NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Sirius 1947

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate	Modification
Dido	37, 1948- C37	1033	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead	20.10.1937	18.7.1939	30.9.1940	sold for BU 7.1957	1st group
Argonaut	61, 1948- C61	1047	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead	21.11.1939	6.9.1941	8.8.1942	sold for BU 11.1955	1st group
Bonaventure	31	575	Scotts, Greenock	30.8.1937	19.4.1939	24.5.1940	sunk 31.3.1941	1st group
Cleopatra	33, 1948- C33	621	Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn	5.1.1939	27.3.1940	5.12.1941	stricken 2.1953	1st group
Euryalus	42, 1948- C42		Chatham DYd	21.10.1937	6.6.1939	30.6.1941	stricken 9.1954	1st group
Hermione	74	560	A. Stephens, Linthouse	6.10.1937	18.5.1939	25.3.1941	sunk 16.6.1942	1st group
Naiad	93	613	Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn	26.8.1937	3.2.1939	24.7.1940	sunk 11.3.1942	1st group
Phoebe	43, 1948- C43	666	Fairfield, Govan	2.9.1937	25.3.1939	30.9.1940	sold for BU 8.1956	1st group
Sirius	82, 1948- C82		Portsmouth DYd	6.4.1938	18.9.1940	6.5.1942	stricken 1949	1st group
Charybdis	88	1041	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead	9.11.1938	17.9.1940	3.12.1941	sunk 23.10.1943	2nd group
Scylla	98	580	Scotts, Greenock	19.4.1939	24.7.1940	12.6.1942	badly damaged 23.6.1944, never repaired, sold for BU 1950	2nd group

Technical data

Max speed, kts, kn	32.2
Displacement standard, t	5600
Displacement full, t	6850 (later 7210 - 7515) Charybdis, Scylla: 6975
Length, m	147.8 pp 156.1 oa
Breadth, m	15.4
Draught, m	5.11 deep load (later 5.33 - 5.54) Charybdis, Scylla: 5.18
No of shafts	4
Machinery	4 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers
Power, h. p.	62000
Fuel, t	oil 1042 - 1100
Endurance, nm(kts)	5560(15)
Armour, mm	belt: 76, bulkheads: 25, turrets: up to 13, deck: 51 - 25
Armament	Bonaventure, Dido, Phoebe: 4 x 2 - 133/50 QF Mk I, 1 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V, 2 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, 2 x 3 - 533 TT Naiad, Euryalus, Hermione: 5 x 2 - 133/50 QF Mk I, 2 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, 2 x 3 - 533 TT Sirius: 5 x 2 - 133/50 QF Mk I, 2 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 5 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 3 - 533 TT Cleopatra: 5 x 2 - 133/50 QF Mk I, 2 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 3 - 533 TT Argonaut: 5 x 2 - 133/50 QF Mk I, 2 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 3 - 533 TT Charybdis: 4 x 2 - 114/45 QF Mk III, 1 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V, 2 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 3 - 533 TT Scylla: 4 x 2 - 114/45 QF Mk III, 2 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 8 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 3 - 533 TT
Electronic equipment	Bonaventure, Naiad, Phoebe: type 279 radar Dido: type 279, type 281 radars Euryalus: type 279, type 284 radars Hermione: type 281, type 284, type 285 radars Sirius, Argonaut: type 272, type 281, type 284, type 285 radars Cleopatra, Charybdis, Scylla: type 281, type 285 radars
Complement	480 - 530

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Dido class cruisers have been intended for service with squadrons as AA cruisers for escort of new battleships of King George V class and aircraft carriers of Illustrious class. The design was based on a basis of earlier cruisers of Arethusa class with new armament consisting of ten 133mm guns in five dual-purpose mounts (3 fwd and 2 aft), unified with the same on King George V class, and two quadruple pom-poms. Cruisers were not intended for independent operations on enemy sea communications (Arethusa was put also this task) and a fuel stock in comparison with a prototype was decreased. The design has appeared successful, and under 1936, 1937 and 1938 Estimates 10 ships have been ordered. 6 more ships (including 5 under revised design) were ordered under the War Emergency program. Production of twin 133mm mounts lagged behind from hulls building, and part of cruisers were completed with 8 such guns (Dido, Bonaventure and Phoebe) or with 4 twin 114mm mounts (Charybdis and Scylla). Fwd superstructure of latter pair had increased because of non-standard artillery: 114mm mounts demanded additional shifting room. Usage of heavy unitary 114mm cartridge did service of artillerymen on Charybdis and Scylla especially hard.

