Sentinel Class Cruiser (1904): Difference between revisions

From The Dreadnought Project
Jump to navigationJump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
The two [[Scout Cruiser|scout cruisers]] of the '''''Sentinel'' class''' were completed in 1905.  This class is sometimes considered as one of four 2-ship subclasses (broken down by builders) of the '''Scout class''' cruisers.
The eight [[Scout Cruiser|scout cruisers]] of the '''''Sentinel'' class''' (or '''Scout class''') were completed in 1905.  Today, the class described here is often considered as being four separate two-ship subclasses (''Sentinel'', ''Pathfinder'', ''Forward'' and ''Adventure''), but contemporary documents treat them as a single class most of the time, and so we do here.


<div name=fredbot:ships>
<div name=fredbot:ships>
Line 31: Line 31:
</div name=fredbot:ships>
</div name=fredbot:ships>
==Habitability==
==Habitability==
In 1912 and 1913, four Bastian Radiators were obtained for a temporary trial in warming the Officers' Cabins on the Upper Deck where radiators were not already present in {{UK-Boadicea}}.  Based on the satisfactory reports, these radiators were kept in place permanently and in December 1913, their installation in the ''Sentinal'' class, and probably the other scout cruisers.{{AWO1913|600 of 24 October 1913}}{{AWO1913|741 of 19 Dec, 1913}}
In 1912 and 1913, four Bastian Radiators were obtained for a temporary trial in warming the Officers' Cabins on the Upper Deck where radiators were not already present in {{UK-Boadicea}}.  Based on the satisfactory reports, these radiators were kept in place permanently and in December 1913, their installation in the ''Sentinel'' class.{{AWO1913|600 of 24 October 1913}}{{AWO1913|741 of 19 Dec, 1913}}


==Rangefinders==
==Rangefinders==
Line 37: Line 37:


==Armament==
==Armament==
As built:
As built:
*Ten 12-pdr guns
*Ten 12-pdr guns
Line 47: Line 46:


===4-in Guns===
===4-in Guns===
The 4-in guns provided for all eight scout cruiser were Q.F. Mark IV on P. IX mountings.{{TheSightM|pp. 80, 108, Plates 33, 34}}
The 4-in guns provided for all eight ships were Q.F. Mark IV on P. IX mountings.{{TheSightM|pp. 80, 108, Plates 33, 34}}


The mounting could elevate to 20 degrees and depress to 10 degrees, but the sight could only elevate 15 degrees and was graduated to just 12.5 degrees (7,900 yards full charge).  It is likely that extended range strips were provided at some point to allow at least 15 degree elevation to be achieved.{{INF}}  Thereafter, prisms might have permitted 20 degree firing after 1916 or so.{{INF}}
The mounting could elevate to 20 degrees and depress to 10 degrees, but the sight could only elevate 15 degrees and was graduated to just 12.5 degrees (7,900 yards full charge).  It is likely that extended range strips were provided at some point to allow at least 15 degree elevation to be achieved.{{INF}}  Thereafter, prisms might have permitted 20 degree firing after 1916 or so.{{INF}}


The sight was an F.T.P. gear-worked design with a range gearing constant of 26.66 and range dials provided for 2200 fps and 1-in aiming rifle.  M.V. could be corrected by a cam pointer which allowed for a decrease to 2000 fps.
The sight was an {{FTP}} gear-worked design with a range gearing constant of 26.66 and range dials provided for 2200 fps and 1-in aiming rifle.  M.V. could be corrected by a cam pointer which allowed for a decrease to 2000 fps.


