Duke of Edinburgh Class first class armoured cruisers

The Duke of Edinburgh class first class cruisers were the first ships of that type designed by Phillip Watts, the designer of HMS Dreadnaught. Like that ship, the Duke of Edinburgh class featured a significant rise in firepower compared to earlier cruisers. Earlier cruisers had been armed with at most two 9.2in guns.

These ships were given six 9.2in guns, each mounted in a separate turret. Two of these turrets were placed fore and aft on the centre line, while the remaining four were placed in wing positions, at each end of the middle third of the ship. Three could be fired at targets to the front or rear, and four in the broadside.

The armoured casemates that had been a feature of British cruisers for some time were abandoned on these ships, and the ten 6in guns were carried in a central armoured battery, five on each side, in the centre of the ship. Unfortunately these ships were not high sides, and so despite being only just below main deck level, these guns were too close to the water and were very hard to use in any even slightly rough weather. In March 1916 they were removed and replaced by three shielded 6in guns on each side of the ship, located on the main deck between the main guns.

These ships also carried a large number of 3pdr guns, designed for use against torpedoes and smaller ships. These had also been used on the previous Devonshire class ships, and were retained on the upcoming Warrior class ships, but were not a particular success.

Both HMS Black Prince and HMS Duke of Edinburgh began the First World War in the Red Sea, before joining the Grand Fleet (December 1914). The Black Prince was sunk with all hands at the battle of Jutland (31 May 1916). The Duke of Edinburgh was also present at Jutland. In 1917 she performed convoy escort duty, and in 1918 was posted to the North America and West Indies Station.

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