Difference between revisions of "Arethusa Class Cruiser (1913)"

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The eight [[Light Cruiser|light cruisers]] of the '''Arethusa Class''' (sometimes called the ''Birmingham'' subclass of the ''Town Class'' or the ''Royalist'' class) were completed in 1914 and 1915.  Two were in service at outset of war, followed soon by the remaining six.{{UKTHVol4Part34|p. 4}}
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The eight [[Light Cruiser|light cruisers]] of the '''Arethusa Class''' were completed in 1914 and 1915.  Two were in service at outset of war, followed soon by the remaining six.{{UKTHVol4Part34|p. 4}}
  
 
<div name=fredbot:ships>
 
<div name=fredbot:ships>
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===Guns===
 
===Guns===
 
The ships were originally equipped with:
 
The ships were originally equipped with:
* Two 6-in 45cal B.L. Mark XII guns, fore and aft, on P VII mountings, able to elevate 15 degrees.{{UKTHVol4Part34|pp. 5-6}}
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* Two 6-in 45cal B.L. Mark XII guns, fore and aft, on P. VII mountings, able to elevate 15 degrees.{{UKTHVol4Part34|pp. 5-6}}
 
* Six semi-automatic 4-in 45cal Q.F. Mark IV guns; 3 on each broadside
 
* Six semi-automatic 4-in 45cal Q.F. Mark IV guns; 3 on each broadside
 
* one 3-pdr on H.A. mounting
 
* one 3-pdr on H.A. mounting
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===Torpedoes===
 
===Torpedoes===
Originally, the ships had four 21-in above water tubes, in two twin mountings arranged port and starboard.  Spare torpedoes were stored below, not convenient for reloading in action.
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Originally, the ships had four 21-in above water tubes, in two twin mountings arranged port and starboard.  Spare torpedoes were stored below, not convenient for reloading in action.
  
 
In 1916-1917, the ships received 2 additional double revolving tubes port and starboard &mdash; first near the aft 6-in, and later afore the foremost CL twin tubes when the third 6-in gun was added aft.  These new tubes carried the spare torpedoes and made them ready for use.
 
In 1916-1917, the ships received 2 additional double revolving tubes port and starboard &mdash; first near the aft 6-in, and later afore the foremost CL twin tubes when the third 6-in gun was added aft.  These new tubes carried the spare torpedoes and made them ready for use.
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==Torpedo Control==
 
==Torpedo Control==
 
In 1916, it was decided that all light cruisers of ''Bristol'' class and later should have torpedo firing keys (Pattern 2333) fitted on the fore bridge, in parallel with those in the CT, and that a flexible voice pipe be fitted between these positions.{{ARTS1916|p. 146}}
 
In 1916, it was decided that all light cruisers of ''Bristol'' class and later should have torpedo firing keys (Pattern 2333) fitted on the fore bridge, in parallel with those in the CT, and that a flexible voice pipe be fitted between these positions.{{ARTS1916|p. 146}}
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In 1916, torpedo control lessons pertinent to the equipment of light cruisers and destroyers that had been taken from experience the [[Battle of Jutland]] were to be apply to light cruisers "of ''Penelope'' class and later.  The baseline capabilities required that primary control be exercised from the fore bridge, where [[Fore Bridge Firing Gear]] and a sight or director would be fitted, and that this position should enjoy efficient communication to a similar secondary position located some distance away.  Additionally, the ships would need:
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* [[Fore Bridge Firing Gear]]
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* order instruments from control positions to A.W. tubes
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* deflection instruments
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* fire gongs and alarm gongs
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The A.W. tubes were to have local sights fitted, and the tubes should enjoy order and sightsetting instruments from the control positions as well as firing gongs in case fore bridge firing should fail. {{ARTS1916|pp. 29-30}}
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This work was still underway in the various light cruisers as of early 1918.{{ARTS1917|p. 209}}
  
 
==Alterations==
 
==Alterations==

Revision as of 13:09, 9 May 2013

The eight light cruisers of the Arethusa Class were completed in 1914 and 1915. Two were in service at outset of war, followed soon by the remaining six.[1]

Purpose

A minute jotted by the Chief of the War Staff from 19 November 1914 opined that "The Arethusas are meant to act in squadrons: & shd not be frittered away among the flotillas."[2]

Binoculars

In September 1914, the ships were allowed six additional pairs of Pattern 343 Service Binoculars.[3]

Armament

The ships had their torpedo and gun outfits augmented during the course of the war.[4]

After Jutland, it was desired to double their torpedo armament, and each broadside got a second double revolving torpedo mount aft, just forward of the aft 6-in gun. These would have the torpedoes formerly available, but not conveniently so, loaded and ready within. A 3-in H.A. gun was replaced by a 4-in H.A. gun at the same time.

