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{{Short description|1914 light cruiser class of the British Royal Navy}}
{{About||the Royal Navy third class cruisers of the late nineteenth century|C class corvette (disambiguation){{!}}C-class corvette}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=
{{Use British English|date=November 2013}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2013}}
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|Name=C class
|Builders=
* [[Cammell Laird]] (6)
|Operators={{navy|UK}}▼
* [[Chatham Dockyard]] (2)
|Class before={{sclass-|Arethusa|cruiser (1913)|4}}▼
* [[HMNB Devonport|Devonport Dockyard]] (1)
|Class after={{sclass-|Danae|cruiser|4}}▼
* [[Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company|Fairfields]] (3)
* [[John Brown and Company|John Brown]] (2)
* [[Pembroke Dockyard]] (4)
* [[R. & W. Hawthorn, Leslie and Company|Hawthorn Leslie]] (2)
* [[Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering Company|Scotts]] (1)
* [[Swan Hunter]] (2)
* [[Vickers|Vickers Limited]] (5)
|Subclasses=*''Caroline''
* ''Calliope''
* ''Cambrian''
* ''Centaur''
* ''Caledon''
* ''Ceres''
* ''Carlisle''
|Cost=
|Built range=
|In service range= 1914–2011
|In commission range=
|Total ships planned=
|Total ships completed=28
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship type=[[Light cruiser]]
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|4180|LT|t|lk=on}} (standard)
* {{convert|4950|LT|t}} ([[deep load]])
|Ship length={{convert|450|ft|m|abbr=on|1}} ([[o/a]])
|Ship beam={{convert|43|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|14|ft|m|abbr=on|1}}
|Ship power=*Six boilers
* {{cvt|40,000|shp|lk=on}}
|Ship propulsion=*Two shafts; 2 geared [[steam turbine]]s
|Ship speed={{convert|28.5|kn|lk=in}}
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|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=
* 2 × single [[BL 6 inch Mk XII naval gun|{{convert|6|in|adj=on|0}} guns]]
* 8 × single [[QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun|QF {{convert|4|in|mm|adj=on|0}} guns]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dreadnoughtproject.org/docs/notes/ADM_186_216.php|title=The Dreadnought Project|website=dreadnoughtproject.org}}</ref>
* 1 × single [[QF 6 pounder Hotchkiss|6 pdr ({{cvt|57|mm}}) gun]]
* 4 × [[British 21 inch torpedo|{{convert|21|in|mm|0|adj=on}}]] [[torpedo tubes]]
|Ship armour=*Side: {{cvt|2.25|–|3|in|mm|0}}
* [[Deck (ship)|deck]]: {{cvt|1|in|mm|0}}
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
The '''C class''' was a group of twenty-eight [[light cruiser]]s of the [[Royal Navy]], and were built in
== The ''Caroline'' class ==
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=== Ships ===
* {{HMS|Caroline|1914|2}} was built by [[Cammell Laird]] and Company, Birkenhead. She was laid down on 28 January 1914, launched on 29 September 1914, and completed in December. She became a drill ship for the [[Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve]] in April 1924 and fulfilled that role in Alexandra Dock, [[Belfast]] until 31 March 2011, when she was decommissioned. In May 2013 the Heritage Lottery Fund announced an £845,600 grant to support her conversion to a museum.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Historic warship HMS Caroline gets £845,600 boost |
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-22449280}}</ref>
* {{HMS|Carysfort|1914|2}} was built by [[Pembroke Dockyard]]. Laid down on 25 February 1914, she was launched on 14 November 1914, and completed in June 1915. She was sold for breaking up in August 1931.
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== The ''Calliope'' class ==
The two ships of the ''Calliope'' sub-class
=== Ships ===
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== The ''Cambrian'' class ==
The ''Cambrian'' class were ordered in September 1914 under the
=== Ships ===
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== The ''Centaur'' class ==
[[File:HMS Centaur (1916).jpg|left|250px|thumb|HMS Centaur (1916)]]
The ''Centaur'' subclass were ordered in December 1914, and built using materials originally intended for two [[scout cruiser]]s to be built for [[Turkey]]. These vessels were launched and commissioned in 1916. The class also had geared turbines as well as four screws. They retained the two funnels introduced to the C class by the ''Cambrian''s. Their main armament was five 6 in guns in single mounts. Their {{convert|4|in|mm|0|adj=on}} guns were mostly replaced in a similar fashion to the previous sub-classes, with smaller calibre weapons.
