Leander class cruiser (1931)

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Leander-class
HMS Ajax
General Characteristics
Displacement:	9,740 tons full load (9,000 Sydney-class)
Length:	554.9 ft (169 m)
Beam:	56 ft (17 m)
Draught:	19.1 ft (5.8 m)
Propulsion:	4 Parsons geared steam turbines, 6 boilers (4 Sydney-class), 4 shafts, 72,000 shp
Speed:	32.5 knots
Range:	5730 nm at 13 knots
Complement:	570
Armament:	Original configuration: 8 × 6 in guns 4 × 4 in guns 12 × 0.5 in machine guns 8 × 21 in torpedo tubes
Armour:	3 in magazine box 1 inch deck 1 inch turrets
Aircraft:	1 Fairey Seafox (Fairey Swordfish WWII. Supermarine Walrus in Sydney-class)

The Leander class was a class of eight light cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s that saw service in World War II. They were named after mythological figures, and all ships were commissioned between 1933 and 1936. The three ships of the second group were later transferred to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and renamed after Australian cities.

1 Design
2 Modifications
3 Ships in class
- 3.1 Leander group
- 3.2 Amphion / Sydney group
4 See also

[edit] Design

The Leander class was influenced by the York class heavy cruiser, and was an attempt to better provide for the role of commerce protection. The 7,000-7,200 ton Leanders were armed with eight 6 inch guns in twin turrets, two forward and two aft. Their secondary armament consisted of four 4 inch guns which were later replaced by twin mountings, for eight guns. Their anti-aircraft weaponry consisted of twelve 0.5 inch Vickers machine guns in three quadruple mounts. They also shipped a bank of four 21" torpedo tubes on each beam and provision was made in the design for carriage of two catapult-launched Fairey Seafox aircraft. Speed was 32 knots, and 845 tons of armor was provided, making the design susceptible to damage, but still superior to many other vessels of similar displacement. This was added to by the fact that the first five vessels did not contain dispersed machinery; the boiler rooms were arranged together and exhausted into a single funnel, a unique feature amongst British cruisers. This meant that damage amidships was liable to disable all the boiler rooms.

The three vessels of the second group, later transferred to the RAN, were modified slightly, primarily in having the machinery dispersed with the "unit principle" (alternating , self-contained boiler and engine rooms). This resulted in a second funnel being added.

[edit] Modifications

During the war, significant modifications were made to the vessels. Various additional antiaircraft armament was added, and the two New Zealand vessels landed a turret to carry heavier 20 mm and 40 mm antiaircraft guns. Changes to the aircraft launching capability were reported, although use is unclear. Both Fairey Swordfish and Supermarine Walrus aircraft are reported to have been used by the class, with the Walrus likely being only by Royal Navy vessels.

[edit] Ships in class

[edit] Leander group

[edit] HMS Leander / HMNZS Leander

Named after the character from Greek mythology. Loaned to New Zealand, commissioned as HMNZS Leander in September 1941. At the Battle of Kolombagara, Leander was heavily damaged by a Long Lance torpedo, causing many casualties, and sending the ship to repairs for two years.

[edit] HMS Achilles / HMNZS Achilles

The Achilles was the second vessel loaned to New Zealand, commissioned as HMNZS Achilles in September 1941. She had earlier participated in the Battle of the River Plate. Achilles was sold to India in 1948, being renamed Delhi.

[edit] HMS Ajax

The Ajax participated in the Battle of the River Plate. The town of Ajax, Ontario was named after the ship, with street names in the town named after members of the crew. Ajax also participated in the Battle of Cape Matapan. Ajax also took part in shelling the mainland of Normandy during the beach landings.

[edit] HMS Neptune

Manned by New Zealand crew, although not part of the Royal New Zealand Navy. Neptune was sunk by an Italian mine off the coast of Tripoli.

[edit] HMS Orion

Orion participated in the evacuation of Crete in 1941 and was heavily damaged.

[edit] Amphion / Sydney group

[edit] HMS Amphion / HMAS Perth

Completed 1936 and transferred to the RAN in 1939 as Perth. Lost in the Battle of Sunda Strait in early 1942.

[edit] HMS Apollo / HMAS Hobart

Completed 1936 and transferred to the RAN in 1938 as Hobart. Took part in the Battle of the Coral Sea and provided fire support for the amphibious landings at Guadalcanal.

[edit] HMS Phaeton / HMAS Sydney

Transferred to the RAN whilst building and renamed Sydney. Operated with British forces in the Mediterranean theatre, participating in the Battle of Cape Matapan as well as the Battle of Calabria in 1940, sinking two Italian destroyers, the Espero and Zeffiro. In 1941, Sydney was torpedoed and sunk by the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran, which Sydney sank in the same action, off the coast of Australia.