NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Canberra 1928

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Berwick	65	616	Fairfield, Govan	15.9.1924	30.3.1926	15.2.1928	sold for BU 1948
Cornwall	56		Devonport DYd	9.10.1924	11.3.1926	8.5.1928	sunk 5.4.1942
Cumberland	57, 1948- C57	618	Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	18.10.1924	16.3.1926	23.1.1928	sold for BU 1959
Kent	54		Chatham DYd	15.11.1924	16.3.1926	22.6.1928	sold for BU 1948
Suffolk	55		Portsmouth DYd	30.9.1924	16.2.1926	31.5.1928	sold for BU 1948
Australia (RAN)	I84, D84, 1948- C01	512	John Brown, Clydebank	26.8.1925	17.3.1927	24.4.1928	sold for BU 1955
Canberra (RAN)	I33, D33	513	John Brown, Clydebank	9.9.1925	31.5.1927	10.7.1928	sunk 9.8.1942

Technical data

Max speed, kts, kn	31.5
Displacement standard, t	9750 - 9870 (about 10900 finally)
Displacement full, t	13400 - 13540 (14490 - 14910 finally)
Length, m	179.8 pp 192.0 - 192.9 oa
Breadth, m	20.8
Draught, m	6.25 deep load (6.71 - 6.88 finally)
No of shafts	4
Machinery	4 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers Berwick, Australia, Canberra: 4 sets Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, 8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers
Power, h. p.	80000
Fuel, t	oil 3200 - 3400
Endurance, nm(kts)	13300(12)
Armour, mm	box protection to magazines: 111 - 25, belt: 25, bulkheads: 25, barbettes: 25, turrets: 25, deck: 38 - 25
Armament	4 x 2 - 203/50 Mk VIII, 4 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V, 4 x 1 - 47/40 Hotchkiss Mk I, 4 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II, 2 x 4 - 533 TT
Complement	685 - 710

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

First British cruisers designed according to limitations of Washington conference (10 000t standard displacement, 203mm main guns). In comparison with the similar ships of other navies they were not so fast and protected however possessed the big endurance and good seaworthiness. They were intended, first of all, for protection of sea communications and hunting for raiders, instead of operations with main forces. Five ships were built by 1925 Programme. Two more ships were ordered by Australia.

Hull form in the cross-section plan resembled the one accepted on last battlecruisers of Royal Navy (Courageous and Hood): above the waterline it was trapezoidal, transferred to blisters below. Ships had original box-shaped armour protection concentrated around the vital places. Main guns had 70° maximal elevation angle.

In 1934 the design of modernization of class was ready. According to it it was supposed to equip them with narrow armoured belt on waterline.

Protection

Underwater protection (bulges) was 1.6m in deep on British and 0.76m on Australian ships. Magazines were protected by 111 (102mm armour on 9mm plating)-25mm sides and 76-25mm platform deck. Machinery was protected by 25mm bulkheads and 32mm deck. Steering gear had 38-25mm horizontal protection.

Modernizations

1931 - 1932, British ships: + 1 catapult S-II-L, 1 Flycatcher (later Osprey) seaplane

1933, Kent: + 2 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V

1934, all: + 2 x 4 - 12.7/62

1935, Australia: + 1 catapult S-II-L, 1 Osprey seaplane

7/1936, Cumberland: new 114mm belt 1.8m in height abreast machinery and transmitting station was fitted. 102mm internal plating was added to the sides of boiler room fan compartments. One deck was cut down abaft "Y" turret. New catapult D-II-H and 2 hangars for Walrus seaplanes were fitted; - 2 x 1 - 102/45, 4 x 1 - 40/39, 2 x 4 - 533 TT; + 2 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVII, 2 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, (2 seaplanes instead of 1)

1937, Suffolk: new 114mm belt 1.8m in height abreast machinery and transmitting station was fitted. 102mm internal plating was added to the sides of boiler room fan compartments. One deck was cut down abaft "Y" turret. New catapult D-II-H and 2 hangars for Walrus seaplanes were fitted; - 4 x 1 - 102/45, 4 x 1 - 40/39, 2 x 4 - 533 TT; + 3 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVII, 2 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, (2 seaplanes instead of 1)

1937 - 1939, Berwick, Cornwall: new 114mm belt 1.8m in height abreast machinery and transmitting station was fitted. 102mm internal plating was added to the sides of boiler room fan compartments. New catapult D-II-H and 2 hangars for Walrus seaplanes were fitted; - 4 x 1 - 102/45, 4 x 1 - 40/39, 2 x 4 - 533 TT; + 4 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 2 x 8 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, (2 seaplanes instead of 1)

