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The Cresy Class first class armoured cruisers represented an important step in the process that eventually led to the production of the battlecruiser. They were very similar to the previous Diadem class, but with two big changes. The first was the restoration of the 9.2in guns, removed in the Diadem class in favour of four shielded 6in guns.
The second was far more important. Previous first class cruisers had been protected ships. This meant that their vital parts were protected by deck armour and by the placement of the coal bunkers. The Cressy class cruisers were given a belt of 6in thick side armour. This ran along half of the length of the ship, and ran from the main deck to a depth of five feet below water level. An armoured box was created by placed 5in armoured bulkheads across the ship at each end of the armoured belt. The area between the bow and the forward bulkhead was given 2in armour. The armour was constructed from Krupp steel, which gave much better protection than the equivalent weight of older armour.
The armoured cruiser gained a new role. Protected cruisers performed two very different sets of duties, protecting British commerce and acting as scouts for the fleet. The armoured cruiser soon be seen as an aid to the battlefleet, forming a rapid wing that could take on damaged battleships.
The Cressy class ships are most famous for suffering three disasters in rapid succession at the start of the First World War. On 22 November 1914 Hogue, Aboukir and Cressy were all sunk by the German submarine U-9 in a single incident. The loss of three cruisers in home waters in eleven days came as a real shock to the Royal Navy and made it clear how dangerous the U-boat could be.
Displacement (loaded) |
12,000t |
Top Speed |
21kts |
Range |
|
Armour – deck |
3in-1in |
- belt |
6in-2in |
- bulkheads |
5in |
- casemates |
5in |
- turrets |
6in |
- barbettes |
6in |
- ammo tubes |
3in |
- conning tower |
12in |
Length |
472 ft |
Armaments |
Two 9.2in guns |
Crew complement |
706 |
Launched |
1899-1901 |
Completed |
1901-1904 |
Ships in class |
HMS Aboukir |