Gem Class Cruiser (1903): Difference between revisions

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The 4 [[Third Class Cruiser|third class cruisers]] of the '''Gem Class''' were completed in 1904 and 1905.
The four [[Third Class Cruiser|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.
<div name=fredbot:ships>
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|-
! colspan=6 align=left|Overview of 4 vessels
|-
| colspan=6 align=left|<small>Citations for this data available on individual ship pages</small>
|-
! align=center | Name
! align=center | Builder
! align=center | Laid Down
! align=center | Launched
! align=center | Completed
! align=center | Fate
|- align=left
| {{Template:UK-Amethyst}}
|[[Armstrong, Whitworth & Company]], Elswick
|7 Jan, 1903
|5 Nov, 1903
|17 Mar, 1905
|Sold 1 Oct, 1920
|- align=left
| {{Template:UK-1Diamond}}
|[[Laird]], Birkenhead
|24 Mar, 1903
|6 Jan, 1904
|Jan, 1905
|Sold 9 May, 1921
|- align=left
| {{Template:UK-Sapphire}}
|[[Palmer Shipbuilding and Iron Company]], Jarrow
|30 Mar, 1903
|17 Mar, 1904
|7 Feb, 1905
|Sold 9 May, 1921
|- align=left
| {{Template:UK-Topaze}}
|[[Laird]], Birkenhead
|14 Aug, 1902
|23 Jul, 1903
|Nov, 1904
|Sold 22 Sep, 1921
|}
</div name=fredbot:ships>
==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.<ref>Admiralty Weekly Orders.  28 Feb, 1913.  {{TNA|ADM 182/4}}.</ref>
<!--
==Fire Control==
==Fire Control==


===Rangefinders===
===Rangefinders===
 
-->
===Evershed Bearing Indicators===
===Evershed Bearing Indicators===
This equipment was unlikely to have been fitted for gun or searchlight control.<ref>''The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in HM Ships, 1919'', p. 29.</ref> {{FC}}
This equipment was unlikely to have been fitted for gun or searchlight control.{{FCHMShips|p. 29}} {{FC}}


===Gunnery Control===
===Gunnery Control===
[[File:FireControlInstruments1909Plate53.jpg|thumb|300px|'''Telaupad Control Scheme'''<ref>''Handbook of Fire Control Instruments, 1909'', Plate 53. </ref> ]]
[[File:FireControlInstruments1909Plate53.jpg|thumb|300px|'''Telaupad Control Scheme'''{{HFCI1909|Plate 53}} ]]


The ships were hard-wired for [[Telaupad]] control.  Five [[Navyphone]]s 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 ships were hard-wired for [[Telaupad]] control.  Five [[Navyphone]]s 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 [[C.O.S.]]es.<ref>''Handbook of Fire Control Instruments, 1909'', p. 51, Plate 53.</ref>
The flying bridge housed 4 [[COS]]es.{{HFCI1909|p. 51, Plate 53}}


By 1914, they were also provided [[Voicepipe]]s, possibly with one for gun control and a second for torpedo control.<ref>''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', p. 67.</ref>
By 1914, they were also provided [[Voicepipe]]s, possibly with one for gun control and a second for torpedo control.{{HFCI1914|p. 67}}


====Control Positions====
====Control Positions====


====Control Groups====
====Control Groups====
Four groupings were possible for the forward guns:<ref>''Handbook of Fire Control Instruments, 1909'', p. 51.</ref>
Four groupings were possible for the forward guns:{{HFCI1909|p. 51}}
* The three foremost broadside guns in 2 groups, port and starboard, with forecastle gun as third group.
* 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.
* Number 2 and 3 broadside gun in two groups, port and starboard, with Number 1 broadside gun and fore gun as third group.
Line 30: Line 78:


Control was largely by [[Telaupad]]s and [[Fire Gong]]s positioned at each gun, with six Navyphones being provided for group officers.
Control was largely by [[Telaupad]]s and [[Fire Gong]]s positioned at each gun, with six Navyphones being provided for group officers.
 
