C class cruiser
Encyclopedia
The C class was a group of twenty-eight light cruiser
s of the Royal Navy
, and were built in a sequence of seven classes known as the Caroline (six ships), Calliope (two ships), Cambrian (four ships), Centaur (two ships), Caledon (four ships), Ceres (five ships) and Carlisle (five ships) classes. They were built for the rough conditions of the North Sea
and proved rugged, and capable, vessels, though they were quite small and cramped.
aft, eight 4 in guns
and two 6 pounder guns
. Their anti-aircraft (A/A) weaponry consisted of four 3 pounder guns. Their aft 6 in guns were superfiring and the class had three funnels. During the First World War, the ships of the class underwent a variety of alterations, including the removal of the 4 inches (102 mm) guns in Caroline, Carysfort and Comus, being replaced by two extra 6 inches (152 mm) guns, while Cleopatra, Conquest and Cordelia retained one or two of the 4 inches (102 mm) guns, with two 2 pounder guns being added to some of the ships.
s to be built for Turkey
. They were launched and commissioned in 1916. The class also had geared turbines as well as four screws. They retained the two funnels introduced to the C class by the Cambrians. Their main armament was five 6 in guns in single mounts. Their 4 inches (102 mm) guns were mostly replaced in a similar fashion to the previous sub-classes, with smaller calibre guns.
The Caledon class were all ordered in December 1915 and commissioned in 1917. They retained the two funnels of the previous two sub-classes. Their propulsion was slightly different from the previous sub-classes. Their superstructure was also slightly altered. They had a main armament of five 6 inches (152 mm) guns and a secondary armament of two 3 in guns, as well as an AA armament of four 3 pounder guns. The surviving ships of the class survived to see World War II
, and underwent a number of modifications. Five Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
s were added to all ships. Caledon herself had a different armament, as she underwent an extensive rebuild that saw her become an AA cruiser. She was armed with the effective 4 inches (102 mm) gun, of which she had twelve, two 40 mm Bofors and eight 20 mm Oerlikons.
The Ceres class were ordered in March to April 1916 and commissioned between 1917 and 1918. They were very "wet" at the bow, which was remedied in the subsequent Carlisle sub-class with the addition of a "trawler bow". Their main armament consisted of five 6 inches (152 mm) guns, while their secondary armament consisted of two 3 inches (76 mm) guns, of which a further one was later added to Ceres herself. Four 3 pounder guns were also fitted.
Three ships underwent extensive rebuilds during the 1930s, becoming AA cruisers, resulting in all previous armament being removed. The ships were Coventry, Curacoa and Curlew, with Curacoa being the last of the three to be rebuilt in 1939; the other two ships having been converted in 1935. Coventry and Curlew were given ten 4 inches (102 mm) guns (two later being removed from Coventry) and sixteen 3 inches (76 mm) guns for their AA role. Curacoa had slightly different gun numbers, being armed with eight 4 inches (102 mm) guns and four 3 inches (76 mm) guns, and later on in WWII, four 20 mm Oerlikons. Cardiff and Ceres were to have undergone the same conversion, but this was prevented by the outbreak of war.
The Carlisle class were ordered in June and July 1917 under the War Emergency Programme, and commissioned between 1918 and 1922. They differed from the previous sub-class, with the addition of a "trawler bow" which raised the bow higher, as well as having no conning towers. They had an armament of five 6 inches (152 mm) guns in single turrets, while their secondary armament consisted of two 3 inches (76 mm) guns, four 3 pounder guns and two 2 pounder guns.
All ships of the class, except Colombo and Capetown, were converted into AA cruisers in 1939, although Capetown received 6 20 mm guns and radar. Their main armament consisted of eight 4 inches (102 mm) guns in four twin turrets with varying numbers of 20 mm Oerlikon guns being added. Colombo was finally converted to an AA cruiser in 1942, with its armament consisting of eight 4 inches (102 mm) guns and six 20 mm Oerlikons.
destroyer G.194 while Cleopatra covered a raid at Tondern. Ships of the C class were extensively involved later that year in the Battle of Jutland
. In 1917, Centaur hit mines that blew her bow and stern off. Despite the extensive damage, Centaur survived and was repaired. The year also saw ships of the class involved in action at the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight
.
