HMS Penelope (1914)

For other ships of the same name, see HMS Penelope.
Career (United Kingdom)
Name: HMS Penelope
Namesake: Penelope
Builder: Vickers Limited
Laid down: 1 February 1913
Launched: 25 August 1914
Commissioned: December 1914
Fate: Sold for scrapping October 1924
General characteristics
Class and type:Arethusa-class light cruiser
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 × BL 6-inch (152.4 mm) Mk XII guns

4 × QF 4-inch (101.6 mm) Mk V guns
1 × 4 inch AA gun

8 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes
Armour:3 inches (76 mm) side (amidships)
2.25–1.5 inches (57–38 mm) side (bows)
2.5–2 inches (64–51 mm) side (stern)
1 inch (25 mm) upper decks (amidships)
1 inch (25 mm) deck over rudder
6 inches (150 mm) conning tower

HMS Penelope was an Arethusa-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy launched on 25 August 1914 at Vickers Limited's shipyard. Unlike her sisters, she carried an extra 4 inch anti-aircraft gun in place of two 3 inch anti-aircraft guns.

In August 1915, she was assigned to the 5th Light Cruiser Squadron of the Harwich Force, guarding the eastern approaches to the English Channel. For the first part of her career she was commanded by Hubert Lynes, who would go on to hold the rank of admiral. On 25 April 1916 Penelope was damaged by a torpedo from the German submarine UB-29 off the Norfolk coast. She was repaired 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 in October 1924 to Stanlee, of Dover.

References