Caroline 1914
| 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 |
|
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 |
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.
Cleopatra 1918
Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.
© Ivan Gogin, 2014