Danae-class cruiser

Delhi
Class overview
Name	Danae class
Operators	Royal Navy  Polish Navy
Preceded by	C class
Succeeded by	Emerald class
In commission	1918–1946
Planned	12
Completed	8
Cancelled	4
Lost	3
General characteristics
Type	Light cruiser
Displacement	4,850 tons standard 5,925 tons full
Length	445 ft (135.6 m) (p/p) 472.5 ft (144.0 m) (o/a)
Beam	46.5 ft (14.2 m) (47 ft (14 m) in Despatch and Diomede)
Draught	14.5 ft (4.4 m) (16.5 ft (5.0 m) full)
Propulsion	Six Yarrow-type water-tube boilers Parsons (Brown-Curtis in Dauntless, Diomede) geared steam turbines Two shafts 40,000 shp (30,000 kW)
Speed	29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph) (27 knots full)
Range	2,300 nmi (4,260 km) at 27 knots (50.0 km/h)
Complement	450 / 469 war
Armament	6 × BL 6-inch (152.4 mm) L/45 Mark XII guns on single mountings CP Mark XIV (Diomede 1 × mount CP Mk.XVI) 2 × QF 3 inch 20 cwt L/45 Mk.I on mounts HA Mk.II 2 × QF 2-pounder L/39 Mk.II on mounts HA Mk.II 4 × triple tubes for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes
Armour	Main belt: 1.5–2.25 in (38–57 mm) forward 3 in (76 mm) amidships 2.25–2 in (57–51 mm) aft Upper deck:1 in (25 mm) over machinery Main deck: 1 in over steering gear Gunshields: 1 in

The Danae or D class consisted of eight light cruisers built for the Royal Navy at the end of World War I which also saw service in World War II.

Design

The Danaes were based on the design of the preceding

Modifications

The lessons of the Battle of Jutland were applied and protection was improved in detail. Additional torpedo tubes were installed and depth charge throwers were also included. The Mk XII 6-inch (152 mm) gun was retained but, in Diomede, a new prototype gun house (allowing greater elevation) was used and found to be most satisfactory.

Inter-war, all ships had their anti-aircraft armament standardised as three

Early modifications in World War II included the addition of Radar Type 286 air warning at the foremast head and, later, Type 273 centimetric target indication set on the searchlight platform amidships. Between 6 and 8 20 mm Oerlikon guns were generally added, replacing the old 2 pounder guns in the bridge wings, on either side of 'P' and 'Q' guns and on the quarterdeck. In 1942, Dauntless (and in 1943, Danae) had the aft 4 inch A/A gun replaced by a quadruple mounting Mark VII for the 2 pounder Mark VIII gun and in 1943, Danae and Dragon had 'P' gun and the forward pair of 4-inch (102 mm) guns replaced by two such mountings and their Radar Type 282 equipped directors. Dragon and Danae were taken in hand again in 1943 and had the aft 4 inch / 2 pounder mountings replaced by a twin Mounting Mark XIX for the

Between 1941 and 1942, Delhi was rebuilt in the

Dragon and Durban were expended as breakwaters in support of the Normandy landings in June 1944, Dragon being replaced in Polish service by the Danae (as ORP Conrad) and Despatch was disarmed as a depot ship.

Ships

Three ships were ordered in Sep 1916 under the War Emergency Programme:

Notes

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Danae class cruiser.

This article includes a improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (April 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message )

• Campbell, N.J.M. (1980). "Great Britain". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. New York: Mayflower Books. pp. 2–85.
  ISBN 0-8317-0303-2
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• ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8
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• ISBN 978-1-59114-078-8
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• Friedman, Norman (2011). Naval Weapons of World War One: Guns, Torpedoes, Mines and ASW Weapons of All Nations; An Illustrated Directory. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing.
  ISBN 978-1-84832-100-7
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• ISBN 1-55750-048-7
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• ISBN 0-85177-245-5
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• Raven, Alan & Roberts, John (1980). British Cruisers of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.
  ISBN 0-87021-922-7
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• ISBN 1-59114-119-2
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• ISBN 1-86019-874-0
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• Ships of the Danae class