Difference between revisions of "Devonshire Class Cruiser (1903)"

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Revision as of 15:28, 11 August 2012

The six Armoured Cruisers of the Devonshire Class were completed in 1905. They were, along with the preceding Monmouth class, often referred to as "County Class" cruisers.

Name Builder Laid Down Launched Commissioned Pendant Numbers Fate
1914 January, 1918 April, 1918
Antrim John Brown 8 October, 1903 09 07 N.58 Sold, 19 December, 1922
Argyll Scotts 3 April, 1904 80 Wrecked, 28 October, 1915
Carnarvon Beardmore 7 October, 1903 30 P.80 Sold, 8 November, 1921
Devonshire Chatham 30 April, 1904 38 53 N.19 Sold, 9 May, 1921
Hampshire Armstrong's 4 September, 1903 50 (2.15) Sunk, 5 June, 1916
Roxburgh L. & G. 19 January, 1904 86 3A N.34 Sold, 8 November, 1921

Searchlights

In 1907, these ships, along with the earlier Powerful, Drake, Cressy, and Monmouth classes and battleships of the Majestic, Canopus, London, and Duncan classes, were to land their searchlights from their tops and obtain two additional 24-inch models from their dockyards for placement on the shelter or boat deck. These were to be augmented by (or further upgraded to?) a pair of 36-in searchlights when they became available.[1]

Armament

During the war, along with those of other older ships, the four 6-inch guns casemated on the main deck proved of little use in practical sea states. The two forward-most main deck guns were never even fitted as their issues were glaring. Two lower casemates aft were vacated and their guns put in spray shields on the upper deck abaft the 7.5-in turrets, sacrificing 3-pdr guns that were then in the way.[2][Fact Check]

Main Battery

Four 7.5-in Mark I BL guns on Mark I mountings[3] in single turrets, fore, aft, and on the beams.

Secondary Battery

The six 6-in guns were Mark VII, on P III, P III*, P III S and/or P IV mountings arranged in casemates, three on each broadside.

The sights were similar to those in Albemarle and Cornwall, but sturdier. Range gearing constant was 51.41 with one knot of deflection being 2.77 arc minutes. Range dials were provided for 2730 fps, 1970 fps, 3-pdr sub-caliber, 1-in aiming rifle and .303-in aiming rifle. MV correction by adjustable pointer for +/- 50 fps. Deflection dial graduated for 2730 fps at 3000 yards. Drift correction by inclining the sight 1.5 degrees. The sights were 14.45 inches above the bore and 13.1 inches to the side.[4]

Other Guns

Torpedoes

Two 18-in submerge tubes, one to each side.

Fire Control

Rangefinders

Evershed Bearing Indicators

It is unlikely that this equipment was ever provided.[Inference]

Directors

These ships never received directors for main or secondary batteries.[5]

Gunnery Control

Local Control in Turrets

Transmitting Stations

Dreyer Table

These ships never received Dreyer tables.[6]

Fire Control Instruments

By 1909, all 6 ships were equipped with Vickers, Son and Maxim instruments for range, deflection and orders and with Barr and Stroud rate instruments as follows:[7]

  • Vickers range transmitters: 6
  • Vickers deflection transmitters: 6
  • Vickers combined range and deflection receivers: 21
  • Vickers C.O.S.: 3
  • Vickers Check fire switches: 6
  • Barr and Stroud rate transmitters: 4
  • Barr and Stroud rate receivers: 8
  • Siemens turret fire gongs: 8 with 4 keys
  • Vickers fire gongs: 6 with 2 keys
  • Captain's Cease Fire Bells: 12 with 1 key (supplier not stated)

These ships lacked Target Visible and Gun Ready signals.[8]

Torpedo Control

See Also

Footnotes

  1. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1907, p. 35. The location for each ship type was placement stipulated in C.N.2 11884/13066, 13.12.1906
  2. Technical History and Index Vol. 4, Part 34, p. 9-10. I do not understand this configuration.
  3. The Sight Manual, 1916, p. 109.
  4. The Sight Manual, 1916, pp. 72, 110.
  5. Director Firing Handbook, 1917. pp. 142-3.
  6. Handbook of Capt. F.C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables. p. 3.
  7. Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909, pp. 56, 60.
  8. Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. p. 11.

Bibliography

Template:Devonshire Class (1903)


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