Blonde-class cruiser
 HMS Blonde at anchor
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Blonde class |
| Builders | Pembroke Dockyard |
| Operators |  Royal Navy |
| Preceded by | Boadicea class |
| Succeeded by | Active class |
| Built | 1909–1911 |
| In commission | 1910–1921 |
| Completed | 2 |
| Scrapped | 2 |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Type | Scout cruiser |
| Displacement | 3,350 long tons (3,400 t) |
| Length | 406 ft (123.7 m) (o/a) |
| Beam | 41 ft 6 in (12.6 m) |
| Draught | 15 ft 6 in (4.7 m) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 24.5 knots (45.4 km/h; 28.2 mph) |
| Range | 4,100 nmi (7,600 km; 4,700 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Complement | 314 |
| Armament |
|
| Armour |
|
The Blonde-class cruisers were a pair of
First World War began in August 1914, they remained with their squadrons as the First Fleet was incorporated into the Grand Fleet, although they changed squadrons over the course of the war. Blonde did not participate in the Battle of Jutland in mid-1916, unlike her sister ship, Blanche, which did, but never fired a shot. They were converted into minelayers the following year, but only Blanche actually laid mines. The sisters were reduced to reserve in 1919 and sold for scrap
in 1920–1921.
Design and description
These scout cruisers were too slow to lead destroyers in battle or to defend the fleet against enemy destroyer attacks, but they were still used as flotilla leaders. The Blonde class was essentially a repeat of the preceding
draught of 15 feet 6 inches (4.7 m). They were powered by four sets of Parsons steam turbines, each driving two shafts. The turbines produced a total of 18,000 indicated horsepower (13,000 kW), using steam produced by 12 Yarrow boilers that burned both fuel oil and coal, and gave a maximum speed of 24.5 knots (45.4 km/h; 28.2 mph). They carried a maximum of 780 long tons (790 t) of coal and 190 long tons (190 t) of fuel oil[2] that gave them a range of 4,100 nautical miles (7,600 km; 4,700 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). Their crew consisted of 314 officers and ratings.[3]
The main armament of the Blonde class consisted of ten
three-pounder 1.9-inch (47 mm) Vickers Mk I guns and two submerged 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes.[2]
As scout cruisers, the ships were only lightly protected to maximise their speed. They had a curved protective deck that was one inch (25 mm) thick on the slope and 0.5 inches (13 mm) on the flat.[3] Their conning tower was protected by four inches of armour.[2]
Ships
| Ship | Builder[5] | Laid down[2]
|
Launched[2] | Completed[2] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMS Blonde | Pembroke Dockyard | 6 December 1909 | 22 July 1910 | May 1911 |
| HMS Blanche | 12 April 1909 | 25 November 1909 | November 1910 |
Service
Both Blonde and Blanche began their careers with destroyer flotillas, Blonde as senior officers' ship for the 7th Flotilla of the Mediterranean Fleet and Blanche with the 1st Destroyer Flotilla of the First Fleet. But the sisters were transferred to the 4th and the 3rd Battle Squadrons, respectively, of the First Fleet in 1913.[6]
Blonde remained with the 4th Battle Squadron through 1916,
Blonde was in reserve by February 1919[14] and had been assigned to the Nore Reserve by 1 May, together with Blanche.[15] The sisters were listed for sale by 18 March 1920[16] and Blonde was sold for scrap on 6 May. Blanche followed on 27 July 1921.[17]
Footnotes
- ^ Friedman 2009, pp. 112–113
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Preston 1985, p. 50
- ^ a b Friedman 2009, p. 295
- ^ Friedman 2011, pp. 75–76
- ^ Phillips 2014, p. 292
- His Majesty's Stationery Office. 18 June 1913. p. 269. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ^ "Supplement to the Monthly Navy List Showing the Organisation of the Fleet, Flag Officer's Commands, &c". National Library of Scotland. Admiralty. October 1916. p. 10. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ^ Corbett 1997, Vol. I, p. 439; Corbett 1997, Vol. II, pp. 412, 417; Newbolt 1996, p. 34
- ^ a b "Supplement to the Monthly Navy List Showing the Organisation of the Fleet, Flag Officer's Commands, &c". National Library of Scotland. Admiralty. April 1917. p. 10. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ^ "Supplement to the Monthly Navy List Showing the Organisation of the Fleet, Flag Officer's Commands, &c". National Library of Scotland. Admiralty. January 1916. p. 14. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ^ Corbett 1997, Vol. III, p. 345
- ^ "Supplement to the Monthly Navy List Showing the Organisation of the Fleet, Flag Officer's Commands, &c". National Library of Scotland. Admiralty. January 1917. p. 14. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ^ Smith 2005, pp. 32–37
- ^ "Supplement to the Monthly Navy List Showing the Organisation of the Fleet, Flag Officer's Commands, &c". National Library of Scotland. Admiralty. 1 February 1919. p. 20. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ^ "Supplement to the Monthly Navy List Showing the Organisation of the Fleet, Flag Officer's Commands, &c". National Library of Scotland. Admiralty. 1 May 1919. p. 16. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- His Majesty's Stationery Office. 18 March 1920. p. 1105a. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ^ Colledge & Warlow 2006, pp. 41–42
Bibliography
- ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
- ISBN 0-89839-256-X.
- Corbett, Julian (1997). Naval Operations. History of the Great War: Based on Official Documents. Vol. II (reprint of the 1929 second ed.). London and Nashville, Tennessee: Imperial War Museum in association with the Battery Press. ISBN 1-870423-74-7.
- Corbett, Julian (1997). Naval Operations. History of the Great War: Based on Official Documents. Vol. III (reprint of the 1940 second ed.). London and Nashville, Tennessee: Imperial War Museum in association with the Battery Press. ISBN 1-870423-50-X.
- ISBN 978-1-59114-081-8.
- Friedman, Norman (2011). Naval Weapons of World War One. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-84832-100-7.
- ISBN 0-89839-253-5.
- Phillips, Lawrie; Lieutenant Commander (2014). Pembroke Dockyard and the Old Navy: A Bicentennial History. Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK: The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7509-5214-9.)
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
- Smith, Peter C. (2005). Into the Minefields: British Destroyer Minelaying 1916–1960. Barnsley, UK: Pen & Sword Maritime. ISBN 1-84415-271-5.
External links
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