In 1918, a third 6-in gun was desired, and its placement aft replaced the aft-most pair of 4-in mounts and required the 4-in H.A. gun and the new torpedo mounts to be moved forward. Some of the ships had their single 4-in H.A. gun replaced by two 3-in H.A. guns as part of this change.

The last alteration approved was to remove the four remaining 4-in guns that were not H.A. mounts and reduced conning tower armour from four inches to just one inch in order to add a fourth 6-in mount well forward, but this not carried out.

Guns

The ships were originally equipped with:

  • Two 6-in 45cal B.L. Mark XII guns, fore and aft, on P. VII mountings, able to elevate 15 degrees.[5]
  • Six semi-automatic 4-in 45cal Q.F. Mark IV guns; 3 on each broadside
  • one 3-pdr on H.A. mounting

Although the forward 6-in mount seemed problematic enough to inspire a move in the Caroline class to place it aft, the charm of 6-in hitting power was such that it was decided that the Arethusas should receive a third 6-in aft (on the flip-side, the Carolines were receiving third guns forward as part of the same initiative).

The 6-in mountings were modified to a 20 degree elevation limit, increased from the original limit of 15 degrees, as the ships were refitted for director firing in late 1917-1918.[6][7]

The arrangements to permit mixed calibres to be commanded by the same director proved less than desireable, and this prompted a decision in mid-1918 to remove the 4-in guns in favour of an all 6-in scheme. It is not clear when and if this occurred.[8]

By the end of 1918, Inconstant, Penelope, Phaeton, Galatea and Royalist had three 6-in P. VII 20 degree mountings; Aurora and Undaunted still had two 6-in guns, but on 20 degree mountings; Arethusa was lost before rearmament of any kind. Calliope had merely had her three 6-in mountings modified for 20 degree elevation, but was brought up to spec after the Armistice and prior to 1921.[9]

Torpedoes

Originally, the ships had four 21-in above water tubes, in two twin mountings arranged port and starboard. Spare torpedoes were stored below, not convenient for reloading in action.

In 1916-1917, the ships received 2 additional double revolving tubes port and starboard — first near the aft 6-in, and later afore the foremost CL twin tubes when the third 6-in gun was added aft. These new tubes carried the spare torpedoes and made them ready for use.

Fire Control

Mechanical Aid-to-Spotter

By 1920, the seven surviving ships were equipped with Mechanical Aid-to-Spotter Mark II*s with Evershed Bearing Transmitters.[10] The installations generally consisted of placing one on each side of the foretop, driven by flexible shafting from a gearbox on the director tower's Evershed rack.[11]

Supplies of these devices began in June 1918.[12]

Range Dials

As of 1920, Galatea and Aurora were each equipped with a Range Dial Type B and a Type C. The other five surviving ships had two Type C dials.[13]

Rangefinders

Sometime during or after 1917, an additional 9-foot rangefinder being handed down from a battleship or battlecruiser (likely an F.T. 24) was to be added specifically to augment torpedo control.[14]

By June 1918, it was determined that the ships would probably eventually carry two 12-foot and one 9-foot rangefinders.[15]

Evershed Bearing Indicators

The Centaur class were the first light cruisers fitted with Evershed gear for gun control, but it is not clear whether older light cruisers were ever fitted.[16]

Orders for Evershed installations for searchlight control from February 1917 first applied to the Danae class, but seem unlikely to have applied to earlier ships.[17]

Gunnery Control

Control Positions

Control Groups

It seems the guns were in 4 groups, with the 4-in broadsides being separate and the 2 6-in guns being separate or jointly worked:[18] The port and starboard 4-in batteries had separate transmitters in the TS. The 6-in guns had two sets of transmitters in the TS with a C.O.S. to permit control from:

  • fore control (presuming this means one set of transmitters in the TS)
  • after control (presuming this means the other set of transmitters in the TS)
  • separate control

Directors

In 1916, it was approved that the ships of this class should be retrofitted with directors as time, resources and opportunity permitted.[19]

All eight ships were fitted with directors in 1917 and 1918.[20]

Elevation and Training Circuits
Director Firing Handbook, 1917, Plate 81.

