Caroline Class Light Cruisers

Caroline Class. Improved and slightly larger Arethusas.  Both 6 inch guns were mounted aft, the idea being that forward mounted 4 inch guns were better for chasing enemy destroyers whilst the aft heavier guns would provide defence whilst fleeing from a more powerful opponent.

HMS Caroline
Built Cammell Laird, laid down January 1914, completed December 1914.

HMS Carysfort
Built Hawthorn Leslie, laid down February 1914, completed June 1915.

HMS Cleopatra
Built Cammell Laird, laid down February 1914, completed June 1915.

HMS Comus
Built Swan Hunter, laid down November 1913, completed January 1915.

HMS Conquest
Built Scott, laid down March 1914, completed June 1915.

HMS Cordelia
Built Pembroke Dockyard, laid down July 1913, completed January 1915.

Size:
Length 420 feet pp 446 feet overall, beam 41 feet 6 inches, draught 14 feet 9 inches, displacement 4,219 tons load 4,733 tons deep.

Propulsion:
4 shaft Parsons turbines, 40,000 shp, 28.5 knots

Trials:
Caroline 41,020 shp = 29.07 knots

Armour:
3-1in belt, 1in decks

Armament:
2 x 6in 45cal Mk XII (2 x 1), 8 x 4in 45cal Mk IV (8 x 1), 1 x 6 pounder, 4 x 21in TT

Comments:
Crew 325.

World War 1 Service:
Caroline
Leader 4th Destroyer Flotilla Grand Fleet.
1915 1st Light Cruiser Squadron Grand Fleet.
1916 4th Light Cruiser Squadron Grand Fleet.
31 May-1 June 1916 Took part in the Battle of Jutland.
Currently afloat at Belfast.

Carysfort
Leader 4th Destroyer Flotilla Grand Fleet.
1916 5th Light Cruiser Squadron Harwich Force.
1917 7th Light Cruiser Squadron Grand Fleet.
1931 Sold for scrap.

Cleopatra
5th Light Cruiser Squadron Harwich Force.
23-24 March 1916 Rammed and sunk German destroyer G 194 and damaged in collision with HMS Undaunted.
4 August 1916 Damaged by mine off Belgian coast.
1918 7th Light Cruiser Squadron Grand Fleet.
1931 Sold for scrap.

Comus
4th Light Cruiser Squadron Grand Fleet.
29 February 1916 Sank the German raider Grief.
31 May-1 June 1916 Took part in the Battle of Jutland.
1934 Sold for scrap.

Conquest
5th Light Cruiser Squadron Harwich Force.
25 April 1916 Damaged by German battlecruisers during German raid of Lowestoft.
5 June 1917 Sank German destroyer  S 20.
July 1918 Damaged by mine.
1930 Sold for scrap.

Cordelia
1st Light Cruiser Squadron Grand Fleet.
31 May-1 June 1916 Took part in the Battle of Jutland.
1917 4th Light Cruiser Squadron Grand Fleet.
1923 Sold for scrap.

HMS Cleopatra seen after the fitting of a tripod mast and director, a common modification to British light cruisers following Jutland.  There were considerable changes in armament during the war with typically the class ending it with 4 x 6 inch guns, 1-2 3 or 4 inch anti aircraft guns and 8 x 21 inch torpedo tubes.