In 1918, Cardiff had the honour of leading the defeated German High Seas Fleet
to the River Forth
, where the German ships would be held before being moved to various other ports.
No C-class ships were lost during the First World War; however, in December 1918, Cassandra hit a mine and subsequently sank.
Ships of the C class performed a variety of duties after World War I, including service on overseas stations. In 1919, Curacoa hit a mine that badly damaged her, but she survived and was repaired. The Caroline, Cambrian and Centaur classes were all scrapped or consigned to minor roles, such as training ships, by the 1930s.
Coventry and Curlew first had all armament removed. This was replaced with 10 single mount 4 inch high angle (HA) guns and two eight-barreled 2 pounder "pom-pom" mounts
. The previous gun directors were removed and replaced with two suitable for anti-aircraft gun control. Only limited structural work was carried out to keep costs down, but the masts were altered. In 1938 the aft pom-pom was removed because of shortages and given to other ships - the replacement was two quadruple 0.5 inches (12.7 mm) Vickers machine gun
mounts.
The modifications were considered successful, and the conversion of the other eleven ships was drawn up. This was delayed though; Cairo and Calcutta did not start conversion until 1938. Instead of single guns, they were to receive twin HA mounts except that one mount was given over to a quad pom-pom. In mid 1939 Carlisle and Curacoa went in for their conversion but the conversion work ceased on the outbreak of war.
, the Caledon, Ceres and Carlisle class ships participated, despite their age.
Calypso caught the German blockade-runner Konsul Hendrik Fisser in 1939. That same year, Caradoc intercepted the German tanker Emmy Friedrich, whose crew subsequently scuttled her. A number of ships took part in the Norwegian campaign
in 1940.
The C class were also extensively used in the Mediterranean Sea
; the first notable engagement by a ship of the class being Coventrys participation in the Battle of Cape Spartivento
in 1940.
In 1941, Calcutta and Carlisle took part in the Battle of Cape Matapan
, in which a number of Italian
warships were sunk. C-class cruisers also took part in the campaign and evacution of Crete
, coming up against heavy German opposition from the air. In 1942, Carlisle took part in the Second Battle of Sirte
.
In 1942/43 Colombo and Caledon went in for their refits - getting 40 mm Bofors and 20 mm Oerlikons alongside the twin mounts.
In 1943, Carlisle was heavily damaged by German aircraft, though did not sink. The damage did, however, knock the ship out of the war.
In 1944, Capetown provided support to the Normandy Landings, bombarding German positions.
Six ships of the C class were lost during the war: Cairo was sunk in 1942 by the Italian submarine Axum
during Operation Pedestal
(the pivotal resupply of Malta); Calcutta was attacked and sunk by German aircraft during the evacuation of Crete; Calypso was sunk by the Italian submarine Bagnolini in 1940; Coventry was heavily damaged by German aircraft
while covering a raid on Tobruk
in 1942, forcing HMS Zulu
to scuttle her; Curacoa was sunk after colliding with the ocean liner RMS Queen Mary
in 1942; and Curlew was sunk by German aircraft off Narvik
during the Norwegian campaign in 1940.
HMS Caroline
remains in service , serving as HQ and training ship to the Royal Naval Reserve
in Northern Ireland
, duties that she first started in 1924. Her armament was removed many decades ago, but in nearly every other aspect still resembles the ship that fought at Jutland in 1916, and remains in very good condition. There are plans to bring her to Portsmouth
, where she would be berthed next to HMS Warrior
as a museum-ship.
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
s of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, and were built in a sequence of seven classes known as the Caroline (six ships), Calliope (two ships), Cambrian (four ships), Centaur (two ships), Caledon (four ships), Ceres (five ships) and Carlisle (five ships) classes. They were built for the rough conditions of the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
and proved rugged, and capable, vessels, though they were quite small and cramped.