1938, Kent: new 114mm belt 1.8m in height abreast machinery and transmitting station was fitted. 102mm internal plating was added to the sides of boiler room fan compartments. New catapult E-IV-H for Walrus seaplane was fitted. - 6 x 1 - 102/45, 4 x 1 - 40/39; + 4 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 2 x 8 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII

1935 - 1939, Australia: new 114mm belt 1.8m in height abreast machinery and transmitting station was fitted. 102mm internal plating was added to the sides of boiler room fan compartments. New catapult E-IV-H for Walrus seaplane was fitted; + 1 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII

1938, Cumberland: - 2 x 2 - 102/45, 2 x 1 - 102/45; + 4 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI

1939, all: - 4 x 1 - 47/40

1939, Suffolk: + type 79Z radar

late 1940, Suffolk: - type 79Z radar; + type 279, type 284, type 285 radars

12/1940, Australia: - 4 x 1 - 102/45, 2 x 4 - 533 TT; + 4 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, type 286 radar

early 1941, Canberra: + 4 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V, radar

2/1941, Suffolk: - 3 x 2 - 102/45; + 4 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

6/1941, Berwick: + type 279, type 284, type 286M radars

9/1941, Kent: + 6 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 281, type 284, type 285 radars

10/1941, Berwick: + 5 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

10/1941, Cumberland: + 5 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 273, type 281, type 285 radars

6/1942, Suffolk: - 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, type 279 radar; + 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 273, type 281 radars

6/1942, Canberra: - 4 x 1 - 40/39; + 2 x 8 - 4.39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 5 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

8/1942, Berwick: - catapult and seaplanes, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62; + 6 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 273, 4x type 283 radars

10/1942, Australia: - 1 x 4 - 40/39; + 2 x 8 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII

11/1942, Kent: - catapult and seaplanes, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62; + 6 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 273 radar

2/1943, Cumberland: - 1 x 1 - 20/70, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62; + 5 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 282 radar

2/1943, Suffolk: - catapult and seaplanes, 2 x 4 - 40/39, 5 x 1 - 20/70; + 2 x 8 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 5 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 282 radar

9/1943, Kent: - 6 x 1 - 20/70; + 3 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 4x type 283 radars

10/1943, Berwick: - 2 x 8 - 40/39, 7 x 1 - 20/70, type 279 radar; + 2 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 7 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 281B, 2x type 282, type 285 radars

late 1943, Australia: - 4 x 1 - 40/39, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, type 286 radar; + 7 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 273, type 281 radars

3/1944, Australia: - catapult and seaplanes, 7 x 1 - 20/70; + 7 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

4/1944, Suffolk: + 3 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

2/1945, Australia: - 1 x 2 - 203/50; + 2 x 8 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 4 - 40/56 Bofors Mk 1.2, 2 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors Mk 1.2, 2 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk 1.2, type 284, type 285 radars

late 1945, Cumberland: + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

late 1945, Australia: - 7 x 2 - 20/70

1.1946, Berwick: 4 x 2 - 203/50 Mk I, 4 x 2 - 102/45 Mk XIX, 2 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 7 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, type 273, type 281B, 2x type 282, 4x type 283, type 284, type 285, type 286M radars

1.1946, Cumberland: 4 x 2 - 203/50 Mk I, 4 x 2 - 102/45 Mk XIX, 2 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 5 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 6 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 1 catapult, 2 seaplanes, type 273, type 281, type 282, type 285 radars

1.1946, Kent: 4 x 2 - 203/50 Mk I, 4 x 2 - 102/45 Mk XIX, 2 x 8 - 40/39 Mk VIA, 3 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 6 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 2 x 4 - 533 TT, type 273, type 281, 4x type 283, type 284, type 285 radars

1.1946, Suffolk: 4 x 2 - 203/50 Mk I, 4 x 2 - 102/45 Mk XIX, 2 x 8 - 40/39 Mk VIA, 5 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 6 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, type 273, type 281, type 282, type 284, type 285 radars

Naval service

Suffolk was damaged by direct hit of 1000kg bomb 17.4.1940 and repaired 10 months. Kent 17.9.1940 was damaged by air torpedo and repaired one year. Cornwall was sunk by the Japanese carrier aircraft (D3A1 divng bombers from Akagi, Hiryu and Soryu) S of Ceylon 5.4.1942 (9 direct bomb hits). Canberra was demolished by gunfire of Japanese cruisers Chokai, Aoba, Kako, Furutaka and Kinugasa in battle off Savo 9.8.1942 and sunk in 7 hours.

In 1949 - 1951 Cumberland was converted to test ship. New lattice foremast and new sensors were fitted. Ship was rearmed and carried various armament for test. One (later 2) single 114/45mm , twin 40/60mm Bofors STAAG were mounted in various times. The ship had 1 twin 76/70mm Mk 6 mounting from 1953 and additionally 1 twin 152/50mm automatic Mk 26 later.

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