<!--
===Directors===
===Directors===


Line 40: Line 88:


===Transmitting Stations===
===Transmitting Stations===
 
-->
===Dreyer Table===
===Dreyer Table===
These ships had no fire control tables.<ref>absent from list in ''Handbook of Capt. F.C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables'', p. 3.</ref>
These ships had no fire control tables.<ref>absent from list in ''Handbook of Capt. F.C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables'', p. 3.</ref>


===Fire Control Instruments===
===Fire Control Instruments===
The ships were equipped for [[Voicepipe]], [[Navyphone]], [[Telaupad]] and [[Fire Gong]] control.<ref>''Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914'', p. 67.</ref><ref>''Handbook of Fire Control Instruments, 1909'', p. 51.</ref>
The ships were equipped for [[Voicepipe]], [[Navyphone]], [[Telaupad]] and [[Fire Gong]] control.{{HFCI1914|p. 67}}{{HFCI1909|p. 51}}


==See Also==
==See Also==
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topaze_class_cruiser_(1903) Wikipedia]
{{refbegin}}
{{WP|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topaze_class_cruiser_(1903)}}
{{refend}}


==Footnotes==
==Footnotes==
Line 56: Line 105:
==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
*{{BibUKHandbookFireControlInstruments1909}}
*{{BibUKHandbookFireControlInstruments1914}}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


{{CatClassUKThirdClassCruiser}}
{{Footer Gem Class Cruiser (1903)}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gem}}
 
{{CatClassThirdClassProtectedCruiser|UK}}
 
 
<!-- data
 
nat=UK
cat=ThirdClassProtectedCruiser
type=third class protected cruiser
 
chain=Minor Cruisers
 
{ship
name=Amethyst
pend=P.00 (1914)<br>P.02 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 43}}
builder=[[Armstrong, Whitworth & Company]], Elswick{{Conways1860|p. 84}}
order=
laid=7 1 03{{Conways1860|p. 84}}
launch=5 11 1903{{Conways1860|p. 84}}
comm=17 3 05{{Conways1860|p. 84}}
fate=Sold
fate2=to J. W. Towers, Milford Haven{{DittColl|p. 43}}
fatedate=1 10 20{{DittColl|p. 43}}
}
 
{ship
name=Diamond
pend=N.61 (1914)<br>N.33 (Jan 1918)<br>32 (Apr 1918)<br>N.70 (Jun 1918){{DittColl|p. 43}}
builder=[[Laird]], Birkenhead{{Conways1860|p. 84}}
order=
laid=24 3 03{{Conways1860|p. 84}}
launch=6 1 1904{{Conways1860|p. 84}}
comm=Jan 1905{{Conways1860|p. 84}}
fate=Sold
fate2=to Ward, Grays{{DittColl|p. 43}}
fatedate=9 5 21{{DittColl|p. 43}}
}
 
{ship
name=Sapphire
pend=N.78 (1914)<br>N.89 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 43}}
builder=[[Palmer Shipbuilding and Iron Company]], Jarrow{{Conways1860|p. 84}}
order=
laid=30 3 1903{{Conways1860|p. 84}}
launch=17 3 1904{{Conways1860|p. 84}}
comm=7 2 1905{{Conways1860|p. 84}}
fate=Sold
fate2="
fatedate="
}
 
{ship
name=Topaze
pend=P.29 (1914)<br>P.2A (Sep 1915)<br>P.1C (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 43}}
builder=[[Laird]], Birkenhead{{Conways1860|p. 84}}
order=
laid=14 8 02{{Conways1860|p. 84}}
launch=23 7 1903{{Conways1860|p. 84}}
comm=Nov 1904{{Conways1860|p. 84}}
fate=Sold
fate2=to Cohen{{DittColl|p. 43}}
fatedate=22 9 21{{DittColl|p. 43}}
}
 
 


{{Gem Class (1903)}}
data -->

Latest revision as of 18:30, 6 April 2018

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

Telaupad Control Scheme[3]

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

  1. ↑ Admiralty Weekly Orders. 28 Feb, 1913. The National Archives. ADM 182/4.
  2. ↑ The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. p. 29.
  3. ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909. Plate 53.
  4. ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909. p. 51, Plate 53.
  5. ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. p. 67.
  6. ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909. p. 51.
  7. ↑ absent from list in Handbook of Capt. F.C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, p. 3.
  8. ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. p. 67.
  9. ↑ 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 –>



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