The Caroline class
The Caroline class were all ordered in July to August 1913, as the first six of eight "light armoured cruisers" under the 1913 programme. They were launched in 1914 or 1915 and commissioned in 1915. They had an armament of two single 6 in gunsBL 6 inch Mk XII naval gun
The BL 6 inch Gun Mark XII was a British 45 calibres naval gun which was mounted as primary armament on light cruisers and secondary armament on dreadnought battleships commissioned in the period 1914 - 1926, and remained in service on many warships until the end of World War II.-Design:This was a...
aft, eight 4 in guns
QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun
The QF 4 inch Mk V gun was a Royal Navy gun of World War I which was adapted on HA mountings to the heavy anti-aircraft role both at sea and on land, and was also used as a coast defence gun.-Naval service:...
and two 6 pounder guns
QF 6 pounder Hotchkiss
The QF 6 pounder Hotchkiss was a light 57 mm naval gun and coast defence gun of the late 19th century used by many countries, and was adapted for use in the early British tanks in World War I.- Canada History :...
. Their anti-aircraft (A/A) weaponry consisted of four 3 pounder guns. Their aft 6 in guns were superfiring and the class had three funnels. During the First World War, the ships of the class underwent a variety of alterations, including the removal of the 4 inches (102 mm) guns in Caroline, Carysfort and Comus, being replaced by two extra 6 inches (152 mm) guns, while Cleopatra, Conquest and Cordelia retained one or two of the 4 inches (102 mm) guns, with two 2 pounder guns being added to some of the ships.
Ships
- HMS CarolineHMS Caroline (1914)HMS Caroline was a C-class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy. Caroline was launched and commissioned in 1914. At the time of her decommissioning in 2011 she was the second-oldest ship in Royal Navy service, after HMS Victory...
, built by Cammell Laird and Company, Birkenhead, laid down 28 January 1914, launched 29 September 1914, and completed December 1914. Became a drill ship for the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve in April 1924 and still fulfills that role in Alexandra Dock, BelfastBelfastBelfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. - HMS CarysfortHMS Carysfort (1914)HMS Carysfort was a C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was part of the Caroline group of the C-class of cruisers.She was laid down in February 1914, launched 14 November 1914 and commissioned into the navy in June 1915...
, built by Pembroke Dockyard, laid down 25 February 1914, launched 14 November 1914, and completed June 1915. Sold for breaking up August 1931. - HMS CleopatraHMS Cleopatra (1915)HMS Cleopatra was a C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was part of the Caroline group of the C-class of cruisers.She was laid down in February 1914, launched 14 January 1915 and commissioned into the navy in June 1915. On the outbreak of war she was assigned to the 5th Light Cruiser...
, built by Devonport Dockyard, laid down 26 February 1914, launched 14 January 1915, and completed June 1915. Sold for breaking up June 1931. - HMS ComusHMS Comus (1914)HMS Comus was a C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was part of the Caroline group of the C-class of cruisers.She was laid down on 13 November 1913, launched 16 December 1914 and commissioned into the navy on 15 May 1915. She was assigned to the Grand Fleet upon completion, and then went...
, built by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson, Wallsend on Tyne, laid down 3 November 1913, launched 16 December 1914, and completed January 1915. Sold for breaking up 28 July 1934. - HMS ConquestHMS Conquest (1915)HMS Conquest was a C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was part of the Caroline group of the C-class of cruisers.She was laid down in March 1914, launched 20 January 1915 and commissioned into the navy in June 1915. She was assigned to the 5th Light Cruiser Squadron, Harwich Force,...
, built by Chatham Dockyard, laid down 3 March 1914, launched 20 January 1915, and completed June 1915. Sold for breaking up 29 August 1930. - HMS CordeliaHMS Cordelia (1914)HMS Cordelia was a C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was part of the Caroline group of the C-class of cruisers.She was laid down in July 1913, launched 23 February 1914 and commissioned into the navy in January 1915...
, built by Pembroke Dockyard, laid down 21 July 1913, launched 23 February 1914, and completed January 1913. Sold for breaking up 31 July 1923.
The Calliope class
The two ships of the Calliope sub-class - HMS Calliope and HMS Champion - were the last pair of the eight "light armoured cruisers" to be ordered in July to August 1914 under the 1913 Programme. They had all geared turbines, the first RN cruisers to be fitted with them. They also had increased belt armour and, Champion had just two screws. They were commissioned in mid to late 1915, as modifications to the Caroline with higher speeds and a more efficient boiler layout and the reduction in the number of funnels to two. The two ships had different machinery types for comparative purposes. Calliope and Champion underwent similar gun armament modifications to the Caroline class. They also had underwater tubes rather than the deck mounted weapons of the Caroline class and were given two twin deck mounted torpedo tubes during the war but these were later removed to reduce top weight.Ships
- HMS CalliopeHMS Calliope (1914)HMS Calliope was a British C class light cruiser of the Royal Navy under construction at the outbreak of World War I. Both Calliope and her sister ship Champion were based on HMS Caroline. They were effectively test ships for the use of geared turbines which resulted in the one less funnel. They...