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|Cost=
|Built range=
|In service range=
|In commission range=
|Total ships planned=
|Total ships completed=4
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship displacement=4,180 tons (standard), 4,950 tons (full load)
|Ship length={{convert|450|ft|m|abbr=on}} overall
|Ship beam={{convert|43|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|14|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=
|Ship propulsion=*Two shaft [[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]] geared turbines
* Six boilers
* {{convert|
|Ship speed={{convert|29|kn|km/h|0}}
|Ship range={{convert|5900|nmi|km|-1}} at {{convert|10|kn|km/h|-1}}
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|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*Five [[BL 6 inch Mk XII naval gun|BL {{convert|6|in|mm|adj=on|sigfig=4}} Mk XII guns]] (5 × 1)
* Two [[QF 3 inch 20 cwt|QF 3 inch 20 cwt Mk I]] (2 × 1)
* Two [[QF 2 pounder naval gun|2-pounder gun]]s (2 × 1)
* Eight {{convert|21|in|mm|0|adj=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s (4 × 2)
|Ship armour=*machinery spaces: 3 inch sides
* magazines: {{frac|2|1|4}} inch sides
* deck: 1 inch
|Ship armor=
|Ship aircraft=
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|}
The ''Caledon'' class were all ordered in December 1915 and commissioned in 1917. The ships retained the two funnels of the previous two sub-classes. Their propulsion was slightly different from the previous sub-classes. Their superstructure was also slightly altered. They had a main armament of five {{convert|6|in|mm|0|adj=on}} guns and a secondary armament of two 3 in guns, as well as an AA armament of four 3 pounder guns. The surviving ships of the class saw [[World War II]], undergoing a number of modifications along the way. Five [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon]]s were added to all ships. ''Caledon'' herself had a different armament, as she underwent an extensive rebuild to become an AA cruiser. She was armed with the effective {{convert|4|in|mm|0|adj=on}} gun, of which she had twelve, two [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|40 mm Bofors]] and eight 20 mm Oerlikons.
=== Ships ===
* {{HMS|Caledon|D53|2}} was built by Cammell Laird; she was laid down on 17 March 1916, launched on 25 November, and was completed in March 1917. She became an AA ship in December 1943; she was sold for breaking up on 22 January 1948.
* {{HMS|Calypso|D61|2}} was built by Hawthorn Leslie; she was laid down on 7 February 1916, launched on 24 January 1917, and completed in June. She was sunk by the Italian submarine
* {{HMS|Cassandra|1916|2}} was built by Vickers, Barrow in Furness; she was laid down March 1916, launched 25 November 1916, and completed in June 1917. She was sunk by a mine in the Baltic on 5 December 1918.
* {{HMS|Caradoc|D60|2}} was built by Scott's Shipuilding and Engineering Company in Greenock; she was laid down on 21 February 1916, launched 23 December, and was completed in June 1917. She became a base ship in April 1944, and was sold for breaking up in May 1946.