The deflection gearing constant was 52.6 with 1 knot equal to 3.18 arc minutes, corresponding to 2200 fps at 2000 yards.  Drift was corrected by inclining the sight about pivot pins 2 degrees.
The deflection gearing constant was 52.6 with 1 knot equal to 3.18 arc minutes, corresponding to 2200 fps at 2000 yards.  Drift was corrected by inclining the sight about pivot pins 2 degrees.
Line 65: Line 64:


==Fire Control==
==Fire Control==
<!--
===Rangefinders===
-->
===Evershed Bearing Indicators===
===Evershed Bearing Indicators===
This equipment was unlikely to have been fitted for gun or searchlight control.{{FCHMShips|p. 29}}
This equipment was unlikely to have been fitted for gun or searchlight control.{{FCHMShips|p. 29}}
Line 100: Line 96:


===Transmitting Stations===
===Transmitting Stations===
The ships had a {{TS}} with two C.O.S. and four sets of transmitters.
The ships had a {{TS}} with two {{COS}} and four sets of transmitters.


===Dreyer Table===
===Dreyer Table===
Line 115: Line 111:
* panel "S" addressed starboard guns Nos. 2-4
* panel "S" addressed starboard guns Nos. 2-4


There were two C.O.S.es.  The two No. 1 guns were wired through C.O.S. No. 1 with repeats on the gun side which had 3 positions, of which number 2 was regarded as useful only for switching over cleanly between positions 1 and 3:
There were two {{COS}}es.  The two No. 1 guns were wired through C.O.S. No. 1 with repeats on the gun side which had 3 positions, of which number 2 was regarded as useful only for switching over cleanly between positions 1 and 3:
# both No. 1 guns on "A"
# both No. 1 guns on "A"
# No. 1 gun port on "A", No. 1 starboard on "S"
# No. 1 gun port on "A", No. 1 starboard on "S"
Line 136: Line 132:


==See Also==
==See Also==
{{WP|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentinel_class_cruiser}}
* Wikipedia articles on the [[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentinel_class_cruiser ''Sentinel''],  [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_class_cruiser ''Adventure''], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathfinder_class_cruiser ''Pathfinder'']] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_class_cruiser  ''Adventure''] classes


==Footnotes==
==Footnotes==
Line 162: Line 158:


chain=Minor Cruisers
chain=Minor Cruisers
{group
name=Vickers/''Sentinel'' Group
}


{ship
{ship
Line 190: Line 190:




{group
name=Cammell Laird/''Pathfinder'' Group
}
{ship
name=Pathfinder
pend=''N/A''{{DittColl|p. 44}}
builder=[[Cammell Laird]], Birkenhead{{Conways1860|p. 85}}
order=
laid=15 8 03{{Conways1860|p. 85}}
launch=16 7 1904{{Conways1860|p. 85}}
comm=18 7 05{{Conways1860|p. 85}}
fate=Torpedoed
fate2=by U.21 in North Sea{{DittColl|p. 44}}
fatedate=5 9 14{{DittColl|p. 44}}
}
{ship
name=Patrol
pend=N.24 (1914)<br>N.80 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 44}}
builder="
order=
laid=31 10 03{{Conways1860|p. 85}}
launch=13 10 1904{{Conways1860|p. 85}}
comm=26 9 05{{Conways1860|p. 85}}
fate=Sold
fate2=to Machinehandel Co.{{DittColl|p. 44}}
fatedate=21 4 20{{DittColl|p. 44}}
}
{group
name=Fairfield/''Forward'' Group
}
{ship
name=Foresight
pend=D.38 (1914)<br>N.26 (Sep 1915)<br>N.46 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 43}}
builder=[[Fairfield]]{{Conways1860|p. 85}}
order=
laid=24 10 03{{Conways1860|p. 85}}
launch=8 10 1904{{Conways1860|p. 85}}
comm=8 9 05{{Conways1860|p. 85}}
fate=Sold
fate2=to Granton S. Bkg. Co.{{DittColl|p. 43}}
fatedate=3 3 20{{DittColl|p. 43}}
}
{ship
name=Forward
pend=N.53 (1914)<br>N.48 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 43}}
builder="
order=
laid=22 10 03{{Conways1860|p. 85}}
launch=27 8 1904{{Conways1860|p. 85}}
comm=22 8 05{{Conways1860|p. 85}}
fate=Sold
fate2=to Fryer, Sunderland{{DittColl|p. 43}}
fatedate=27 7 21{{DittColl|p. 43}}
}
{group
name=Armstrong/''Adventure'' Group
}
{ship
name=Adventure
pend=D.10 (1914)<br>P.64 (Sep 1915)<br>P.01 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 43}}
builder=[[Armstrong]], Elswick{{Conways1860|p. 84}}
order=
laid=7 1 1904{{Conways1860|p. 84}}
launch=8 9 1904{{Conways1860|p. 84}}
comm=Oct 1905{{Conways1860|p. 84}}
fate2=to Ward, Morecambe{{DittColl|p. 43}}
fatedate=3 3 1920{{DittColl|p. 43}}
}
{ship
name=Attentive
pend=P.03 (1914)<br>P.06 (Jan 1918){{DittColl|p. 43}}
builder="
order=
laid=8 1 1904{{Conways1860|p. 84}}
launch=24 11 1904{{Conways1860|p. 84}}
comm=Oct 1905{{Conways1860|p. 84}}
fate2=to Ward, Preston{{DittColl|p. 43}}
fatedate=12 4 1920{{DittColl|p. 43}}
}


