 8.1930

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	4219
Displacement full, t	4733
Length, m	135.9
Breadth, m	12.6
Draught, m	4.90
No of shafts	4
Machinery	4 Parsons steam turbines, 8 Yarrow boilers Carysfort: 4 Brown-Curtis steam turbines, 8 Yarrow boilers
Power, h. p.	40000
Max speed, kts	28.5
Fuel, t	oil 916
Endurance, nm(kts)	5900(10)
Armour, mm	belt: 76 - 25, deck: 25, CT: 76, 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 x 2 - 533 TT
Complement	301

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Another eight 'light armoured cruisers' were approved for the 1913 Programme, but the last two were completed to a different design. In essence the Arethusa design was repeated but 3m longer and slightly beamier to improve stability. The logical arrangement of guns in the original design was changed to allow for an extra pair of 102mm guns on the forecastle, while the 152mm was moved aft to a superimposed position on the after deckhouse. Like the Arethusas the designed power was 30,000shp, with 10,000shp extra for load. Being bigger than the Arethusa class they were generally more successful, apart from the useless pair of guns forward but with more beam they could be altered more easily. In 1916-17 these guns were replaced by a single 152mm Mk.XII, and a year later, when the foremast and CT were replaced by a tripod, spotting top and light director (like the Arethusa class) they were given a fourth 152mm gun abaft the funnels, at forecastle deck level. At the same time the remaining 102mm guns were removed and an extra pair of 533mm TT was added p&s immediately behind the existing pair.

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

1915, Carysfort, Cleopatra: + flying-off platform for French monoplane.

Early 1916,Carysfort,Cleopatra: - flying-off platform and monoplane

1916 - 1917, all: - 2 x 1 - 102/40; + 1 x 1 - 152/45 BL Mk XII

1917 - 1918, Caroline, Comus: + flying-off platform and 1 airplane, explosive ASW paravanes

1917 - 1918, all: CT was removed; - 6 x 1 - 102/40; + 1 x 1 - 152/45 BL Mk XII, 2 x 2 - 533 TT

1917 - 1918, Caroline, Carysfort, Comus: - 1 x 1 - 76/23; + 2 x 1 - 76/45 20cwt QF Mk I

1917 - 1918, Cleopatra: - 1 x 1 - 76/23; + 2 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V, 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II

1917 - 1918, Conquest: - 1 x 1 - 76/23; + 1 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V, 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II

1917 - 1918, Cordelia: - 1 x 1 - 76/23; + 1 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V

late 1918, Caroline, Comus: - flying-off platform and airplane

1919, Cordelia; 1920, Conquest: - 1 x 1 - 102/45; + 2 x 1 - 76/45 20cwt QF Mk I

1920, Carysfort, Comus, Cordelia: + 2 x 1 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II

1924, Conquest: - 1 x 1 - 152/45 (gun was replaced by a deckhouse)

Naval service

Caroline was converted to training hulk in 2.1924 with armament consisted of 1 x 1 - 152mm/45, 3 x 1 - 102mm/45 and 2 x 1 - 76mm/40 guns. Ship was still in existance in 1984. Carysfort collided with s/s Glentaise in December 1917. Cleopatra rammed and sunk German torpedo boat G194 during Tondern raid 24.3.1916 and suffered serious damage in collision with cruiser Undaunted. She was mined 4.8.1916 off Thornton Bridge and recommissioned only in August 1918. Conquest was badly damaged by 305mm shell during Lowestoft raid 25.4.1916, later she was mined in July 1918 and repaired till April 1919.

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