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|Cost=
|Built range=
|In service range=
|In commission range=
|Total ships building=
|Total ships planned=
|Total ships completed=5
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship displacement=*4,290 tons (standard)
* 5,276 tons (full load)
|Ship length={{convert|452|ft|m|abbr=on}} overall
|Ship beam={{convert|43.5|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|14|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=*Two shaft [[Brown-Curtis]] geared turbines
* Six boilers
* {{convert|
|Ship speed={{convert|29.5|kn|km/h|0}}
|Ship range=*{{convert|5900|nmi|km|-1}} at {{convert|10|kn|km/h|-1}}
* AA conversions: {{convert|
|Ship complement=334
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*'''''Cardiff''''' and '''''Ceres''''':
* Five [[BL 6 inch Mk XII naval gun|BL {{convert|6|in|mm|adj=on|sigfig=4}} Mk XII guns]] (5 × 1)
* Two [[QF 3 inch 20 cwt|QF 3 inch 20 cwt Mk I]] (2 × 1)
* Two [[QF 2 pounder naval gun|2-pounder gun]]s (2 × 1)
* Eight {{convert|21|in|mm|0|adj=on}} torpedo tubes (4 × 2)
* '''''Coventry''''' and '''''Curlew''''' (modified 1936)
* 10 [[QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun|QF 4 inch Mk V guns]] (10 × 1)
* 16 [[QF 2 pounder naval gun|2-pounder gun]]s (2 × 8)
* '''''Curacoa''''' (modified 1939)
* Eight [[QF 4 inch Mk XIX naval gun|{{convert|4|in|mm|adj=on}} Mk XIX]] (4 × 2)
* Four [[QF 2 pounder naval gun|2-pounder gun]]s (4 × 1)
|Ship armour=*machinery spaces: 3 inch sides
* magazines: {{frac|2|1|4}} inch sides
* deck: 1 inch
|Ship armor=
|Ship aircraft=
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The ''Ceres'' class were ordered in March and April 1916 and commissioned in 1917 and 1918. These ships were very "wet" forward, which was remedied in the subsequent ''Carlisle'' sub-class with the addition of a "trawler bow". Their main armament consisted of five {{convert|6|in|mm|0|adj=on}} guns, while their secondary armament consisted of two {{convert|3|in|mm|0|adj=on}} weapons, of which a further one was later added to ''Ceres'' herself. Four 3-pounder guns were also fitted.
Three ships underwent extensive rebuilds during the 1930s, becoming anti-aircraft (AA) cruisers, resulting in all previous armament being removed. The ships were ''Coventry'', ''Curacoa'' and ''Curlew'', with ''Curacoa'' being the last of the three to be rebuilt in 1939; the other two ships having been converted in 1935. ''Coventry'' and ''Curlew'' were given ten [[QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun]] for their AA role, disposed in single mounts one forward, three on each beam and three aft. Sixteen [[QF 2-pounder naval gun]] Mark VIII as two 8-barelled Mark VI mountings ("multiple pom-poms") were fitted aft (one removed by 1939). Torpedo tubes were removed, and two High-Angle [[HACS]] gun directors and a [[Pom-Pom director]] added. ''Curacoa'' received similar gun directors but a slightly different armament, being equipped with eight [[QF 4 inch Mk XVI naval gun]] in twin mountings replacing 6 inch guns number 1,3,4 and 5; and four [[QF 2-pounder naval gun]] Mark VIII as a 4-barelled Mark VII mounting ("multiple pom-pom") replacing 6 inch gun number 2 forward of the bridge.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.world-war.co.uk/Ceres/ceres_class.php3|title = Ceres Class – Cruiser specifications}}</ref> Later on in the Second World War, four 20 mm Oerlikons were added. ''Cardiff'' and ''Ceres'' were to have undergone the same conversion, but this was prevented by the outbreak of war.
=== Ships ===
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|Cost=
|Built range=
|In service range=
|In commission range=
|Total ships planned=
|Total ships completed=5
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship displacement=*4,200 tons (standard)
* 5,300 tons (full load)
|Ship length={{convert|452|ft|m|abbr=on}} overall
|Ship beam={{convert|43.5|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|14|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=
|Ship propulsion=*Two shaft [[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]] ([[Brown-Curtis]] in ''Colombo'' and ''Carlisle'') geared turbines
* Six boilers
* {{convert|
|Ship speed={{convert|29
|Ship range={{convert|5900|nmi|km|-1}} at {{convert|10|kn|km/h|-1}}
|Ship complement=334
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|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*'''''Capetown''''' and '''''Colombo''''':
* Five [[BL 6 inch Mk XII naval gun|BL {{convert|6|in|mm|adj=on|sigfig=4}} Mk XII guns]] (5 × 1)
* Two [[QF 3 inch 20 cwt|QF 3 inch 20 cwt Mk I]] (2 × 1)
* Two [[QF 2 pounder naval gun|2-pounder gun]]s (2 × 1)
* 8 {{convert|21|in|mm|0|adj=on}} torpedo tubes (4 × 2)
* '''''Cairo''''', '''''Carlisle''''' and '''''Calcutta''''' (as modified 1938/39):
* Eight [[QF 4 inch Mk XIX naval gun|{{convert|4|in|mm|adj=on}} Mk XIX]] (4 × 2)
* Four [[QF 2 pounder naval gun|2-pounder gun]]s (1 × 4)
|Ship armour=*Machinery spaces: {{convert|3|in|mm|adj=on}} sides
* [[Magazine (artillery)|Magazines]]: {{convert|2+1/4|in|mm|adj=on}} sides
* [[Deck (ship)|Deck]]: {{convert|1|in|mm|adj=on}}
|Ship aircraft=
|Ship aircraft facilities=
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=== Ships ===
* {{HMS|Cairo|D87|2}} was built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead; she was laid down on 28 November 1917, launched on 19 November 1918, and completed on 23 September 1919. She became an AA ship in 1939; she was sunk by the [[Italian submarine Axum|Italian submarine ''Axum'']] in the Mediterranean on 12 August 1942.
