Centaur Class Light Cruisers

World War 1 Naval Combat

World War 1 Naval Combat

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hms centaur Centaur Class.  Based on the Cambrian class but designed with tripod masts and a uniform 6 inch gun armament.  The more powerful gun armament necessitated moving the bridge further forward which unfortunately made it more susceptible to spray.

HMS Centaur
Built Vickers, laid down January 1915, completed August 1916.

HMS Concord
Built Vickers, laid down February 1915, completed December 1916.

Size:
Length 420 feet pp 446 feet overall, beam 42 feet, draught 14 feet 6inches, displacement 4,165 tons normal 4,870 tons deep..

Propulsion:
4 shaft Parsons turbines, 40,000 shp, 29kts

Armour:
3-1.5in belt, 1in decks

Armament:
5 x 6in 45cal Mk XII (5 x 1), 2 x 3in (2 x 1), 2 x 21in TT

Comments:
The Ottoman Empire ordered a pair of scout cruisers in 1914.  When war started construction was stopped although much material had been prepared and much of this was used in these two ships.  Crew 437.

World War 1 Service:
Centaur

5th Light Cruiser Flotilla Harwich Force.
18 June 1918 Damaged by mine.
1934 Sold for scrap.

Concord
5th Light Cruiser Flotilla Harwich Force.
1934 Sold for scrap.

HMS Centaur.  Both served with the Harwich Force where they were knick named.  The class was given slightly more beam in order to compensate for the extra top weight of the heavier guns but were still wetter forward than the earlier ships. hms centaur

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