: Built by Chatham Dockyard, laid down 1 January 1914, launched 17 December 1914, and completed June 1915. Sold for breaking up 28 August 1931. - HMS ChampionHMS Champion (1915)HMS Champion was a C-class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy.Eight light cruisers were ordered for the Royal Navy in the 1913 budget. The six ships of the Caroline class used conventional direct drive turbine engines but two, Champion and Calliope had experimental engine designs using geared...
: Built by R. & W. Hawthorn Leslie and Company, Hebburn on Tyne, laid down 9 March 1914, launched 29 May 1915, and completed December 1915. Sold for breaking up 28 July 1934.
The Cambrian class
The Cambrian class were ordered in September 1914 under the 1914-15 Programme, and commissioned between 1915 and 1916. They had two funnels rather than the three in the Caroline class, following on from the developments in the Calliope subclass. The Cambrian class had similar armament to the previous sub-class, with its main armament being four 6 inches (152 mm) guns in single mounts. Their secondary armament consisted of eight 4 inches (102 mm) guns. They were later removed, with Canterbury and Champion retaining one single 4 inches (102 mm) gun. The rest of the ships used either two to three 3 inches (76 mm) guns.Ships
- HMS Cambrian, built by Pembroke Dockyard, laid down 8 December 1914, launched 3 March 1916, and completed May 1916. Sold for breaking up 28 July 1934.
- HMS CanterburyHMS Canterbury (1915)HMS Canterbury was a C-class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy. She was part of the Cambrian group of the C-class of cruisers. Unlike the rest of the subclass, Canterbury was armed with six torpedo tubes instead of the usual four....
, built by John Brown and Company, Clydebank, laid down 14 October 1914, launched 21 December 1915, and completed May 1916. Sold for breaking up 28 July 1934. - HMS CastorHMS Castor (1915)HMS Castor was one of the Cambrian subclass of the C-class of light cruisers. Her sister ships were HMS Cambrian, HMS Canterbury, and HMS Constance...
, built by Cammell Laird, laid down 28 October 1914, launched 28 July 1915, and completed November 1915. Sold for breaking up 30 July 1936. - HMS ConstanceHMS Constance (1915)HMS Constance was a C-class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy. She was part of the Cambrian group of the C-class of cruisers....
, built by Cammell Laird, laid down 25 January 1915, launched 12 September 1915, and completed January 1916. Sold for breaking up 8 June 1936.
The Centaur class
The Centaur class were ordered in December 1914, and built using materials originally intended for two scout cruiserScout cruiser
A scout cruiser was a type of warship of the early 20th Century, which were smaller, faster, more lightly armed and armoured than protected cruisers or light cruisers, but larger than contemporary destroyers...
s to be built for Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. They were launched and commissioned in 1916. The class also had geared turbines as well as four screws. They retained the two funnels introduced to the C class by the Cambrians. Their main armament was five 6 in guns in single mounts. Their 4 inches (102 mm) guns were mostly replaced in a similar fashion to the previous sub-classes, with smaller calibre guns.
Ships
- HMS CentaurHMS Centaur (1916)HMS Centaur was a C-class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy. She was the nameship of the Centaur group of the C-class of cruisers....
, built by Sir W.G. Armstrong-Whitworth & Co., Ltd.Armstrong WhitworthSir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd was a major British manufacturing company of the early years of the 20th century. Headquartered in Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, Armstrong Whitworth engaged in the construction of armaments, ships, locomotives, automobiles, and aircraft.-History:In 1847,...
, Walker on Tyne, laid down 24 January 1915, launched 6 January 1916, and completed August 1916. Sold for breaking up February 1934. - HMS ConcordHMS Concord (1916)HMS Concord was a C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was part of the Centaur group of the C-class of cruisers.She was built by Vickers Limited and laid down in February 1915, launched on 1 April 1916 and commissioned into the Navy in December 1916. The Ottoman Empire had ordered a pair...
