Devonshire Class Cruiser (1903)

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The six Armoured Cruisers of the Devonshire Class were completed in 1905. They were, along with the preceding Monmouth class, often referred to as "County Class" cruisers.

Overview of 6 vessels
Citations for this data available on individual ship pages
Name Builder Laid Down Launched Completed Fate
Antrim John Brown & Company 27 Aug, 1902 8 Oct, 1903 23 Jun, 1905 Sold 19 Dec, 1922
Argyll Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company 1 Sep, 1902 3 Mar, 1904 Dec, 1905 Sold
Carnarvon William Beardmore & Company 1 Oct, 1902 7 Oct, 1903 29 May, 1905 Sold 8 Nov, 1921
Devonshire Chatham Royal Dockyard 25 Mar, 1902 30 Apr, 1904 24 Aug, 1905 Sold 9 May, 1921
Hampshire Armstrong, Whitworth & Company 1 Sep, 1902 24 Sep, 1903 15 Jul, 1905 Mined 5 Jun, 1916
Roxburgh London & Glasgow 13 Jun, 1902 19 Jan, 1904 5 Sep, 1905 Sold 8 Nov, 1921

Binoculars

In September 1914, the ships were allowed four additional pairs of Pattern 343 Service Binoculars.[1]

Searchlights

In 1907, these ships, along with the earlier Powerful, Drake, Cressy, and Monmouth classes and battleships of the Majestic, Canopus, London, and Duncan classes, were to land their searchlights from their tops and obtain two additional 24-inch models from their dockyards for placement on the shelter or boat deck. These were to be augmented by (or further upgraded to?) a pair of 36-in searchlights when they became available.[2]

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.[3]

During the war, along with those of other older ships, the four 6-inch guns casemated on the main deck proved of little use in practical sea states, an issue which was also recognized at design stage when the proposed main deck 6-inch deck guns forward had been suppressed and replaced with additional 7.5-inch turrets. The main deck casemates were therefore vacated and plated over, with ships taken in hand as they came in for refits, commencing in September, 1915. The work was expected to take 18 days per ship, although it was hoped this could be reduced to 10 days (G.37973/15). [4][5] The guns were placed in spray shields, one deck higher on the upper deck abaft the 7.5-in turrets, photographic evidence showing that they replaced numbers three and six 3-pdr Upper Deck guns that previously occupied these positions.[6]

Main Battery

These ships carried a mixed main battery armament:

  • Four 7.5-in Mark I B.L. guns on Mark I mountings with 180 rounds per gun, in single turrets, fore, aft, and each side forward on the beam.[7] Elevation 15 degrees, depression 5 degrees, with range dial graduation limited to 14 degrees 50 seconds for a range of 13,800 yards.[8]
  • Six 6-in Mark VII B.L. guns, on P. III mountings with 200 rounds per gun initially all arranged in casemates, three on each side, with one aft at upper deck level and two at main deck level. 29-lb charges were provided to increase the muzzle velocity of the guns compared to the standard charge. Each pair of guns was also provided with a 3-pdr sub-calibre gun for firing practice.[9] Elevation 15 degrees, depression 7 degrees, with range dial graduation limited to 14 degrees for a range of 11,900 yards.[10]

The 6-in sights were similar to those in Albemarle and Cornwall, but sturdier. Range gearing constant was 51.41 with one knot of deflection being 2.77 arc minutes. Range dials were provided for 2730 fps, 1970 fps, 3-pdr sub-caliber, 1-in aiming rifle and .303-in aiming rifle. MV correction by adjustable pointer for +/- 50 fps. Deflection dial graduated for 2730 fps at 3000 yards. Drift correction by inclining the sight 1.5 degrees. The sights were 14.45 inches above the bore and 13.1 inches to the side.[11]

In February, 1913, these 6-in mountings, along with many other 4-in and 6-in mountings in various capital ships and cruisers were to have illumination added for their training index racers.[12]

Secondary Battery

  • Twenty 3-pdr Vickers Mark I Q.F. semi-automatic guns, on Mark II mountings with 250 rounds per gun, two guns on top of the 7.5-in turrets, seven down each side of the upper deck and four mounted on the shelter deck aft.[13] Elevation 20 degrees, depression 20 degrees, with range dial graduation limited to 11 degrees 45 seconds for a range of 6,000 yards. The sight travel was also limited to 12.5 degrees. These guns were also provided with blank charges for saluting.[14]

Other Guns

By 1914 the minor armament was:

  • One 12-pdr 8 cwt Q.F. Gun on G.I Mounting for use in a sailing launch, with alternative field carriage for landing parties,[15] allocated 300 rounds.[16]
  • Five Maxim Guns for use in the boats, with two alternative field stands for landing parties.[17][18]

