HMS Lancaster (1902)

HMS Lancaster

Company type	Armoured cruiser
Industry	Naval shipbuilding
Founded	4 March 1901
Founder	Armstrong Whitworth
Defunct	3 March 1920
Fate	Sold for scrap
Headquarters	Elswick , United Kingdom
Products	Monmouth-class armoured cruiser

HMS Lancaster

The ship's bell of Lancaster, displayed at Lancaster City Museum

HMS Lancaster was among ten Monmouth-class armoured cruiser vessels constructed for the Royal Navy during the early 1900s. After her completion, she was deployed to the 3rd Cruiser Squadron within the Mediterranean Fleet. She served in this capacity until 1912, when she returned to the United Kingdom and was placed in the reserve. In 1913, she was recommissioned and assigned to the 4th Cruiser Squadron, operating on the North America and West Indies Station. She continued in this role until 1915, when she joined the Grand Fleet. The following year, in 1916, she was redeployed to the Pacific Ocean and later became the flagship of the Eastern Squadron in 1918. Ultimately, Lancaster was sold for scrapping on 3 March 1920.

Ship Details
Country	United Kingdom
Builder	Armstrong Whitworth, Elswick
Keel laid down	4 March 1901
Launch date	22 March 1902
Sponsor	Mrs. Archibald Lucius Douglas
Completion date	5 April 1904
Fate	Sold for scrap, 3 March 1920

Specifications
Class and type	Monmouth-class armoured cruiser
Displacement	Approximately 9,800 LT (normal)
Length overall	463 ft 6 in (141.3 m)
Beam	66 ft (20.1 m)
Draught	25 ft (7.6 m)

Machinery and Performance
Boilers	31 water-tube boilers
Power output	22,000 indicated horsepower
Propulsion	Two shafts powered by two triple-expansion steam engines
Maximum speed	23 knots

Armament
Main guns	Two twin and ten single BL 6-inch Mk VII naval guns
Secondary guns	Ten single QF 12-pounder (3-inch) guns
Other armament	Three single QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns; two 18-inch torpedo tubes

Armour Protection
Belt armour	Between 2 and 4 inches thick
Deck armour	Ranges from 0.75 to 2 inches thick
Barbette armour	4 inches thick
Turret armour	4 inches thick
Conning tower armour	Up to 10 inches thick

Design and description

The Monmouth class was developed to safeguard British merchant vessels against swift cruisers such as the French Guichen, Châteaurenault, and the Dupleix class. These ships were engineered with a displacement of approximately 9,800 long tons (10,000 t). Their overall length measured 463 feet 6 inches (141.3 m), with a beam spanning 66 feet (20.1 m) and a deep draught of 25 feet (7.6 m). Propulsion was provided by two 4-cylinder triple-expansion steam engines, each connected to a single shaft and powered by steam from 31 Belleville boilers. The engines generated a combined output of 22,000 indicated horsepower (16,000 kW), enabling the vessels to reach speeds up to 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph). Notably, Lancaster achieved a speed of 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) during sea trials. The ship could carry up to 1,600 long tons (1,600 t) of coal and had a crew complement of 678 officers and ratings.

The primary weaponry of the Monmouth-class consisted of fourteen breech-loading (BL) 6-inch (152 mm) Mk VII guns. Four of these were installed in two twin-gun turrets located fore and aft of the superstructure, while the remaining ten were housed in casemates amidships. Of these, six were placed on the main deck and were operational only under calm sea conditions. For defense against torpedo boat threats, ten quick-firing (QF) 12-pounder (3-inch (76 mm)) 12-cwt guns were installed. Additionally, Lancaster was equipped with three 3-pounder 1.9 in (47 mm) Hotchkiss guns and two submerged 18-inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes.

Starting in 1915, modifications were made where the main deck six-inch guns were relocated to the upper deck and fitted with protective gun shields. The casemates housing these guns were sealed to enhance seakeeping. The twelve-pounder guns displaced by this change were repositioned to other locations on the ship. During the course of the war, two three-pounder anti-aircraft guns were also mounted on the upper deck.

The vessel's waterline armour belt measured 4 inches (100 mm) in thickness amidships, tapering to 2 inches (51 mm) towards the bow. The armour protecting the gun turrets, their barbettes, and casemates was uniformly four inches thick. Deck armour varied between 0.75–2 inches (19–51 mm) in thickness, while the conning tower was shielded by 10 inches (250 mm) of armour.

Construction and service

The cruiser Lancaster, named after the English county of Lancashire, was constructed by Armstrong Whitworth at their shipyard located in Elswick. Her keel was laid on 4 March 1901, and she was launched on 22 March 1902. The launching ceremony was performed by Mrs. Douglas, spouse of Vice-Admiral A. L. Douglas, who served as Second Naval Lord. Completion was achieved on 5 April 1904, after which she joined the Mediterranean Fleet’s 3rd Cruiser Squadron. When this squadron was redesignated as the 6th Cruiser Squadron, Lancaster continued her service there until 1912. At that point, she returned to home waters and was placed with the reserve 5th Cruiser Squadron. The following year, she was recommissioned and assigned to the 4th Cruiser Squadron, operating on the North America and West Indies Station.

Following the outbreak of World War I in August 1914, Lancaster undertook missions to hunt German commerce raiders and provide convoy protection. In 1915, she returned to British waters to join the 7th Cruiser Squadron within the Grand Fleet. In April 1916, she was redeployed to the Pacific Ocean and by 1918 had become flagship of the Eastern Squadron. Eventually, she underwent partial dismantling at Birkenhead before being sold for scrap on 3 March 1920. Final dismantling occurred in Blyth.

Currently, her twin six-inch guns are exhibited outside the Historic Dockyard Museum in Stanley, located in the Falkland Islands.

Bibliography

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• Friedman, Norman (2012). British Cruisers of the Victorian Era. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-59114-068-9.
• Friedman, Norman (2011). Naval Weapons of World War One: Guns, Torpedoes, Mines and ASW Weapons of All Nations; An Illustrated Directory. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-100-7.
• Massie, Robert K. (2003). Castles of Steel: Britain, Germany, and the Winning of the Great War at Sea. New York: Random House. ISBN 0-679-45671-6.
• McBride, Keith (1988). "The First County Class Cruisers of the Royal Navy, Part I: The Monmouths". Warship. 46 (April). London: Conway Maritime Press: 19–26. ISSN 0142-6222.
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• Roberts, John (1979). "Great Britain and Empire Forces". In Chesneau, Roger & Kolesnik, Eugene M. (eds.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860-1905. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 1–113. ISBN 0-8317-0302-4.
• Silverstone, Paul H. (1984). Directory of the World's Capital Ships. New York: Hippocrene Books. ISBN 0-88254-979-0.
• "Transcript: HMS Lancaster - September 1913 to March 1915, UK out, 4th Cruiser Squadron West Indies, North America and West Indies Station (Part 1 of 3)". Royal Navy Log Books of the World War 1 Era. Naval-History.net. Retrieved 3 March 2014.