, built by Armstrong-Whitworth, laid down 1 February 1915, launched 1 April 1916, and completed December 1916. Sold for breaking up August 1935.
The Caledon class
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and underwent a number of modifications. Five Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
The Oerlikon 20 mm cannon is a series of autocannons, based on an original design by Reinhold Becker of Germany, very early in World War I, and widely produced by Oerlikon Contraves and others...
s were added to all ships. Caledon herself had a different armament, as she underwent an extensive rebuild that saw her become an AA cruiser. She was armed with the effective 4 inches (102 mm) gun, of which she had twelve, two 40 mm Bofors and eight 20 mm Oerlikons.
Ships
- HMS CaledonHMS Caledon (D53)HMS Caledon was a C-class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy. She was the nameship of the Caledon group of the C-class of cruisers....
, built by Cammell LairdCammell LairdCammell Laird, one of the most famous names in British shipbuilding during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, came about following the merger of Laird, Son & Co. of Birkenhead and Johnson Cammell & Co. of Sheffield at the turn of the twentieth century.- Founding of the business :The Company...
, laid down 17 March 1916, launched 25 November 1916, and completed March 1917. Became A/A ship in December 1943; sold for breaking up 22 January 1948. - HMS CalypsoHMS Calypso (D61)HMS Calypso was a C class cruiser of the Caledon sub-class of the Royal Navy, launched in 1917 and sunk in 1940 by the Italian submarine Bagnolini.HMS Calypso was built by Hawthorn Leslie and Company...
, built by Hawthorn Leslie, laid down 7 February 1916, launched 24 January 1917, and completed June 1917. Sunk by Italian submarine Bagnolini south of CreteCreteCrete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
12 June 1940. - HMS CassandraHMS Cassandra (1916)HMS Cassandra was a C-class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy. She was part of the Caledon group of the C-class of cruisers.She was built by Vickers Limited, Barrow in Furness and laid down in March 1916, launched on 25 November 1916 and commissioned into the Navy in June 1917.She had a...
, built by Vickers, Barrow in Furness, laid down March 1916, launched 25 November 1916, and completed June 1917. Sunk by mine in the Baltic 5 December 1918. - HMS CaradocHMS Caradoc (D60)HMS Caradoc was a C-class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy. She was part of the Caledon group of the C-class of cruisers.She was built by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Greenock. She was laid down on 21 February 1916, launched on 23 December 1916 and completed and commissioned...
, built by Scott's Shipuilding and Engineering Company, Greenock, laid down 21 February 1916, launched 23 December 1916, and completed June 1917. Became a base ship April 1944, sold for breaking up May 1946.
The Ceres Class
The Ceres class were ordered in March to April 1916 and commissioned between 1917 and 1918. They were very "wet" at the bow, which was remedied in the subsequent Carlisle sub-class with the addition of a "trawler bow". Their main armament consisted of five 6 inches (152 mm) guns, while their secondary armament consisted of two 3 inches (76 mm) guns, of which a further one was later added to Ceres herself. Four 3 pounder guns were also fitted.
Three ships underwent extensive rebuilds during the 1930s, becoming AA cruisers, resulting in all previous armament being removed. The ships were Coventry, Curacoa and Curlew, with Curacoa being the last of the three to be rebuilt in 1939; the other two ships having been converted in 1935. Coventry and Curlew were given ten 4 inches (102 mm) guns (two later being removed from Coventry) and sixteen 3 inches (76 mm) guns for their AA role. Curacoa had slightly different gun numbers, being armed with eight 4 inches (102 mm) guns and four 3 inches (76 mm) guns, and later on in WWII, four 20 mm Oerlikons. Cardiff and Ceres were to have undergone the same conversion, but this was prevented by the outbreak of war.
Ships
- HMS Cardiff, built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan, laid down 22 July 1916, launched 12 April 1917, and completed June 1917. Sold for breaking up 23 January 1946.
- HMS CeresHMS Ceres (D59)HMS Ceres was a C-class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy. She was the name ship of the Ceres group of the C-class of cruisers.-Construction and early years:...