* {{HMS|Calcutta|D82|2}} was built by Vickers, Barrow in Furness; she was laid down on 18 October 1917, launched on 9 July 1918, and completed in August 1919. She became an AA ship in 1939; she was sunk by air attack during the evacuation of Crete on 1 June 1941.
* {{HMS|Capetown|D88|2}} was built by Cammell Laird; she was laid down 23 February 1918, launched on 28 June 1919 and then towed to Pembroke Dockyard where she was completed in April 1922. She was sold for breaking up on 5 April 1946.
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* {{HMS|Colombo|D89|2}} was built by Fairfield; she was laid down on 8 December 1917, launched 18 December 1918, and completed in July 1919. She became an AA ship in 1943; she was sold for breaking up on 22 January 1948.
All ships of the class except ''Colombo'' and ''Capetown'' were converted into AA cruisers in 1939, although ''Capetown'' received six 20 mm guns and radar. The ships' main armament consisted of eight {{convert|4|in|mm|0|adj=on}} guns in four twin turrets with varying numbers of 20 mm Oerlikons being added. ''Colombo'' was finally converted to an AA cruiser in 1942, with her armament consisting of eight {{convert|4|in|mm|0|adj=on}} guns and six 20 mm Oerlikons. All the AA cruiser conversions followed a similar pattern to that of [[HMS Curacoa (D41)]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.world-war.co.uk/Cairo/cairo_class.php3 |title=Cairo Class – Cruiser specifications |publisher=World-war.co.uk |accessdate=2022-04-21}}</ref>
== First World War service ==
In March 1916, ''Cleopatra'' rammed and sank the [[German Empire|German]] destroyer {{ship|
[[File:HMS Cardiff leading the German high seas fleet.jpg|thumb|''Cardiff'' leading German battle-cruisers into the [[Firth of Forth]] at the end of the First World War]]
In 1918, ''Cardiff'' had the honour of leading the
No C-class ships were lost during the First World War; however, in December 1918, ''Cassandra'' hit a mine and subsequently sank.
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''Coventry'' and ''Curlew'' first had all armament removed. This was replaced with 10 single mount 4 inch high angle (HA) guns and two eight-barreled [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|2-pounder "pom-pom"]] mounts. The previous gun directors were removed and replaced with two suitable for anti-aircraft gun control. To keep costs down, only limited structural work was carried out, but the masts were altered. In 1938, because of a shortage of this weapon, the aft pom-pom was removed and fitted on another ship, being replaced by two quadruple {{convert|0.5|in|mm|adj=on}} [[Vickers machine gun]] mounts.
The modifications were considered successful and plans for the conversion of the other eleven ships were drawn up. However, these conversions were delayed;
== Second World War service ==
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The C class were also extensively used in the [[Mediterranean Sea]]; the first notable engagement by a ship of the class being ''Coventry''{{'}}s participation in the [[Battle of Cape Spartivento]] in 1940.
In 1941, ''Calcutta'' and ''Carlisle'' took part in the [[Battle of Cape Matapan]], in which a number of [[Military history of Italy during World War II|Italian]] warships were sunk. C-class cruisers also took part in the [[Battle of Crete|campaign and evacuation of Crete]], coming up against heavy [[Military history of Germany during World War II|German]] opposition from the air. In 1942, ''Carlisle'' took part in the [[Second Battle of Sirte]], and ''Cairo'' in the [[Operation Harpoon (1942)|Battle of Pantelleria]].
