HMS Phaeton (1914)


The 1st Light Cruiser Squadron and seaplane carriers at sea, during the operation to bomb the German Zeppelin sheds at Tondern, 4 May 1916. Visible, from left, are HMS Cordelia, HMS Inconstant, HMS Phaeton, HMS Engadine, HMS Vindex and HMS Galatea.
Career
Class and type: Arethusa class light cruiser
Name: HMS Phaeton
Builder: Vickers Limited
Laid down: 12 March 1913
Launched: 21 October 1914
Commissioned: February 1915
Fate: Sold for scrapping 16 January 1923
General characteristics
Displacement: 3,500 tons
Length: 436 ft (133 m) Overall
Beam: 39 ft (12 m)
Draught: 13.5 ft (4.1 m)
Propulsion: Parsons turbines
Eight Yarrow boilers
40,000 hp
Speed: 28.5 knots (53 km/h)
Range: carried 482 tons (810 tons maximum) of fuel oil
Complement: 318
Armament:

3 × QF 6-inch (152.4 mm) Mk XII guns
4 × QF 4-inch (101.6 mm) Mk V guns
2 × 3 inch guns

8 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes
Armour: 3 inch side (amidships)
2¼-1½ inch side (bows)
2½ - 2 inch side (stern)
1 inch upper decks (amidships)
1 inch deck over rudder
6 inch conning tower

HMS Phaeton was an Arethusa-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy launched on 21 October 1914 at Vickers Limited shipyard.

On being commissioned, she was assigned to the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron of the Grand Fleet, and between February and March 1915 was operating in the Dardanelles in support of the allied landings at Gallipoli. On Phaeton's return to home waters, she was assigned to the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron of the Grand Fleet and by mid-April 1915 she was operating out of Scapa Flow. On 4 May 1916 she took part in shooting down the Zeppelin L 7. On 31 May to 1 June 1916 Phaeton took part in the Battle of Jutland. She survived the battle and in March 1918 was reassigned to the 7th Light Cruiser Squadron of the Grand Fleet. She survived to the end of the First World War, and was sold for scrapping on 16 January 1923 to King, of Troon.

References