Protection

Armoured belt protected machinery spaces and extended up to upper deck level abreast boiler rooms and fore engine room and to main deck level abreast aft engine room. Magazines had 76mm sides. Armoured deck was 25mm thick over machinery and steering gear and 51mm over magazines.

Modernizations 9.

1941, Naiad, Euryalus; 11.1941, Hermione: - 2 x 4 - 12.7/62; + 5 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

9/1941, Dido: - 1 x 1 - 102/45; + 1 x 2 - 133/50 QF Mk I

12/1941, Dido: - 2 x 4 - 12.7/62; + 5 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

4/1942, Phoebe: - 1 x 1 - 102/45, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62; + 3 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 11 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 281, type 284, type 285 radars

mid-1942, Cleopatra: - 2 x 1 - 40/39; + 5 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 272 radar

9/1942, Euryalus: + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

10/1942, Cleopatra: + 1 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

1943, Charybdis: - 1 x 1 - 102/45, 2 x 1 - 40/39; + 2 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 272 radar

4/1943, Euryalus: - 2 x 1 - 20/70, type 279 radar; + 4 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 272, type 281, type 282, type 285 radars

5/1943, Dido: - 3 x 1 - 20/70; + 4 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 272, type 282, type 284, type 285 radars

5/1943, Sirius: + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

7/1943, Phoebe: - 3 x 4 - 40/39, 7 x 1 - 20/70; + 3 x 4 - 40/56 Bofors Mk 1.2, 6 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 272 radar

2/1943, Argonaut: - 4 x 1 - 20/70; + 7 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 277, type 282, type 293 radars

early 1944, Scylla: + 6 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

2/1944, Sirius: - 1 x 1 - 20/70; + 2 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk I/III

7/1944, Euryalus: - 1 x 2 - 133/50 ("Q"), type 272 radar; + 1 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV; + type 277, type 293 radars

11/1944, Cleopatra: - 1 x 2 - 133/50 ("Q"), 2 x 4 - 40/39, 5 x 1 - 20/70, type 272, type 281 radars; + 3 x 4 - 40/56 Bofors Mk 1.2, 6 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 277, type 281B, type 293 radars

late 1944, Argonaut: - type 272, type 281 radars + 6 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 277, type 281B, type 293 radars

4/1945, Sirius: - 2 x 1 - 20/70; + 2 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk I/III

8/1945, Argonaut: - 1 x 2 - 133/50 ("Q"), 7 x 2 - 20/70; + 7 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk III, 1 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII

1/1946, Argonaut: 4 x 2 - 133/50 Mk II, 7 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 3 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 6 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, type 272, type 277, type 281, type 282, type 284, type 285, type 293 radars

1.1946, Cleopatra: 4 x 2 - 133/50 Mk II, 3 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 6 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 1 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, type 277, type 281B, type 285, type 293 radars

1.1946, Dido: 5 x 2 - 133/50 Mk II, 2 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, type 272, type 279, type 281, type 282, type 284, type 285 radars

1.1946, Euryalus: 4 x 2 - 133/50 Mk II, 3 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 6 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 5 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, type 277, type 281, type 282, type 284, type 285, type 293 radars

1.1946, Phoebe: 4 x 2 - 133/50 Mk II, 3 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 2 x 4 - 40/39 VII, 6 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, type 272, type 279, type 281, type 284, type 285 radars

1.1946, Sirius: 5 x 2 - 133/50 Mk II, 4 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 2 x 4 - 40/39 Mk VII, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 2 x 3 - 533 TT, type 272, type 281, type 284, type 285 radars

Naval service

Bonaventure was sunk by two torpedoes from Italian submarine Ambra 31.3.1941 SW of Crete. Argonaut was damaged by two torpedoes 14.2.1943 and repaired till December, 1943. Naiad was sunk by a torpedo of German submarine U565 off Egyptian coast 11.3.1942. Hermione was sunk by a torpedo from German submarine U205 15.6.1942 SE of Crete. Charybdis was sunk by two torpedoes from german torpedo boats Т23 and Т27 in La Manche 23.10.1943. Scylla was badly damaged by a ground mine 23.6.1944 and never repaired. Phoebe was repaired till April, 1942 after being damaged by an aircraft torpedo 27.8.1941, she was again damaged by submarine torpedo 23.10.1942 and repaired till July, 1943. Cleopatra was damaged by torpedo from Italian submarine Dandolo 16.7.1943 and repaired till March, 1945. Sirius was damaged by German aircraft (bomb) 7.10.1943 and repaired till February, 1944. Dido was badly damaged by German air bombs 29.5.1941 and repaired till the end of a year. 

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