Gem Class Cruiser (1903)
The 4 third class cruisers of the Gem Class were completed in 1904 and 1905.
Fire Control
Rangefinders
Evershed Bearing Indicators
This equipment was unlikely to have been fitted for gun or searchlight control.[1] [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 C.O.S.es.[3]
By 1914, they were also provided Voicepipes, possibly with one for gun control and a second for torpedo control.[4]
Control Positions
Control Groups
Four groupings were possible for the forward guns:[5]
- 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.
Directors
Main Battery
Secondary Battery
Torpedo Control
Transmitting Stations
Dreyer Table
These ships had no fire control tables.[6]
Fire Control Instruments
The ships were equipped for Voicepipe, Navyphone, Telaupad and Fire Gong control.[7][8]
See Also
Footnotes
- ↑ The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in HM Ships, 1919, p. 29.
- ↑ Handbook of Fire Control Instruments, 1909, Plate 53.
- ↑ Handbook of Fire Control Instruments, 1909, p. 51, Plate 53.
- ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914, p. 67.
- ↑ Handbook of 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 of Fire Control Instruments, 1909, p. 51.
Bibliography
- Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1910). Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909. Copy No. 173 is Ja 345a at Admiralty Library, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
- Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1914). Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. G. 01627/14. C.B. 1030. Copy 1235 at The National Archives. ADM 186/191.
