Emerald class cruiser
Encyclopedia
The Emerald or E class was a class
of two light cruiser
s built for the Royal Navy
. Following the Cavendish Class
, three ships of a new class were ordered in March 1918, towards the end of World War I
, designed to emphasise high speed at the cost of other qualities, for use against rumoured new high speed German cruisers - like the Brummer class
- , and particularly minelayers, in the North Sea
. However, the third ship was cancelled in November 1918.
, but had a very high ratio of length to beam, and only one more gun despite being much bigger and more expensive. Much was sacrificed to achieve 33 knots (64.7 km/h), the horsepower was doubled and the hull increased by 100 ft (30.5 m) in length, and a 50% increase in displacement. Only two ships were actually built, and completed in 1926. Four propellers were necessary for the increased power, and were driven from two engine rooms. There were four boiler rooms, nos. 2 and 3 being arranged side-by-side with the exhausts trunked into a common funnel. The magazines were between boiler rooms nos. 2 and 3 and the forward engine room, and between boiler room no. 4 and the after engine room. This led to a bizarre funnel arrangement, accentuated further when in 1935 a longer catapult required the mainmast to be stepped forward of the after funnel, and the funnels were heightened by 5 ft (1.5 m).
In the early 1930s Enterprise
was fitted with a prototype twin 6" turret in place of her two forward single mounts; and with trials of the turret proving successful it was retained on Enterprise for the rest of her career. The turret design was later installed in the Leander
, Amphion
and Arethusa
Classes. The turret installation occupied less space than the superimposed 'A' and 'B' guns of Emerald, therefore the bridge was placed further forward. The bridge was of a new design, being a single block topped by a director tower, rather than the traditional platforms built around the foremast and wheelhouse topped with a spotting top. This design of bridge would appear in the County class cruiser
s.
Nothwithstanding their age and outlandish appearance these two ships were still the fastest cruisers in the Royal Navy
at the outbreak of World War II
, Emerald exceeding 32 knots (62.7 km/h) in a full-power trial at full load in 1939.
Like the Cavendish class
, they were mainly employed on the ocean trade routes, also seeing fleet service in the Far East
.
Mk.I added for the 4 in guns, which was fitted amidships between the searchlight platform and the after funnel. The funnels were raised 5 ft (1.5 m) at this time. Later proposals to increase the AA outfit by the addition of twin 4 in and multiple 2 pdrs were thwarted by the outbreak of war. Emerald had received two quadruple .5 Machine Guns before the war, then during refit between August 1942 and April 1943 she landed the after 6 in, two 2 pdr singles and the .5 Machine Guns to receive instead six power-operated twin 20 mm, two quadruple 2 pdr and radars Type 273 (centimetric target indication), 281 (air warning), 282 (pom-pom ranging) and 285 (HACS ranging). In April 1944 six 20 mm singles were added and the catapult was removed.
Enterprise landed two 6 in singles in 1941 and had one quadruple 2 pdr fitted. She later had four single 20 mm fitted and then, in the course of a long refit between the end of December 1942 and October 1943, she lost the single 2 pdr and 20 mm weapons, receiving six twin power-operated mountings in lieu. The two 6 in were reinstated and a second quadruple 2 pdr fitted. She was fitted with radars Type 272 (centimetric target indication), 281, 282, 284 (6 inch gun ranging), and 285. In February she had an additional four single 20 mm fitted and the catapult was removed.
Ship class
A ship class is a group of ships of a similar design. This is distinct from a ship-type, which might reflect a similarity of tonnage or intended use. For example, the is a nuclear aircraft carrier of the Nimitz class....
of two light cruiser
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 built for 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...
. Following the Cavendish Class
Hawkins class cruiser
The Hawkins class was a class of five heavy cruisers of the Royal Navy designed in 1915 and constructed throughout the First World War. All ships were named after Elizabethan sea captains...
, three ships of a new class were ordered in March 1918, towards the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, designed to emphasise high speed at the cost of other qualities, for use against rumoured new high speed German cruisers - like the Brummer class
Brummer class cruiser
The Brummer class were a group of two light mine-laying cruisers built for the Imperial German Navy in World War I. When the war broke out the Germans had only two older mine-laying cruisers: and . Although most German cruisers were fitted for mine-laying, a need for fast specialized ships existed...
- , and particularly minelayers, in 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...
. However, the third ship was cancelled in November 1918.
Design
The E class were based on the preceding Danae classDanae class cruiser
The Danae or D-class was a class of light cruiser built for the Royal Navy at the end of World War I and that survived to see service in World War II.-Design:...
, but had a very high ratio of length to beam, and only one more gun despite being much bigger and more expensive. Much was sacrificed to achieve 33 knots (64.7 km/h), the horsepower was doubled and the hull increased by 100 ft (30.5 m) in length, and a 50% increase in displacement. Only two ships were actually built, and completed in 1926. Four propellers were necessary for the increased power, and were driven from two engine rooms. There were four boiler rooms, nos. 2 and 3 being arranged side-by-side with the exhausts trunked into a common funnel. The magazines were between boiler rooms nos. 2 and 3 and the forward engine room, and between boiler room no. 4 and the after engine room. This led to a bizarre funnel arrangement, accentuated further when in 1935 a longer catapult required the mainmast to be stepped forward of the after funnel, and the funnels were heightened by 5 ft (1.5 m).
