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

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===Evershed Bearing Indicators===
 
===Evershed Bearing Indicators===
This equipment was unlikely to have been fitted for gun or searchlight control.<ref>''The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in HM Ships, 1919'', p. 29.</ref> {{FC}}
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This equipment was unlikely to have been fitted for gun or searchlight control.{{FCHMShips|p. 29}} {{FC}}
  
 
===Gunnery Control===
 
===Gunnery Control===

Revision as of 10:25, 19 September 2012

The four third class cruisers of the Gem Class were completed in 1904 and 1905. They were occasionally referred to as the Topaze class.

Name Builder Laid Down Launched Commissioned Fate
Amethyst
Diamond
Sapphire
Topaze

Fire Control

Rangefinders

Evershed Bearing Indicators

This equipment was unlikely to have been fitted for gun or searchlight control.[1] [Fact Check]

Gunnery Control

Telaupad Control Scheme[2]

The ships were hard-wired for Telaupad control. Five Navyphones and fire gongs on flexible cables were to be placed in any convenient position for controlling the armament in whole or in part. Six group officer's navyphones were also provided. The flying bridge housed 4 COSes.[3]

By 1914, they were also provided Voicepipes, possibly with one for gun control and a second for torpedo control.[4]

Control Positions

Control Groups

Four groupings were possible for the forward guns:[5]

  • The three foremost broadside guns in 2 groups, port and starboard, with forecastle gun as third group.
  • Number 2 and 3 broadside gun in two groups, port and starboard, with Number 1 broadside gun and fore gun as third group.
  • As 1, but with forecastle gun in port group
  • As 1, but with forecastle gun in starboard group

The aft guns had simpler groupings:

  • broadside guns 4 and 5 in 2 groups, port and starboard, quarterdeck gun with port group.
  • Same as above, but quarterdeck gun with starboard group.

Control was largely by Telaupads and Fire Gongs positioned at each gun, with six Navyphones being provided for group officers.

Dreyer Table

These ships had no fire control tables.[6]

Fire Control Instruments

The ships were equipped for Voicepipe, Navyphone, Telaupad and Fire Gong control.[7][8]

See Also

Footnotes

  1. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. p. 29.
  2. Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909. Plate 53.
  3. Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909, p. 51, Plate 53.
  4. Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. p. 67.
  5. Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909. p. 51.
  6. absent from list in Handbook of Capt. F.C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, p. 3.
  7. Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. p. 67.
  8. Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909. p. 51.

Bibliography


Gem Class Third Class Protected Cruiser
  Amethyst Diamond Sapphire Topaze  
<– Challenger Class Minor Cruisers (UK) Sentinel Class –>