The Worsley class was again an advance on the previous class. Enlarged hull, cut down poop deck, and most importantly a fifth single 6" gun. The hull internals were revamped to give a better layout for the 6" guns and their magazine arrangements. The change to the internal arrangements allowed for the removal of the fore funnel and the enlargement of the second funnel to compensate.



These were the most modern cruisers available on the outbreak of war. They were set up with the Manahan class Armoured Cruisers to form the 1st cruiser squadron as the eyes of the fleet. In the major fleet engagement fought by Antarctica, two of the class were lost. They got too close to 12' armed battlecruisers of the enemies scouting fleet and became target practice when hit and stopped in the water. The remaining four went through to 1933 as light cruisers, often used in training mode. The failure of the Naval treaties saw these ships taken in hand for conversion to AA cruisers.



These four vessels spent their wars on convoy duty. Once the McLintock class escort carriers started joining Escort Command these ships were paired with them for their AA capability. Only two survived WW2. One was lost early being bombed saving troops at Dunkirk. The other was torpedoed just days before wars end as the German type XXI submarines showed their teeth and how effective they would have been.

 

Displacement	4,200 tons standard, 4,600 tons full load
Length	445 ft
Breadth	46 ft
Draught	17 ft
Machinery	4 shaft, steam turbines, 35,000ihp
Speed	28 knots
Range	5,000 miles at 10 knots
Armour	2" side, 1" deck
Armament	As completed 5 x 6" (5x1) 2 x 4" (2x1) replaced with 3" AA in 1917 4 x 2pd (4x1) replaced with 2pd AA in 1917	Refits to 1940 10 x 4" (4x2, 2x1) 4 x 2pd (1x4) 8 x 20mm (8x1)
Torpedoes	4 x 18" (2x2)
Complement	435
Notes	Captain Worsley Major Morris Senator Kennedy Corporal Klinger

In command! Commodore and 1st Lieutenant aboard Captain Worsley 1916

(This is actually Commodore Tyrwhitt and Lieutenant Floyer in real life)