 |
Eclipse Class. Despite a considerable increase in size and an improved armament on the previous Astraea class there was still criticism that the ships were undreamed. They were arranged to emphasise end on fire which meant their broadside fire was little stronger than the previous class. In 1903-1905 all the ships except Eclipse were rearmed with a uniform gun armament of 11 modern 6 inch guns replacing the older model 6 inch and 4.7 inch weapons. |
HMS Eclipse
Built Portsmouth Dockyard, laid down December 1893, completed March 1897.
HMS Diana
Built Fairfield, laid down August 1894, completed June 1897.
HMS Dido
Built London & Glasgow Co, Glasgow, laid down August 1894, completed May 1898.
HMS Doris
Built Naval Construction & Armaments Co, Barrow, laid down August 1894, completed October 1897.
HMS Isis
Built London & Glasgow Co, Glasgow, laid down January 1895, completed May 1898.
HMS Juno
Built Naval Construction & Armaments Co, Barrow, laid down June 1895, completed June 1897.
HMS Minerva
Built Chatham Dockyard, laid down December 1893, completed February 1897.
HMS Talbot
Built Devonport Dockyard, laid down March 1894, completed September 1896.
HMS Venus
Built Fairfield, laid down June 1894, completed November 1897.
Size:
Length 350 feet pp 373 feet overall, beam 53 feet 6 inches, draught 20 feet 6 inches, displacement 5,600 tons load.
Propulsion:
2 shaft TE engines, 8,000 ihp, 18.5kts
Armour:
3in gun shields, 3-1.5in decks
Armament:
5 x 6in QF (5 x 1), 6 x 4.7in (6 x 1), 8 x 12 pounder QF (8 x 1), 6 x 3 pounder QF (6 x 1), 3 x 18in TT
Comments:
Enlarged follow on to the Astraea class with similar speed but increased protection and armament. Crew 450.
World War 1 Service:
Eclipse
Cruiser Force G Channel.
10 August 1914 Captured German merchant ship.
10 September 1914 Captured German merchant ship.
February 1914 12 Cruiser Squadron Western Channel.
1915 Accommodation ship for submarine crews.
1921 sold for scrap.
Diana
Cruiser Force G Channel.
6th August 1914 Captured German merchant ship.
February 1915 12 Cruiser Squadron Western Channel.
November 1915 China Station.
1918 Red Sea.
1920 Sold for scrap.
Dido
1914 Depot ship 3rd Submarine Flotilla.
1914 Depot ship 3rd Destroyer Flotilla Harwich.
1915 Depot ship 9th Destroyer Flotilla Harwich.
1918 Depot ship 10th Destroyer Flotilla Harwich.
1926 Sold for scrap.
Doris
11th Cruiser Squadron Ireland.
5th August 1914 Captured German merchant ship.
1914 Mediterranean and Egypt.
December 1914 Sank Ottoman Merchant ship.
1915 Dardanelles.
1916 Mediterranean and Aegean.
1917 East Indies.
1919 Sold for scrap.
Isis
11th Cruiser Squadron Ireland.
5th August 1914 Captured German merchant ship.
1916 North America and West Indies.
1920 Sold for scrap.
Juno
11th Cruiser Squadron Ireland.
July 1915 Persian Gulf.
1918 North America and West Indies.
1920 Sold for scrap.
Minerva
11th Cruiser Squadron Ireland.
September 1914 Captured Austrian merchant ship.
November 1914 Suez Canal and Egypt.
1915 Dardanelles.
17 April 1915 Sank Ottoman torpedo boat Demis-Hissar.
1916 China.
January 1917 Red Seas and East Indies.
March 1917 East Africa.
1920 Sold for scrap.
Talbot
Cruiser Force G / 12 Cruiser Squadron Channel.
September 1914 Captured German merchant ship.
April 1915 Dardanelles.
May 1916 East Africa.
1918 Cape of Good Hope.
1921 Sold for scrap.
Venus
11th Cruiser Squadron Ireland.
October 1914 Captured two German merchant ships.
1915 Red Sea and Persian Gulf.
1916 China.
1917 East Indies.
1921 Sold for scrap.
| HMS Isis like most of the class started the war with the 11th Cruiser Squadron based at Devonport but operating mainly off the Irish coast and English Channel. The class then mainly served in overseas theatres but had generally active wars. The increase in size over previous ships resulted in better sea keeping and the class was also helped in this regards by having a turtleback forecastle. |
 |
Copyright ©1998-2025