Topaze class cruiser


HMS Amethyst
Class overview
Operators:  Royal Navy
In commission: 1905 - 1921
Planned: 8
Completed: 4
Scrapped: 4
General characteristics
Class and type: Topaze-class protected cruiser
Displacement: 3,000 tons
Length: 360 ft (110 m)
Beam: 40 ft (12 m)
Draught: 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)
Installed power: 10,000 - 12,000 indicated horsepower
Propulsion:

Sapphire, Topaze & Diamond

  • Steam reciprocating engines
  • 2 shafts

Amethyst:

  • Steam turbines
  • 3 shafts
Speed: 22.1 knots (41 km/h) - 23.6 kn (44 km/h)
Complement: 296
Armament:

12 x QF 4-inch (102 mm) guns
8 x 3-pounder (47-mm) guns

2 × 18-inch (450-mm) torpedo tubes
Armour: 1-inch gun shields, ½-inch to 2-inch deck armour

The Topaze-class (or "Gem-class") cruisers were a class of third-class protected cruisers. They were the last class of protected cruiser built for the Royal Navy. Four ships were built and a further 4 ships of the class were canceled before their keels were laid.

Contents

Design

Propulsion

Sapphire, Topaze and Diamond were fitted with steam reciprocating engines and twin shafts developing about 10,000 indicated horsepower (7,500 kW), and generating a top speed of about 22 knots (41 km/h). Amethyst was fitted with steam turbines, making her the first ship larger than a destroyer to be so fitted. She developed 12,000 ihp and was capable of 23 knots, and although her maximum range at 10 knots was reduced, she benefited from greater efficiency at high speed, and compared to her sisters, she was able to travel 1,000 nautical miles further at 20 knots.[1]

Ships

References

External links