Gem Class Cruiser (1903)
The four third class cruisers of the Gem Class were completed in 1904 and 1905. They were occasionally referred to as the Topaze class.
Despite their relatively early construction dates, they proved suitable as scout cruisers attached to Battle Squadrons.
| Overview of 4 vessels | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citations for this data available on individual ship pages | |||||
| Name | Builder | Laid Down | Launched | Completed | Fate |
| Amethyst | Armstrong, Whitworth & Company, Elswick | 7 Jan, 1903 | 5 Nov, 1903 | 17 Mar, 1905 | Sold 1 Oct, 1920 |
| Diamond | Laird, Birkenhead | 24 Mar, 1903 | 6 Jan, 1904 | Jan, 1905 | Sold 9 May, 1921 |
| Sapphire | Palmer Shipbuilding and Iron Company, Jarrow | 30 Mar, 1903 | 17 Mar, 1904 | 7 Feb, 1905 | Sold 9 May, 1921 |
| Topaze | Laird, Birkenhead | 14 Aug, 1902 | 23 Jul, 1903 | Nov, 1904 | Sold 22 Sep, 1921 |
Armament
In early 1913, new pattern G. 329 trainer's telescopes of 2.5 power and 20 degree field were issued to these and many other capital ships, to replace the 5/12, 5/15 and 5/21 variable power G.S. telescopes that had previously been in use.[1]
Evershed Bearing Indicators
This equipment was unlikely to have been fitted for gun or searchlight control.[2] [Fact Check]
Gunnery Control
The ships were hard-wired for Telaupad control. Five Navyphones and fire gongs on flexible cables were to be placed in any convenient position for controlling the armament in whole or in part. Six group officer's navyphones were also provided. The flying bridge housed 4 COSes.[4]
By 1914, they were also provided Voicepipes, possibly with one for gun control and a second for torpedo control.[5]
Control Positions
Control Groups
Four groupings were possible for the forward guns:[6]
- The three foremost broadside guns in 2 groups, port and starboard, with forecastle gun as third group.
- Number 2 and 3 broadside gun in two groups, port and starboard, with Number 1 broadside gun and fore gun as third group.
- As 1, but with forecastle gun in port group
- As 1, but with forecastle gun in starboard group
The aft guns had simpler groupings:
- broadside guns 4 and 5 in 2 groups, port and starboard, quarterdeck gun with port group.
- Same as above, but quarterdeck gun with starboard group.
Control was largely by Telaupads and Fire Gongs positioned at each gun, with six Navyphones being provided for group officers.
Dreyer Table
These ships had no fire control tables.[7]
Fire Control Instruments
The ships were equipped for Voicepipe, Navyphone, Telaupad and Fire Gong control.[8][9]
See Also
Footnotes
- ↑ Admiralty Weekly Orders. 28 Feb, 1913. The National Archives. ADM 182/4.
- ↑ The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. p. 29.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909. Plate 53.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909. p. 51, Plate 53.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. p. 67.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909. p. 51.
- ↑ absent from list in Handbook of Capt. F.C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, p. 3.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. p. 67.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909. p. 51.
Bibliography
| Gem Class Third Class Protected Cruiser | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amethyst | Diamond | Sapphire | Topaze | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| <– | Challenger Class | Minor Cruisers (UK) | Sentinel Class | –> | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