Torpedoes

  • Two 18-in submerged broadside tubes forward, depressed three degrees and bearing abeam; axis of tube was 7 foot 6 inches below load water line and 1 feet 6 inches above deck.[19] By 1914 nine torpedoes were carried. In addition four 14-in torpedoes were carried. These were for use with dropping gear from the boats. [20]

Fire Control

Rangefinders

Evershed Bearing Indicators

It is unlikely that this equipment was ever provided.[Inference]

Directors

These ships never received directors for main or secondary batteries.[21]

Gunnery Control

Local Control in Turrets

Transmitting Stations

Dreyer Table

These ships never received Dreyer tables.[22]

Fire Control Instruments

By 1909, all 6 ships were equipped with Vickers instruments for range, deflection and orders and with Barr and Stroud rate instruments as follows:[23]

  • Vickers range transmitters: 6
  • Vickers deflection transmitters: 6
  • Vickers combined range and deflection receivers: 21
  • Vickers C.O.S.: 3
  • Vickers Check fire switches: 6
  • Barr and Stroud rate transmitters: 4
  • Barr and Stroud rate receivers: 8
  • Siemens turret fire gongs: 8 with 4 keys
  • Vickers fire gongs: 6 with 2 keys
  • Captain's Cease Fire Bells: 12 with 1 key (supplier not stated)

These ships lacked Target Visible and Gun Ready signals.[24]

In 1913, each ship was to receive six Officer of Quarters Range-Keeping Instruments.[25]

By 1914, Telaupad was provided for night defence.[26]

Torpedo Control

See Also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Admiralty Weekly Order No. 331 of 8 Sep, 1914.
  2. ↑ Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1907. p. 35. The location for each ship type was placement stipulated in C.N.2 11884/13066, 13.12.1906.
  3. ↑ Admiralty Weekly Orders. 28 Feb, 1913. The National Archives. ADM 182/4.
  4. ↑ The Technical History and Index, Vol. 4, Part 34. p. 9-10..
  5. ↑ List of HM Ships showing their armaments, 1914-1915. April 1915 p.16.
  6. ↑ Friedman. British Cruisers of the Victorian Era. pp.287-289.
  7. ↑ List of HM Ships showing their armaments, 1914-1915. April 1914 p.16.
  8. ↑ The Sight Manual. 1916. p. 108.
  9. ↑ List of HM Ships showing their armaments, 1914-1915. April 1914 p.16.
  10. ↑ The Sight Manual. 1916. p. 108.
  11. ↑ The Sight Manual. 1916. pp. 72, 110.
  12. ↑ Admiralty Weekly Orders. The National Archives. ADM 182/4. 21 Feb, 1913 entries. pp. 3-4.
  13. ↑ List of HM Ships showing their armaments, 1914-1915. April 1914 p.16.
  14. ↑ The Sight Manual. 1916. p. 108.
  15. ↑ Quarterly Appropriation List of Gun Mountings, Aug 1914. pp. 77-86.
  16. ↑ List of HM Ships showing their armaments, 1914-1915. April 1914 p. 17.
  17. ↑ Quarterly Appropriation List of Gun Mountings, Aug 1914. pp. 116-123.
  18. ↑ List of HM Ships showing their armaments, 1914-1915. April 1914 pp. 17.
  19. ↑ Torpedo Manual, Vol. III, 1909. p. 265.
  20. ↑ List of HM Ships showing their armaments, 1914-1915. p.17.
  21. ↑ The Director Firing Handbook. pp. 142-3.
  22. ↑ Handbook of Captain F. C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, 1918. p. 3.
  23. ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1909. pp. 56, 60.
  24. ↑ Handbook for Fire Control Instruments, 1914. p. 11.
  25. ↑ Admiralty Weekly Order No. 457 of 15 Aug, 1913.
  26. ↑ List of HM Ships showing their armaments, 1914-1915. April 1914 P 16.

Bibliography

  • Friedman, Norman (2012). British Cruisers of the Victorian Era. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1591140684 (on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk).
  • McBride, Keith (1988). Grant, Ian. ed. "The First County Class Cruisers of the Royal Navy, Part II: The Devonshires". Warship (Volume XII, Issue 47): pp. 19-23.
  • Admiralty, Technical History Section (1920). The Technical History and Index: Alteration in Armaments of H.M. Ships during the War. Vol. 4, Part 34. C.B. 1515 (34) now O.U. 6171/20. At The National Archives, Kew, United Kingdom.
  • H.M.S.O. (1914-1915). List of HM Ships showing their armaments, 1914-1915. The National Archives. ADM 186/864.
  • Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1916). The Sight Manual. 1916. O.U. 6026 (late C.B. 1243). Copy No. 1749 at the The National Archives. ADM 186/216.
  • 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.
  • Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1917). The Director Firing Handbook. O.U. 6125 (late C.B. 1259). Copy No. 322 at The National Archives. ADM 186/227.
  • 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.


Devonshire Class Armoured Cruiser
  Antrim Argyll Carnarvon  
  Devonshire Hampshire Roxburgh  
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