)-2.PNG)
HMAS Napier (CLA-1915 (1935-mod))
Arethusa class cruisers the Australis Navy built to go with the Queen class battleships. All 4 ships were laid down in 1913 and completed in 1915-16. The ships were quite a bit smaller than the later C class ships and were not able to carry as heavy an ordanance load. Up until 1933 the class carried the original 3 x 6 inch single open mountings and were used as training ships, their engines had been converted to oil fuel in 1922-23.
The Napier trialed the twin 4" light turret in 1933-34 in A position. This turret had no more than splinter protection and would keep out machine gun fire but what it did most was to give the gun crews a sense of security an open mounting can not. In heavy weather the gun crew stayed dry and operated at peak efficiency.
The class started their full rebuilds in 1935 with a ship entering the system every 6 months. What emerged was a useful anti-aircraft vessel, which were tied to the Albatross class and old battleships where these ships 28 knot speed gave them a usefull margin where they would not be able to keep up with the fast battleships and battlecruisers.
| Displacement | 3,500 tons std, 4,250 tons full load |
| Length | 436 ft |
| Breadth | 39 ft |
| Draught | 13.5 ft |
| Machinery | 4 shaft steam turbines, 40,000shp |
| Speed | 28 knots |
| Range | 4000 miles at 15 knots. |
| Armour | 3" side, 1" deck. |
| Armament | 8 x 4" (4x2) 8 x 2pd (2x4) 8x 20mm (2x2 4x1) |
| Aircraft | nil |
| Torpedoes | 4 x 21" (2x2) |
| Complement | 325 |
| Notes | HMAS Cairns 1915 HMAS Napier 1915 HMAS Townsville 1916 HMAS Rockhampton 1916 |
Prewar view of Arethusa class cruiser with 6 inch fore and aft and 3 single 4 inch down each side. The twin tubes are visible behind the ships boat.