In the early 1930s Enterprise
HMS Enterprise (D52)
HMS Enterprise was one of two Emerald-class light cruisers of the Royal Navy. She was built by John Brown Shipbuilding & Engineering Company Ltd., with the keel being laid down on 28 June 1918. She was launched on 23 December 1919, and commissioned 7 April 1926...
was fitted with a prototype twin 6" turret in place of her two forward single mounts; and with trials of the turret proving successful it was retained on Enterprise for the rest of her career. The turret design was later installed in the Leander
Leander class cruiser (1931)
The Leander class was a class of eight light cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s that saw service in World War II. They were named after mythological figures, and all ships were commissioned between 1933 and 1936...
, Amphion
HMAS Perth (D29)
HMAS Perth was a Modified Leander class light cruiser operated by the Royal Australian Navy during World War II. She was constructed for the Royal Navy , and commissioned as HMS Amphion in 1936...
and Arethusa
Arethusa class cruiser (1934)
The Arethusa class was a class of four light cruisers built for the Royal Navy between 1933 and 1937 and that served in World War II. It had been intended to construct six ships, but the last pair, Polyphemus and Minotaur were ordered in 1934 as the 9,100 ton Town class Southampton and...
Classes. The turret installation occupied less space than the superimposed 'A' and 'B' guns of Emerald, therefore the bridge was placed further forward. The bridge was of a new design, being a single block topped by a director tower, rather than the traditional platforms built around the foremast and wheelhouse topped with a spotting top. This design of bridge would appear in the County class cruiser
County class cruiser
The County class was a class of heavy cruisers built for the British Royal Navy in the years between the First and Second World Wars. They were the first post-war cruiser construction for the Royal Navy and were designed within the limits of the Washington Naval Conference of 1922...
s.
Nothwithstanding their age and outlandish appearance these two ships were still the fastest cruisers in 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...
at the outbreak of World War II
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...
, Emerald exceeding 32 knots (62.7 km/h) in a full-power trial at full load in 1939.
Like the Cavendish class
Hawkins class cruiser
The Hawkins class was a class of five heavy cruisers of the Royal Navy designed in 1915 and constructed throughout the First World War. All ships were named after Elizabethan sea captains...
, they were mainly employed on the ocean trade routes, also seeing fleet service in the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
.
Modifications
In the mid-1930s both ships were fitted with a catapult which replaced the out-moded flying-off platform and had HACSHACS
HACS, an acronym of High Angle Control System, was a British anti-aircraft fire-control system employed by the Royal Navy from 1931 onwards and used widely during World War II...
Mk.I added for the 4 in guns, which was fitted amidships between the searchlight platform and the after funnel. The funnels were raised 5 ft (1.5 m) at this time. Later proposals to increase the AA outfit by the addition of twin 4 in and multiple 2 pdrs were thwarted by the outbreak of war. Emerald had received two quadruple .5 Machine Guns before the war, then during refit between August 1942 and April 1943 she landed the after 6 in, two 2 pdr singles and the .5 Machine Guns to receive instead six power-operated twin 20 mm, two quadruple 2 pdr and radars Type 273 (centimetric target indication), 281 (air warning), 282 (pom-pom ranging) and 285 (HACS ranging). In April 1944 six 20 mm singles were added and the catapult was removed.
Enterprise landed two 6 in singles in 1941 and had one quadruple 2 pdr fitted. She later had four single 20 mm fitted and then, in the course of a long refit between the end of December 1942 and October 1943, she lost the single 2 pdr and 20 mm weapons, receiving six twin power-operated mountings in lieu. The two 6 in were reinstated and a second quadruple 2 pdr fitted. She was fitted with radars Type 272 (centimetric target indication), 281, 282, 284 (6 inch gun ranging), and 285. In February she had an additional four single 20 mm fitted and the catapult was removed.
Ships
- HMS EmeraldHMS Emerald (D66)HMS Emerald was an Emerald-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was built by Armstrong , with the keel being laid down on 23 September 1918...
, built by Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth and Company, Elswick, laid down 23 September 1918, launched 19 May 1920, and completed at Chatham Royal DockyardChatham DockyardChatham Dockyard, located on the River Medway and of which two-thirds is in Gillingham and one third in Chatham, Kent, England, came into existence at the time when, following the Reformation, relations with the Catholic countries of Europe had worsened, leading to a requirement for additional...
in January 1926. Sold for breaking up 23 June 1948. - HMS EnterpriseHMS Enterprise (D52)HMS Enterprise was one of two Emerald-class light cruisers of the Royal Navy. She was built by John Brown Shipbuilding & Engineering Company Ltd., with the keel being laid down on 28 June 1918. She was launched on 23 December 1919, and commissioned 7 April 1926...
, built by John Brown and Company, Clydebank, laid down 28 June 1918, launched 23 December 1919, and completed at Devonport Royal Dockyard in April 1926. Sold for breaking up 11 April 1946. - HMS Euphrates, ordered from Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan, laid down 1918, but cancelled 26 November 1918.