HMS Lancaster (1902)
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Lancaster |
| Namesake | Lancashire |
| Builder | Elswick |
| Laid down | 4 March 1901 |
| Launched | 22 March 1902 |
| Christened | Mrs. Douglas |
| Completed | 5 April 1904 |
| Fate | Sold for scrap, 3 March 1920 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | armoured cruiser |
| Displacement | 9,800 long tons (10,000 t) (normal) |
| Length | 463 ft 6 in (141.3 m) (o/a) |
| Beam | 66 ft (20.1 m) |
| Draught | 25 ft (7.6 m) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 2 × shafts; 2 × triple-expansion steam engines |
| Speed | 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph) |
| Complement | 678 |
| Armament |
|
| Armour |
|
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HMS Lancaster was one of 10
4th Cruiser Squadron on the North America and West Indies Station. She remained there until she was assigned to the Grand Fleet in 1915. She was transferred to the Pacific in 1916 and she became flagship of the Eastern Squadron in 1918. The ship was sold for scrap
in 1920.
Design and description
The Monmouths were intended to protect British merchant shipping from fast
kW) which was designed to give the ships a maximum speed of 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph). Lancaster, however, reached 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) during her sea trials.[1] She carried a maximum of 1,600 long tons (1,600 t) of coal and her complement consisted of 678 officers and ratings.[2]
The Monmouth-class ships' main armament consisted of fourteen
18-inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes.[1]
Beginning in 1915, the main deck six-inch guns of the Monmouth-class ships were moved to the upper deck and given
anti-aircraft guns were installed on the upper deck.[5]
The ship's
amidships and two-inch (51 mm) forward. The armour of the gun turrets, their barbettes and the casemates was four inches thick. The protective deck armour ranged in thickness from 0.75–2 inches (19–51 mm) and the conning tower was protected by ten inches (254 mm) of armour.[6]
Construction and service
Lancaster, named for the
5th Cruiser Squadron. The following year Lancaster was recommissioned and assigned to the 4th Cruiser Squadron on the North America and West Indies Station.[9][10]
After the beginning of
7th Cruiser Squadron of the Grand Fleet in 1915. She was transferred to the Pacific in April 1916 and became flagship of the Eastern Squadron in 1918.[9] Lancaster was partially dismantled in Birkenhead before she was sold for scrap on 3 March 1920 and subsequently broken up in Blyth.[12]
Notes
- ^ "Cwt" is the abbreviation for hundredweight, 12 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.
Footnotes
- ^ a b c Roberts, p. 70
- ^ a b Friedman 2012, p. 336
- ^ Friedman 2011, p. 81
- ^ Friedman 2012, pp. 251–252, 260–261
- ^ Friedman 2012, pp. 280, 286
- ^ McBride, p. 21
- ^ Silverstone, p. 247
- ^ "Launch of the Lancaster". The Times. No. 36723. London. 24 March 1902. p. 10.
- ^ a b Preston, p. 12
- ^ Transcript
- ^ Massie, p. 202
- ^ Silverstone, p. 248
Bibliography
- ISBN 0-89839-256-X.
- ISBN 978-1-59114-068-9.
- 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.
- ISBN 0-679-45671-6.
- McBride, Keith (1988). "The First County Class Cruisers of the Royal Navy, Part I: The Monmouths". Warship. 46 (April). London: Conway Maritime Press: 19–26. ISSN 0142-6222.
- ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
- Roberts, John (1979). "Great Britain and Empire Forces". In Chesneau, Roger & Kolesnik, Eugene M. (eds.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860-1905. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 1–113. ISBN 0-8317-0302-4.
- Silverstone, Paul H. (1984). Directory of the World's Capital Ships. New York: Hippocrene Books. ISBN 0-88254-979-0.
- "Transcript: HMS Lancaster - September 1913 to March 1915, UK out, 4th Cruiser Squadron West Indies, North America and West Indies Station (Part 1 of 3)". Royal Navy Log Books of the World War 1 Era. Naval-History.net. Retrieved 3 March 2014.