data -->
data -->

Revision as of 16:53, 18 November 2012

The eight scout cruisers of the Sentinel class (or Scout class) were completed in 1905. Today, the class described here is often considered as being four separate two-ship subclasses (Sentinel, Pathfinder, Forward and Adventure), but contemporary documents treat them as a single class most of the time, and so we do here.

Overview of 2 vessels
Citations for this data available on individual ship pages
Name Builder Laid Down Launched Completed Fate
Sentinel Vickers, Barrow 8 Jun, 1903 19 Apr, 1904 Apr, 1905 Sold 18 Jan, 1923
Skirmisher Vickers, Barrow 29 Jul, 1903 7 Feb, 1905 Jul, 1905 Sold 3 Mar, 1920

Habitability

In 1912 and 1913, four Bastian Radiators were obtained for a temporary trial in warming the Officers' Cabins on the Upper Deck where radiators were not already present in Boadicea. Based on the satisfactory reports, these radiators were kept in place permanently and in December 1913, their installation in the Sentinel class.[1][2]

Rangefinders

In January 1914, it was reported that a rangefinder mounted on the fore upper bridge may have been unable to work properly when the ships were steaming at high speeds. Whether this was due to vibration or spray is not made clear.[3]

Armament

As built:

  • Ten 12-pdr guns
  • Eight 3-pdr

After 1911/1912:

  • Nine 4-in Q.F. Mark IV guns on P. IX mountings (4 on each broadside, 1 on C.L. aft)
  • Six 6-pdr

4-in Guns

The 4-in guns provided for all eight ships were Q.F. Mark IV on P. IX mountings.[4]

The mounting could elevate to 20 degrees and depress to 10 degrees, but the sight could only elevate 15 degrees and was graduated to just 12.5 degrees (7,900 yards full charge). It is likely that extended range strips were provided at some point to allow at least 15 degree elevation to be achieved.[Inference] Thereafter, prisms might have permitted 20 degree firing after 1916 or so.[Inference]

The sight was an F.T.P. gear-worked design with a range gearing constant of 26.66 and range dials provided for 2200 fps and 1-in aiming rifle. M.V. could be corrected by a cam pointer which allowed for a decrease to 2000 fps.

The deflection gearing constant was 52.6 with 1 knot equal to 3.18 arc minutes, corresponding to 2200 fps at 2000 yards. Drift was corrected by inclining the sight about pivot pins 2 degrees.

The layer's telescope sight line was 12.5 inches above the bore, and 21.45 inches left. The trainer's telescope sight line was 12.5 inches above and 17.4 inches right. Open sights were 13.3 inches above the bore and 24.35 inches left for layer and 20.3 inches right for trainer.

The sight had a temperature correcting scale plate and a "C" corrector.

The layer had an open sight. The trainer's sight could be used as a free sight with a counterweight.

