Aphrodite Class Cruisers.
The Aphrodite class kept on with the 5.5" main armament of the previous Weapon
class cruisers. The new ships were much bigger, more armament, more speed. An
all round improvement. At 5,250 tons and 495x51 feet they were of a size with
the British and German ships of the time. Ten 5.5" and six 47mm comprised the
gun armament, while the torpedoes were the new 21", an improvement over the
Weapon Classes 18". The propulsion plant went out to 58,000shp which produced 32
knots.
When these ships arrived at Rosyth in early 1915, they were the fastest
cruisers available, and were made Flotilla Leaders with the Captain 'D' aboard.
The ships were involved in all the Battlecruiser actions of 1915-16. Because of
this all four ships had a hard war. Gunfire damage was received by all ships.
After the end of WW1 the ships did not remain in service past 1925. For a short
period they replaced the Ocean class as training ships, but all had been retired
and scrapped by 1930.
Displacement: 5,250 tons normal, 6,500 tons full load.
Dimensions: 495 x 51 x 17 feet
Machinery: 2 shaft, steam turbines, 58,000shp
Speed: 32 knots
Endurance: 4,500 miles at 12 knots
Armour: 2.5" belt, 1,5" deck, 1.5" shields.
Armament:
10 x 5.5" (1x2, 8x1)
6 x 47mm (6x1)
8 x 21 " torpedoes (4x2)
Crew:
Aphrodite - Service/Fate:
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