Caroline 1914
| Name | No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Caroline | Cammell Laird, Birkenhead | 28/1/1914 | 29/9/1914 | 12/1914 | RNVR drill ship 2/1924 | |
| Carysfort | Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn | 25/2/1914 | 14/11/1914 | 6/1915 | sold for BU 8/1931 | |
| Cleopatra | Cammell Laird, Birkenhead | 26/2/1914 | 14/1/1915 | 6/1915 | sold for BU 6/1931 | |
| Comus | Swan Hunter, Wallsend | 3/11/1913 | 16/12/1914 | 1/1915 | sold for BU 7/1934 | |
| Conquest | Scotts, Greenock | 3/3/1914 | 20/1/1915 | 6/1915 | sold for BU 8/1930 | |
| Cordelia | Pembroke DYd | 21/7/1913 | 23/2/1914 | 1/1915 | sold for BU 7/1923 |
|
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 |
Parsons steam turbines, 8 Yarrow boilers Carysfort: Brown-Curtis steam turbines, 8 Yarrow boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
40000 |
|
Max speed, kn |
28.5 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 916 |
| Armour, mm |
belt: 76 - 25, deck: 25, CT: 76, gun shields: 102 |
|
Armament |
2 x 1 - 152/45 BL Mk XII, 8 x 1 - 102/40 QF Mk IV, 1 x 1 - 76/23 QF Mk I AA, 4 x 1 - 47/40 Hotchkiss, 2 x 2 - 533 TT |
|
Complement |
301 |
Ship project history: Development of cruisers of Arethusa class, ancestors of all "C" family. Mainly distinguished by geared steam turbines instead direct drive. Strongly suffered from splashing of a fore end.
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 (removed early 1916).
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 (removed late 1918), 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 QF Mk I HA
1917 - 1918, Cleopatra: - 1 x 1 - 76/23; + 2 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V HA, 2 x 1 - 40/39 pompom
1917 - 1918, Conquest: - 1 x 1 - 76/23; + 1 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V HA, 2 x 1 - 40/39 pompom
1917 - 1918, Cordelia: - 1 x 1 - 78/23; + 1 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk V HA
1919, Cordelia; 1920, Conquest: - 1 x 1 - 102/45; + 2 x 1 - 76/45 QF Mk I HA
1920, Carysfort, Comus, Cordelia: + 2 x 1 40/39 pompom
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 - 152/45-mm, 3 x 1 - 102/45-mm and 2 x 1 - 76/40-mm 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
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-09