HMS Constance (1915)
HMS Constance was a C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy that saw service in World War I. She was part of the Cambrian group of the C class.
.jpg.webp) Constance departing Devonport in March 1919 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Constance |
| Builder | Cammell Laird |
| Laid down | 25 January 1915 |
| Launched | 12 September 1915 |
| Completed | January 1916 |
| Commissioned | January 1916 |
| Decommissioned | March 1931 |
| Fate | Sold 8 June 1936 for scrapping |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | C-class light cruiser |
| Displacement | 3,750 tons |
| Length | 446 ft (136 m) |
| Beam | 41.5 ft (12.6 m) |
| Draught | 15 ft (4.6 m) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion | 4 shafts; 2 steam turbines |
| Speed | 28.5 knots (52.8 km/h; 32.8 mph) |
| Complement | 323 |
| Armament |
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| Armour |
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Construction
Constance was laid down on 25 January 1915, launched on 12 September 1915, and completed in January 1916.[1]
Service history
World War I
Commissioned into service in the Royal Navy in January 1916, Constance was assigned to the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron of the Grand Fleet from her commissioning until 1919, taking part in the Battle of Jutland on 31 May-1 June 1916.[1]
Postwar
After the conclusion of World War I, Constance was assigned to the 8th Light Cruiser Squadron on the North America and West Indies Station (subsequently the America and West Indies Station) from 1919 to 1926, based at the Royal Naval Dockyard in the Imperial fortress colony of Bermuda, where she escaped damage though torn free from the wharf when a hurricane struck on 21 September, 1922,[2] recommissioning at Devonport in January 1923 to continue this service. From September 1926 to December 1927, she underwent a refit at Chatham Dockyard, becoming the flagship of the Portsmouth Reserve upon its completion. She was assigned to the 5th Cruiser Squadron on the China Station from 1928 to November 1930.[1]
In March 1931, Constance was decommissioned, transferred to the Reserve Fleet, and placed in reserve at Portsmouth, remaining in reserve there until July 1935.[1]
Disposal
Constance was sold in January 1936[1] or on 8 June 1936[3] (sources differ) to Arnott Young, of Dalmuir, Scotland, to be scrapped.
Notes
- Preston, p. 59
- "HURRICANE STRIKES BERMUDA WITH FULL FORCE (continued)". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda. 23 September 1922. p. 6.
Commissioners' House was exposed to every angle of the storm, but suffered comparatively slight damage though a length of wall of considerable strength was laid low, carrying with it the poultry run and playing havoc amongst its Inmates.
The dry canteen got wet, we are told, and suffered a little damage.
In the Keep Yard the force of the wind blew open a magazine door, while roofs of buildings in the Victualling Yard were badly damaged, the subsequent leakage of water spoiling portions of the stores kept there. The Dockyard Church was in a sad state, the floor being covered with water, a couple of inches deep.
In the Cambre, the dock, with H.M.S. "Capetown" inside, was half-sunk by the Dockyard authorities in order to afford less resistance to the storm, and came through the ordeal unscathed, though a battle practice target also in the dock received some damage.
H.M.S. "Constance" broke adrift from her bow-lines and was only secured with considerable difficulty. H.M.S. "Valerian" lost her after-mast, while H.M.S. "Dartmouth's" fore-topmast also went by the board.
To add to the excitement of the morning a fire broke out on board "Dartmouth," due, we believe to a defect in the oil-fuel system, which resisted the efforts of the ship's crew and necessitated the assistance of the three steam fire engines from the Dockyard stations. The fire was then promptly subdued, and the "Dartmouth" has suffered no material damage, we are told.
The residential portion of Ireland Island while bearing the evidence of a heavy battering shows no signs of serious damage, slates blown off roofs and a few chimneys dislocated being the sum total of the gale's work on the houses.
On the low-lying ground on which the pumping-station stands however, the storm wreaked its vengeance on several dinghies fitted with outboard motors, and reduced them to pulp-wood. Amongst the smashed boats are those of Messrs. Mastin, Spriddle, and Butler. These boats had all been drawn well up from the water in view of the storm warnings received, but the gale would not be gainsaid. - Colledge, p. 89
References
- 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.
- Friedman, Norman (2010). British Cruisers: Two World Wars and After. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-59114-078-8.
- Preston, Antony (1985). "Great Britain and Empire Forces". In Gray, Randal (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 1–104. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.