HMS Cassandra from the left
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HMS Cassandra was a Caledon class light cruiser that was commissioned into the Sixth Light Cruiser Squadron of the Grand Fleet in June 1917, and served with that squadron to the end of the First World War. On 15 August, two months after joining the fleet, the Cassandra (and her sister ship Caradoc) ran aground on Fair Isle, to the north east of Scapa Flow. She had to be towed to Lerwick for repairs, but was back with the squadron by 15 October, when she took part in a massive operation that failed to locate the German fleet as it attacked a Scandinavian convoy.
In November 1918 the Cassandra was part of a British light cruiser squadron sent into the Baltic under Rear Admiral Alexander-Sinclair, to support the newly independent Baltic States. On 5 December, while travelling between the Baltic capitals, the Cassandra hit one of the thousands of mines that had been laid in the area during the war and sank, fortunately with little loss of life.
Displacement (loaded) |
4,950t |
Top Speed |
20kts |
Armour – deck |
1in |
- belt |
3in-1.75in |
- conning tower |
6in |
Length |
450ft |
Armaments |
Five 6in BL M k XII guns |
Crew complement |
400 |
Launched |
25 November 1916 |
Completed |
June 1917 |
Mined |
5 December 1918 |