The director was on a pedestal mounting without a tower. Likely, there was no directing gun.[21] The mixed armament required the director to have separate sets of elevation and training transmitting gear, though a single slewing transmitter sufficed for all guns. The director had elevation and training receivers for the 6-in guns, but not for the 4-in guns.[22]

The elevation limits of their weapons may have increased in late 1917 or early 1918, resulting in orders for adapting their director systems issued 13 November, 1917. It is not clear whether these alterations were for the entire class or just Arethusa herself, or when they were effected.[23]

Transmitting Stations

Dreyer Table

These ships had no fire control tables.[24]

Fire Control Instruments

Vickers Mark III F.T.P. to the gunsights.[25] Fire gongs fitted at each gun worked from pushes for each group (4?) in the T.S..[26]

Torpedo Control

In 1916, it was decided that all light cruisers of Bristol class and later should have torpedo firing keys (Pattern 2333) fitted on the fore bridge, in parallel with those in the CT, and that a flexible voice pipe be fitted between these positions.[27]

In 1916, torpedo control lessons pertinent to the equipment of light cruisers and destroyers that had been taken from experience the Battle of Jutland were to be apply to light cruisers "of Penelope class and later. The baseline capabilities required that primary control be exercised from the fore bridge, where Fore Bridge Firing Gear and a sight or director would be fitted, and that this position should enjoy efficient communication to a similar secondary position located some distance away. Additionally, the ships would need:

  • Fore Bridge Firing Gear
  • order instruments from control positions to A.W. tubes
  • deflection instruments
  • fire gongs and alarm gongs

The A.W. tubes were to have local sights fitted, and the tubes should enjoy order and sightsetting instruments from the control positions as well as firing gongs in case fore bridge firing should fail. [28]

This work was still underway in the various light cruisers as of early 1918.[29]

Alterations

By November 1918 the seven surviving ships, were fitted with rails for 70 mines (66 in Royalist, for some reason). The torpedo tubes and guns removed when the mines were shipped could be placed back aboard with enough notice.[30]

See Also

Footnotes

  1. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 4, Part 34. p. 4.
  2. Grand Fleet Conferences, 1914. facing p. 218.
  3. Admiralty Weekly Order No. 331 of 8 Sep, 1914.
  4. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 4, Part 34. pp. 4-7, Fig 1.
  5. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 4, Part 34. pp. 5-6.
  6. Progress in Naval Gunnery, 1914-1918", p. 10.
  7. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 4, Part 34. p. 6.
  8. Grand Fleet Gunnery and Torpedo Orders. 21/6/1918, p. 118.
  9. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 4, Part 34. p. 7.
  10. Manual of Gunnery (Volume III) for His Majesty's Fleet, 1920. p. 35.
  11. Manual of Gunnery (Volume III) for His Majesty's Fleet, 1920. p. 35, 37.
  12. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. pp. 25-6.
  13. Manual of Gunnery (Volume III) for His Majesty's Fleet, 1920. p. 45.
  14. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917. p. 199. (possibly pertinent: C.I.O. 481/17).
  15. Grand Fleet Gunnery and Torpedo Orders. 21/6/1918, p. 116.
  16. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. p. 29.
  17. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. p. 29.
  18. Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. p. 64.
  19. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1916. p. 175.
  20. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. pp. 11-12.
  21. Handbook of Captain F.C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, 1918., p. 142 and plate opposite.
    I am inferring that the 2 light cruisers shown in the plate are meant to represent those with and without a tower.
  22. The Director Firing Handbook. Plate 81.
  23. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. pp. 14.
  24. absent from list in Handbook of Capt. F.C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, p. 3.
  25. Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. p. 64.
  26. Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. p. 64.
  27. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1916. p. 146.
  28. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1916. pp. 29-30.
  29. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917. p. 209.
  30. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, Mining Appendix, 1917-18. Plate 7.

Bibliography

  • Admiralty, Technical History Section (1920). The Technical History and Index: Alteration in Armaments of H.M. Ships during the War. Vol. 4, Part 34. C.B. 1515 (34) now O.U. 6171/20. At The National Archives, Kew, United Kingdom.
  • Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1917). The Director Firing Handbook. O.U. 6125 (late C.B. 1259). Copy No. 322 at The National Archives. ADM 186/227.
  • Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1910). Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909. Copy No. 173 is Ja 345a at Admiralty Library, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
  • Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1914). Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. G. 01627/14. C.B. 1030. Copy 1235 at The National Archives. ADM 186/191.
  • Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1918). Handbook of Captain F. C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, 1918. C.B. 1456. Copy No. 10 at Admiralty Library, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
  • Admiralty, Technical History Section (1919). The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in H.M. Ships. Vol. 3, Part 23. C.B. 1515 (23) now O.U. 6171/14. At The National Archives. ADM 275/19.
  • Admiralty, Technical History Section (1919). The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in H.M. Ships. Vol. 3, Part 23. C.B. 1515 (23) now O.U. 6171/14. At The National Archives. ADM 275/19.
  • Alan Pearsall. Arethusa Class Cruisers in Warship, Volume VIII Issues 31-32.


Arethusa Class Light Cruiser
  Arethusa Aurora Galatea Inconstant  
  Penelope Phaeton Royalist Undaunted  
<– Birmingham Class Minor Cruisers (UK) Caroline Class –>