"C" Class Destroyer (1896)
The 3-funneled subset of the ships originally termed the 27 Knotters, the destroyers of the "C" Class entered service in the years following 1897.
The remaining vessels were designated the "C" class on 30 August 1912.[1]
By May 1920, 31 of the ships were still worth documenting as regards their armament.[2]
Contents
Radio
In 1907 it was decided that Velox alone would be among 42 destroyers (primarily Tribals and Rivers) and Swift to receive radio equipment fixed to the "D" tune of 700 feet wavelength for transmission and with a Mark II receiver tunable to 8,300 feet. One P.O. telegraphist would be allowed each ship. She had her mast fitted with a 12 foot yard 60 feet above the water and received the aft end of the aerial via a pair of 20 foot spars fitted aft. Her W/T office was placed on the upper deck underneath the bridge.
The short wavelength meant the sets worked less well during the day than at night, and tests between Portsmouth and Portland showed strength 8 by night and 6 by day. Practical tests with Usk showed the following strengths over 50 miles of water:[3]
| Wave length |
Signal Strengths from/to | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Large Ship | Scout | T.B.D. | |
| D | -/6 | -/6 | 6/6 |
| R | 8/- | 6/- | -/- |
| S | 7/- | 6/- | -/- |
| T | 7/- | 5/- | -/- |
| U | 6/- | 5/- | -/- |
Guns
As had been done since the 27 knotters within the "B" class, the ships mounted:
- One 12-pdr 12 cwt on a P I mounting. The gun recoiled 12 inches and the mounting and its sights were capable of 30 degree elevations (9500 yards).[2]
- Five Q.F. 6-pdr on Mark I* mountings recoiling 5 inches. The mounting could elevate 30 degrees, but the sight only 25 degrees (4000 yards). By 1920, two 6-pdrs had been removed.[4] [2]
By 1920, those remaining had also been fitted with a Q.F. 6-pdr on Mark IV H.A. mounting.[2]
Torpedoes
Two 18-in single torpedo tubes on the centre line.
In 1905-06, it was decreed that Avon, Cheerful, Bittern and Fairy were to have their 10 cubic foot air compressors replaced by 20 cubic foot models to be able to pump to 2,500 psi. In 1906-07, Falcon, Gipsy, Leopard, Leven, Osprey, mermaid, Ostrich, Otter, Vixen and Albatross were to receive the same.[5]
From 1907, the decision was made to standardise the "A" through "D"s with torpedoes set for short range, allotting them the Mark IV S.R.[6]
Other Weapons
Searchlights
Fire Control
Visual fire control system.[2]
See Also
Footnotes
- ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1906-1921, p. 18.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Technical History and Index Vol. 4, Part 34, p. 15.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1907, Wireless Appendix pp. 32-34.
- ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1860-1905, p. 93.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1904, p. 75.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1907, p. 32.
Bibliography
- Template:BibConways1860-1905
- Template:BibLyonTheFirstDestroyers
- Template:BibMarchBritishDestroyers
- Template:BibUKTHVol4Part34
