HMS Newcastle (1909)
| Company type | Light cruiser |
|---|---|
| Industry | Naval shipbuilding |
| Predecessor | Bristol subgroup of Town-class cruisers |
| Founded | 25 November 1909 |
| Headquarters | Newcastle (implied by name) , United Kingdom |
| Products | Warships |
| Parent | Royal Navy |
HMS Newcastle was a Town-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy, launched on 25 November 1909 by Armstrong Whitworth. She belonged to the Bristol subgroup within the class.
Design and description
The Bristol subclass, occasionally referred to as the Glasgow class,[Note 1] was classified as a second-class cruiser designed for multiple roles, including fleet operations and trade protection.[1] These vessels measured 453 feet (138.1 m) in overall length, had a beam of 47 feet (14.3 m), and a draught of approximately 15 feet 6 inches (4.7 m). Their standard displacement was around 4,800 long tons (4,900 t), increasing to 5,300 long tons (5,400 t) when fully loaded. Power was supplied by twelve Yarrow boilers feeding Parsons steam turbines that drove four propeller shafts, producing 22,000 shaft horsepower (16,000 kW) and enabling a designed speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph).[1] During sea trials, Newcastle achieved speeds up to 25.85 knots (47.87 km/h; 29.75 mph) powered by 22,406 shaft horsepower (16,708 kW).[2] The ship’s boilers utilized both coal and fuel oil, carrying up to 1,353 long tons (1,375 t) of coal and 256 long tons (260 t) of oil, which allowed a cruising range of approximately 5,830 nautical miles (10,800 km; 6,710 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[3] Her complement consisted of 480 officers and ratings.[1]
Armament for the Bristol subclass included two BL 6-inch (152 mm) Mk XI guns positioned on the centreline—one forward and one aft of the superstructure—and ten BL 4-inch Mk VII guns mounted along the ship’s sides. All these weapons were equipped with protective gun shields.[1] Additionally, four Vickers 3-pounder (47 mm) saluting guns were installed alongside two submerged 18-inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes.[4] The Royal Navy regarded this armament as somewhat inadequate for vessels of this size,[5] while the placement of the waist guns made them prone to being washed over in rough seas, complicating their operation.[6]
Classified as protected cruisers, the Bristol ships featured an armoured deck safeguarding critical areas such as magazines and machinery spaces. The deck armour thickness was approximately 2 inches (51 mm) over magazines and machinery, 1 inch (25 mm) above steering gear compartments, and around 3⁄4 inch (19 mm) elsewhere. The conning tower was shielded by armour measuring about 6 inches (150 mm), while gun shields and ammunition hoists had roughly 3 inches (76 mm) of protection.[7] Since the armoured deck was located at the waterline level, these ships were designed with a high metacentric height to maintain stability if flooding occurred above this deck. However, this design choice caused significant rolling motions, reducing their effectiveness as stable gun platforms.[6] A notable vulnerability shared among Town-class cruisers was the considerable gap between the bottom edge of the gun shields and the deck surface. This opening allowed shell fragments to penetrate through and exposed gun crews to leg injuries during combat.[8]
Service history
At the onset of the First World War, she was deployed in the Far East as part of the China and Pacific station. During this period, she took part in operations connected to the 1913 Shanghai Rebellion, which stemmed from the Xinhai Revolution that had erupted two years prior. Once hostilities commenced, she conducted a bombardment of Yap before proceeding to Valparaíso to search for the armed merchant raider Prinz Eitel Friedrich. In late January 1916, Newcastle successfully seized the German vessel Mazatlan, which was then disguised as the American ship Edna. In 1917, her assignment shifted to the East Indies, followed by a redeployment in 1918 to operate along the South American coast.
Compared to her sister ships, Newcastle experienced relatively uneventful wartime service. She was sold for dismantling on 9 May 1921 to the shipbreaking company Thos. W. Ward. The vessel arrived at their Lelant facility on 3 May 1923, where she was subsequently scrapped.
Notes
- ↑ Also known as the Glasgow class.
References
- Template:Cite Colledge2006
- Jane's Fighting Ships of World War One (1919), Jane's Publishing Company
- Gray, Randal (ed), "Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906-1921", (Conway Maritime Press, London, 1985), ISBN 0-85177-245-5
- Ships of the Bristol group
- Bristol cruisers
External links
Media related to HMS Newcastle (1909) at Wikimedia Commons