, built by John Brown, laid down 11 July 1916, launched 24 March 1917, and completed June 1917. Sold for breaking up 5 April 1946. - HMS CoventryHMS Coventry (D43)HMS Coventry was a C-class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy, named after the English city of Coventry. She was part of the Ceres group of the C-class of cruisers.-Early career and wartime service:...
, built by Swan Hunter, laid down 4 August 1916, launched 6 July 1917, and completed February 1918. Became A/A ship in 1937; sunk by aircraft off Tobruk in the Mediterranean 14 September 1942. - HMS CuracoaHMS Curacoa (D41)HMS Curacoa, named after the island Curaçao in the Caribbean Sea, was a Ceres group C-class light cruiser. In 1942, she became one of the Royal Navy's major accidental losses during the Second World War.-First World War:...
, built by Pembroke Dockyard, laid down July 1916, launched 5 May 1917, and completed February 1918. Became A/A ship in 1939; sunk in collision with RMS Queen MaryRMS Queen MaryRMS Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner that sailed primarily in the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967 for the Cunard Line...
north of Ireland 2 October 1942. - HMS CurlewHMS Curlew (D42)HMS Curlew was a C-class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy. She was part of the Ceres group of the C class of cruisers.She was laid down by Vickers Limited on 21 August 1916, and launched on 5 July 1917, being commissioned into the navy on 14 December 1917. In common with most of her...
, built by Vickers, laid down 21 August 1916, launched 5 July 1917, and completed December 1917. Became A/A ship in 1938; sunk by aircraft in Ofot Fjord, Norway, 26 May 1940.
The Carlisle Class
The Carlisle class were ordered in June and July 1917 under the War Emergency Programme, and commissioned between 1918 and 1922. They differed from the previous sub-class, with the addition of a "trawler bow" which raised the bow higher, as well as having no conning towers. They had an armament of five 6 inches (152 mm) guns in single turrets, while their secondary armament consisted of two 3 inches (76 mm) guns, four 3 pounder guns and two 2 pounder guns.
All ships of the class, except Colombo and Capetown, were converted into AA cruisers in 1939, although Capetown received 6 20 mm guns and radar. Their main armament consisted of eight 4 inches (102 mm) guns in four twin turrets with varying numbers of 20 mm Oerlikon guns being added. Colombo was finally converted to an AA cruiser in 1942, with its armament consisting of eight 4 inches (102 mm) guns and six 20 mm Oerlikons.
Ships
- HMS CairoHMS Cairo (D87)HMS Cairo was a C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy, named after the Egyptian capital, Cairo. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name...
, built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, laid down 28 November 1917, launched 19 November 1918, and completed 23 September 1919. Became A/A ship in 1939; torpedoed by Italian submarine Axum in the Mediterranean 12 August 1942. - HMS CalcuttaHMS Calcutta (D82)HMS Calcutta was a C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy, named after the Indian city of Calcutta. She was part of the Carlisle group of the C-class of cruisers.She was laid down by Vickers Limited in 1917, and launched on 9 July 1918...
, built by Vickers, Barrow in Furness, laid down 18 October 1917, launched 9 July 1918, and completed August 1919. Became A/A ship in 1939; sunk by air attack during evacuation of Crete 1 June 1941. - HMS CapetownHMS Capetown (D88)HMS Capetown was a C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy, named after the South African city of Cape Town. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name. She was part of the Carlisle group of the C-class of cruisers....
, built by Cammell Laird, laid down 23 February 1918, launched 28 June 1919 and then towed to Pembroke Dockyard where completed April 1922. Sold for breaking up 5 April 1946. - HMS CarlisleHMS Carlisle (D67)HMS Carlisle was a C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy, named after the English City of Carlisle. She was the name ship of the Carlisle group of the C-class of cruisers...
, (ex-Cawnpore), built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan, laid down 2 October 1917, launched 9 July 1918, and completed November 1918. Became A/A ship in 1939; became a base ship 1944; sold for breaking up at Alexandria 1948. - HMS ColomboHMS Colombo (D89)HMS Colombo was a C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy, named after the former capital city of Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name...
, built by Fairfield, laid down 8 December 1917, launched 18 December 1918, and completed July 1919. Became A/A ship in 1943; sold for breaking up 22 January 1948.
