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HMS Undaunted (1914)

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For other ships with the same name, see HMS Undaunted.

Aerial view circa. 1914-1918
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Undaunted
BuilderFairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan
Laid down21 December 1912
Launched28 April 1914
CommissionedAugust 1914
IdentificationPennant number: 2C (1914); A5 (Jan 18);[1] 80 (Apr 18); P.06 (Nov 19)[2]
FateSold for scrap, 9 April 1923
General characteristics (as built)
Class and typeArethusa-class light cruiser
Displacement3,512 long tons (3,568 t)
Length
  • 410 ft (125.0 m) p/p
  • 436 ft (132.9 m) o/a
Beam39 ft (11.9 m)
Draught15 ft 7 in (4.75 m) (mean, deep load)
Installed power
Propulsion4 × shafts; 4 × steam turbines
Speed28.5 kn (52.8 km/h; 32.8 mph)
Range3,200 nmi (5,900 km; 3,700 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement270
Armament
Armour

HMS Undaunted was one of eight Arethusa-class light cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the 1910s.

Design and description

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The Arethusa-class cruisers were intended to lead destroyer flotillas and defend the fleet against attacks by enemy destroyers. The ships were 456 feet 6 inches (139.1 m) long overall, with a beam of 49 feet 10 inches (15.2 m) and a deep draught of 15 feet 3 inches (4.6 m). Displacement was 5,185 long tons (5,268 t) at normal[3] and 5,795 long tons (5,888 t) at full load. Undaunted was powered by four Brown-Curtis steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, which produced a total of 40,000 indicated horsepower (30,000 kW). The turbines used steam generated by eight Yarrow boilers which gave her a speed of about 28.5 knots (52.8 km/h; 32.8 mph).[4] She carried 840 long tons (853 t) tons of fuel oil[3] that gave a range of 3,200 nautical miles (5,900 km; 3,700 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).[5]

The main armament of the Arethusa-class ships consisted of two BL 6-inch (152 mm) Mk XII guns that were mounted on the centreline fore and aft of the superstructure and six QF 4-inch Mk V guns in waist mountings. They were also fitted with a single QF 3-pounder 47 mm (1.9 in) anti-aircraft gun and four 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes in two twin mounts.[4]

Construction and career

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She was launched on 28 April 1914 at Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company's shipyard at Govan. Undaunted participated in numerous naval operations during the First World War. On commissioning she was assigned as the leader of the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla of the Harwich Force, guarding the eastern approaches to the English Channel. On 28 August 1914, Undaunted took part in the Battle of Heligoland Bight, and on 17 October 1914 she was involved in an action off the Dutch island of Texel with German torpedo boats. On 25 December 1914 she participated in the Cuxhaven Raid, and on 24 January 1915 she took part in the Battle of Dogger Bank. In April 1915 Undaunted was damaged in collision with the destroyer Landrail, and on 24 March 1916 she was again damaged in a collision, this time with the light cruiser Cleopatra while covering the a raid on a Zeppelin base believed to be at Hoyer in Schleswig-Holstein. In November 1918 was reassigned to the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron of the Grand Fleet. She survived to see the end of the First World War, and was sold for scrap on 9 April 1923 to Cashmore, of Newport.[6]

Notes

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  1. ^ Colledge, J J (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Shepperton: Ian Allan. p. 47.
  2. ^ Dodson, Aidan (2024). "The Development of the British Royal Navy's Pennant Numbers Between 1919 and 1940". Warship International. 61 (2): 134–66.
  3. ^ a b Friedman 2010, p. 384
  4. ^ a b Gardiner & Gray, p. 55
  5. ^ Pearsall, Part I, p. 210
  6. ^ Gardiner & Gray, pp. 55–56

Bibliography

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  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
  • Corbett, Julian. Naval Operations to the Battle of the Falklands. History of the Great War: Based on Official Documents. Vol. I (2nd, reprint of the 1938 ed.). London and Nashville, Tennessee: Imperial War Museum and Battery Press. ISBN 0-89839-256-X.
  • Corbett, Julian (1997). Naval Operations. History of the Great War: Based on Official Documents. Vol. II (reprint of the 1929 second ed.). London and Nashville, Tennessee: Imperial War Museum in association with the Battery Press. ISBN 1-870423-74-7.
  • Friedman, Norman (2010). British Cruisers: Two World Wars and After. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-59114-078-8.
  • Friedman, Norman (2011). Naval Weapons of World War One. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-84832-100-7.
  • Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
  • Newbolt, Henry (1996). Naval Operations. History of the Great War Based on Official Documents. Vol. V (reprint of the 1931 ed.). Nashville, Tennessee: Battery Press. ISBN 0-89839-255-1.
  • Pearsall, Alan (1984). "Arethusa Class Cruisers, Part I". Warship. VIII. London: Conway Maritime Press: 203–11. ISBN 0-87021-983-9.
  • Pearsall, Alan (1984). "Arethusa Class Cruisers, Part II". Warship. VIII. London: Conway Maritime Press: 258–65. ISBN 0-87021-983-9.
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