Torpedoes

  • Two 18-in torpedo tubes, above water

Fire Control

Evershed Bearing Indicators

This equipment was unlikely to have been fitted for gun or searchlight control.[5]

Control Groups

"Scout" class Gun Control Groups[6]

In 1909, these were described as being similar to the Gem class, but the forecastle and poop guns could be controlled as separate groups or attached to the nearest broadside group on either side. The middle line guns could be connected to whichever side was desired.[7]

When the armament was converted to nine 4-in guns, the general control means created 4 groups:[8]

  1. No.1 gun port and starboard (these guns could be split out into groups 2 and 3)
  2. Port guns 2-4
  3. Starboard guns 2-4
  4. Aft CL gun (this could be thrown into group 2 or 3)

Voicepipes permitted this scheme to be blurred further if required.

Torpedo Control

Transmitting Stations

The ships had a T.S. with two C.O.S. and four sets of transmitters.

Dreyer Table

These ships had no fire control tables.[9]

Fire Control Instruments

Fire Control Systems[10]

By 1913, after their light 12-pdr armament had been traded in for 4-in guns, these ships were equipped with Vickers Mark III F.T.P. instruments for their sightsetting. The arrangements are documented in the Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1913.[11]

Their T.S. was equipped with four sets of fire pushes and transmitters with repeat receivers:

  • panel "A" addressed No. 1 guns port and starboard
  • panel "B" addressed the aft, CL gun
  • panel "P" addressed port guns Nos. 2-4
  • panel "S" addressed starboard guns Nos. 2-4

There were two C.O.S.es. The two No. 1 guns were wired through C.O.S. No. 1 with repeats on the gun side which had 3 positions, of which number 2 was regarded as useful only for switching over cleanly between positions 1 and 3:

  1. both No. 1 guns on "A"
  2. No. 1 gun port on "A", No. 1 starboard on "S"
  3. No. 1 gun port on "P", No. 1 starboard on "S"

The change-over was synchronised in this manner when splitting the guns for broadside fire:

  1. get "A" repeat receivers to the same range and deflection as "S"
  2. switch C.O.S. 1 to position 2
  3. work "A" to match No. 1 port's repeats to 'P'
  4. switch C.O.S. 1 to position 3

The aft CL gun was wired through the second C.O.S. with repeat receivers on the gun side. It also had 3 positions:

  1. aft gun on "B" (its own)
  2. aft gun on "S"
  3. aft gun on "P"

The guns had continuous ringing fire gongs, and the fire pushes were wired through the C.O.S.es.

Voicepipes connected the control positions to the T.S. and to all guns. This could be used in parallel with the instruments to further divide fire.

See Also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Admiralty Weekly Order No. 600 of 24 October 1913.
  2. ↑ Admiralty Weekly Order No. 741 of 19 Dec, 1913.
  3. ↑ Admiralty Weekly Order No. 790 of 9 Jan, 1914.
  4. ↑ The Sight Manual. 1916. pp. 80, 108, Plates 33, 34.
  5. ↑ The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. p. 29.
  6. ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909. Plate 54.
  7. ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909. pp. 51-52.
  8. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1913. p. 112.
  9. ↑ Handbook of Captain F. C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, 1918. p. 3.
  10. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1913. Plate 64.
  11. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1913. p. 112.

Bibliography

  • H.M.S. Vernon. (Feb 1914) Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1913, with Appendix (Wireless Telegraphy). Copy 42 at The National Archives. ADM 189/33.
  • Admiralty, Technical History Section (1919). The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in H.M. Ships. Vol. 3, Part 23. C.B. 1515 (23) now O.U. 6171/14. At The National Archives. ADM 275/19.
  • Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1918). Handbook of Captain F. C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, 1918. C.B. 1456. Copy No. 10 at Admiralty Library, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.


Sentinel Class Scout Cruiser
Vickers/Sentinel Group
  Sentinel Skirmisher  
Cammell Laird/Pathfinder Group
  Pathfinder Patrol  
Fairfield/Forward Group
  Foresight Forward  
Armstrong/Adventure Group
  Adventure Attentive  
<– Gem Class Minor Cruisers (UK) Boadicea Class –>



Retrieved from "http://dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php?title=Sentinel_Class_Cruiser_(1904)&oldid=64307"