First World War service
In March 1916, Cleopatra rammed and sank the GermanGerman Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
destroyer G.194 while Cleopatra covered a raid at Tondern. Ships of the C class were extensively involved later that year in the Battle of Jutland
Battle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland was a naval battle between the British Royal Navy's Grand Fleet and the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet during the First World War. The battle was fought on 31 May and 1 June 1916 in the North Sea near Jutland, Denmark. It was the largest naval battle and the only...
. In 1917, Centaur hit mines that blew her bow and stern off. Despite the extensive damage, Centaur survived and was repaired. The year also saw ships of the class involved in action at the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight
Second Battle of Heligoland Bight
The Second Battle of Heligoland Bight was a naval engagement during the First World War. On 17 November 1917, German minesweepers clearing a path through the British minefield in the Heligoland Bight near the coast of Germany were intercepted by two British light cruisers, and , performing...
.
High Seas Fleet
The High Seas Fleet was the battle fleet of the German Empire and saw action during World War I. The formation was created in February 1907, when the Home Fleet was renamed as the High Seas Fleet. Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz was the architect of the fleet; he envisioned a force powerful enough to...
to the River Forth
River Forth
The River Forth , long, is the major river draining the eastern part of the central belt of Scotland.The Forth rises in Loch Ard in the Trossachs, a mountainous area some west of Stirling...
, where the German ships would be held before being moved to various other ports.
No C-class ships were lost during the First World War; however, in December 1918, Cassandra hit a mine and subsequently sank.
Ships of the C class performed a variety of duties after World War I, including service on overseas stations. In 1919, Curacoa hit a mine that badly damaged her, but she survived and was repaired. The Caroline, Cambrian and Centaur classes were all scrapped or consigned to minor roles, such as training ships, by the 1930s.
Conversion
In the mid-1930s it was decided to modernize and refit the C class cruisers for anti-aircraft work. The aim was to convert all 13 cruisers of the late C classes, the Caledons, Ceress and Carlisles. The conversions between 1935 and 1936 of HMS Coventry and HMS Curlew served as prototypes.Coventry and Curlew first had all armament removed. This was replaced with 10 single mount 4 inch high angle (HA) guns and two eight-barreled 2 pounder "pom-pom" mounts
QF 2 pounder naval gun
The 2-pounder gun, officially designated the QF 2-pounder and universally known as the pom-pom, was a 1.575 inch British autocannon, used famously as an anti-aircraft gun by the Royal Navy. The name came from the sound that the original models make when firing...
. The previous gun directors were removed and replaced with two suitable for anti-aircraft gun control. Only limited structural work was carried out to keep costs down, but the masts were altered. In 1938 the aft pom-pom was removed because of shortages and given to other ships - the replacement was two quadruple 0.5 inches (12.7 mm) Vickers machine gun
Vickers machine gun
Not to be confused with the Vickers light machine gunThe Vickers machine gun or Vickers gun is a name primarily used to refer to the water-cooled .303 inch machine gun produced by Vickers Limited, originally for the British Army...
mounts.
The modifications were considered successful, and the conversion of the other eleven ships was drawn up. This was delayed though; Cairo and Calcutta did not start conversion until 1938. Instead of single guns, they were to receive twin HA mounts except that one mount was given over to a quad pom-pom. In mid 1939 Carlisle and Curacoa went in for their conversion but the conversion work ceased on the outbreak of war.
Second World War service
In the Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Caledon, Ceres and Carlisle class ships participated, despite their age.
Calypso caught the German blockade-runner Konsul Hendrik Fisser in 1939. That same year, Caradoc intercepted the German tanker Emmy Friedrich, whose crew subsequently scuttled her. A number of ships took part in the Norwegian campaign
Norwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
in 1940.
The C class were also extensively used in the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
; the first notable engagement by a ship of the class being Coventrys participation in the Battle of Cape Spartivento
Battle of Cape Spartivento
The Battle of Cape Spartivento, known as the Battle of Cape Teulada in Italy, was a naval battle during the Battle of the Mediterranean in the Second World War...
in 1940.