''Colombo'' and ''Caledon'' went in for their refits in 1942–1943 – getting 40 mm Bofors and 20 mm Oerlikons alongside the twin mounts. In 1943, ''Carlisle'' was badly damaged by German aircraft, but did not sink. She became a base ship in Alexandria Harbour until 1945.
''Capetown'' provided support to the [[Normandy Landings]] in 1944, bombarding German positions.
[[File:HMS Caroline 1914.jpg|right|thumb|HMS ''Caroline'' sporting her three flags (From left to right) [[Union Flag]], [[Commodore (RN)|Commodore]] [[Royal Naval Reserve|RNR]]'s [[Rank flag]], [[White Ensign|Flag of the Royal Navy (White Ensign)]]]]
Six ships of the C class were lost during the war
''Curlew'' was sunk by German aircraft off [[Narvik]] during the Norwegian campaign on 26 May 1940
''Calypso'' was sunk by the Italian submarine
''Calcutta'' was attacked and sunk by German aircraft during the evacuation of Crete on 1 June 1941
''Cairo'' was sunk on 12 August 1942 by the {{ship|Italian submarine|Axum||2|up=yes}} during [[Operation Pedestal]] (the pivotal resupply of Malta)
''Coventry'' was badly damaged by [[Luftwaffe|German aircraft]] while covering a raid on [[Tobruk]] on 14 September 1942, forcing the destroyer {{HMS|Zulu|F18|6}} to scuttle her
''Curacoa'' was sunk after colliding with the ocean liner {{RMS|Queen Mary}} on 2 October 1942
== The survivor ==
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==See also==
* [[List of ship classes of
==Notes==
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== References ==
* {{cite book|last=Brown|first=David K.|title=The Grand Fleet: Warship Design and Development 1906–1922|publisher= Naval Institute Press|___location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1999 |isbn=1-55750-315-X|author-link=David K. Brown}}
* {{Cite Colledge2006}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Frampton |first1=Viktor|last2=McTodd|first2=M.|last3=Patterson |first3=John |last4=Wilterding |first4=John H.|title=Question 36/44: Bow "Knuckles" |journal=Warship International |date=2008 |volume=XLV |issue=4 |pages=279–281 |issn=0043-0374|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=British Cruisers: Two World Wars and After|year=2010|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|___location=Barnsley, UK|isbn=978-1-59114-078-8 |author-link=Norman Friedman}}
* {{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=Naval Weapons of World War One: Guns, Torpedoes, Mines and ASW Weapons of All Nations; An Illustrated Directory|publisher= Seaforth Publishing |___location=Barnsley, UK |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-84832-100-7}}
* {{cite book|last=Lenton|first=H. T.|title=British & Empire Warships of the Second World War|publisher=Naval Institute Press|___location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1998|isbn=1-55750-048-7|author-link=Henry Trevor Lenton}}
* {{cite book|editor1-last=Gray|editor1-first=Randal|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921 |year=1985 |___location=Annapolis, Maryland|publisher=Naval Institute Press |isbn=0-85177-245-5 |name-list-style=amp |chapter=Great Britain and Empire Forces|first1=Antony|last1=Preston|author-link=Antony Preston|
* {{cite book|last1=Raven|first1=Alan|last2=Roberts|first2=John|title=British Cruisers of World War Two|publisher=Naval Institute Press|___location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1980|isbn=0-87021-922-7|name-list-style=amp}} * {{cite book|last=Rohwer|first=Jürgen|title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two|publisher=Naval Institute Press|___location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=2005|edition=Third Revised|isbn=1-59114-119-2 |author-link=Jürgen Rohwer}}
* {{cite book|last=Whitley|first=M. J.|title=Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia|publisher=Cassell |___location=London|year=1995|isbn=1-86019-874-0|author-link=Michael J. Whitley}}
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==External links==
{{Commons category|C class cruiser}}
* [http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/types.html?type=Light+cruiser Allied light cruisers at Uboat.net]
* [http://www.worldwar1.co.uk/lightcru.htm WWI British light cruisers]
{{
{{WWI British ships}}
{{WWII British ships}}
[[Category:C-class cruisers| ]]
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