Difference between revisions of "Danae Class Cruiser (1917)"
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The eight [[Light Cruiser|light cruisers]] of the '''Danae Class''' were completed between 1918 and 1922. An additional four planned ships were not completed. | The eight [[Light Cruiser|light cruisers]] of the '''Danae Class''' were completed between 1918 and 1922. An additional four planned ships were not completed. | ||
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==Armament== | ==Armament== | ||
| + | The ships were armed as follows.<ref>''Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1906-1921'', p. 61.</ref> | ||
===Guns=== | ===Guns=== | ||
| − | Six 6-in guns on the centre-line | + | * Six 6-in 45cal BL Mark XII guns on the centre-line with a maximum elevation of 30 degrees.<ref>''Progress in Naval Gunnery, 1914-1918", p. 10.</ref> |
| + | * Two 3-in 20cwt QF Mark I on HA mountings | ||
| + | * Two 2-pdr pom-poms | ||
===Torpedoes=== | ===Torpedoes=== | ||
| − | + | * Twelve 21-in above water tubes on four triple mountings disposed in pairs abreast, bearing 60-120 degrees.<ref> ''Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1916'', p. 35.</ref> | |
| + | |||
| + | As the 6-in guns fired over these, they likely proved untenable for manned firing as the 6-in guns would have necessitated a blast shield projecting fully 18 feet from the muzzle. The ugly expedient taken was to train the tubes to a pre-arranged bearing on coming to action stations and to use remote firing from the primary and secondary control positions.<ref> ''Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1916'', p. 35. I am inferring that the faults in ''Caledon'' carried through to this class.</ref> | ||
==Fire Control== | ==Fire Control== | ||
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===Fire Control Instruments=== | ===Fire Control Instruments=== | ||
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==Torpedo Control== | ==Torpedo Control== | ||
Revision as of 13:59, 10 May 2011
The eight light cruisers of the Danae Class were completed between 1918 and 1922. An additional four planned ships were not completed.
Armament
The ships were armed as follows.[1]
Guns
- Six 6-in 45cal BL Mark XII guns on the centre-line with a maximum elevation of 30 degrees.[2]
- Two 3-in 20cwt QF Mark I on HA mountings
- Two 2-pdr pom-poms
Torpedoes
- Twelve 21-in above water tubes on four triple mountings disposed in pairs abreast, bearing 60-120 degrees.[3]
As the 6-in guns fired over these, they likely proved untenable for manned firing as the 6-in guns would have necessitated a blast shield projecting fully 18 feet from the muzzle. The ugly expedient taken was to train the tubes to a pre-arranged bearing on coming to action stations and to use remote firing from the primary and secondary control positions.[4]
Fire Control
Rangefinders
Sometime during or after 1917, an additional 9-foot rangefinder was to be added aft to augment torpedo control.[5]
Evershed Bearing Indicators
These ships almost certainly had Evershed gear for gun control from delivery, and were the first new light cruisers to also feature Evershed installations for searchlight control.[6]
Gunnery Control
Control Positions
Control Groups
Directors
All ships were completed with gunnery directors in place.[7] The director was in a tower on a pedestal mounting and may have been augmented by use of their 'X' gun as a directing gun as on the earlier Caledon class ships.[8]
Transmitting Stations
Dreyer Table
Fire Control Instruments
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.[9]
See Also
Footnotes
- ↑ Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1906-1921, p. 61.
- ↑ Progress in Naval Gunnery, 1914-1918", p. 10.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1916, p. 35.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1916, p. 35. I am inferring that the faults in Caledon carried through to this class.
- ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1917, p. 199. (possibly pertinent: C.I.O. 481/17)
- ↑ The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in HM Ships, 1919, p. 29.
- ↑ The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in HM Ships, 1919, p. 11.
- ↑ Handbook of Captain F.C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, 1918, p. 142 and plate opposite.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1916, p. 146.
Bibliography
- Template:BibUKDirectorFiringHandbook1917
- Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1910). Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909. Copy No. 173 is Ja 345a at Admiralty Library, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
- Template:BibUKDreyerTableHandbook1918
- Template:BibUKFireControlInHMShips1919
- Template:BibUKProgressInNavalGunnery1914-1918