In 1941, Calcutta and Carlisle took part in the Battle of Cape Matapan
Battle of Cape Matapan
The Battle of Cape Matapan was a Second World War naval battle fought from 27–29 March 1941. The cape is on the southwest coast of Greece's Peloponnesian peninsula...
, in which a number of Italian
Military history of Italy during World War II
During World War II , the Kingdom of Italy had a varied and tumultuous military history. Defeated in Greece, France, East Africa and North Africa, the Italian invasion of British Somaliland was one of the only successful Italian campaigns of World War II accomplished without German support.In...
warships were sunk. C-class cruisers also took part in the campaign and evacution of Crete
Battle of Crete
The Battle of Crete was a battle during World War II on the Greek island of Crete. It began on the morning of 20 May 1941, when Nazi Germany launched an airborne invasion of Crete under the code-name Unternehmen Merkur...
, coming up against heavy German opposition from the air. In 1942, Carlisle took part in the Second Battle of Sirte
Second Battle of Sirte
The Second Battle of Sirte was a naval engagement in which the escorting warships of a British convoy to Malta frustrated a much more powerful Regia Marina squadron. The British convoy was composed of four merchant ships escorted by four light cruisers, one anti-aircraft cruiser, and 17 destroyers...
.
In 1942/43 Colombo and Caledon went in for their refits - getting 40 mm Bofors and 20 mm Oerlikons alongside the twin mounts.
In 1943, Carlisle was heavily damaged by German aircraft, though did not sink. The damage did, however, knock the ship out of the war.
In 1944, Capetown provided support to the Normandy Landings, bombarding German positions.
Six ships of the C class were lost during the war: Cairo was sunk in 1942 by the Italian submarine Axum
Italian submarine Axum
The Italian submarine Axum was an Italian Adua-class submarine serving in the Regia Marina during World War II. She was named after the holy city of Axum, in Ethiopia. She was built in the CRDA shipyard, in Monfalcone...
during Operation Pedestal
Operation Pedestal
Operation Pedestal was a British operation to get desperately needed supplies to the island of Malta in August 1942, during the Second World War. Malta was the base from which surface ships, submarines and aircraft attacked Axis convoys carrying essential supplies to the Italian and German armies...
(the pivotal resupply of Malta); Calcutta was attacked and sunk by German aircraft during the evacuation of Crete; Calypso was sunk by the Italian submarine Bagnolini in 1940; Coventry was heavily damaged by German aircraft
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
while covering a raid on Tobruk
Tobruk
Tobruk or Tubruq is a city, seaport, and peninsula on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. It is the capital of the Butnan District and has a population of 120,000 ....
in 1942, forcing HMS Zulu
HMS Zulu (F18)
The second HMS Zulu was a Tribal-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was built in Glasgow by Alexander Stephen and Sons. Her keel was laid down on 10 August 1936. She was launched on 23 September 1937 and commissioned on 7 September 1938...
to scuttle her; Curacoa was sunk after colliding with the ocean liner RMS Queen Mary
RMS Queen Mary
RMS Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner that sailed primarily in the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967 for the Cunard Line...
in 1942; and Curlew was sunk by German aircraft off Narvik
Narvik
is the third largest city and municipality in Nordland county, Norway by population. Narvik is located on the shores of the Narvik Fjord . The municipality is part of the Ofoten traditional region of North Norway, inside the arctic circle...
during the Norwegian campaign in 1940.
The survivor
HMS Caroline (1914)
HMS Caroline was a C-class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy. Caroline was launched and commissioned in 1914. At the time of her decommissioning in 2011 she was the second-oldest ship in Royal Navy service, after HMS Victory...
remains in service , serving as HQ and training ship to the Royal Naval Reserve
Royal Naval Reserve
The Royal Naval Reserve is the volunteer reserve force of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. The present Royal Naval Reserve was formed in 1958 by merging the original Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve , a reserve of civilian volunteers founded in 1903...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, duties that she first started in 1924. Her armament was removed many decades ago, but in nearly every other aspect still resembles the ship that fought at Jutland in 1916, and remains in very good condition. There are plans to bring her to Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, where she would be berthed next to HMS Warrior
HMS Warrior (1860)
HMS Warrior was the first iron-hulled, armour-plated warship, built for the Royal Navy in response to the first ironclad warship, the French Gloire, launched a year earlier....
as a museum-ship.