HMS Venus

HMS Venus was an Eclipse class second class cruiser that served in Home Waters, in Egyptian Waters, on the China Station, and in the East Indies during the First World War. At the start of the war, she was part of the 11th Cruiser Squadron, based in Ireland and guarding the western trade routes. By January 1916 she was in Egyptian waters, before being sent to the China station.

At the start of 1917 she was at Singapore. She was then sent to visit Macassar in case the German raider Wolf was being sent east to arm German merchant ships that were stuck in neutral ports. In March she was guarding the northern end of the Malacca Straits. In November she was at Colombo, while in December she was sent to the Chagos archipelago. Despite all these efforts, the Wolf escaped back to Germany. By the start of 1918, the Venus was part of the East Indies Squadron, briefly serving as its flagship in 1919, before returning to Britain to be paid off.

Displacement (loaded)

5,600t

Top Speed

19.5kts

Armour – deck

3in-1.5in

 - gunshields

3in

 - engine hatch

6in

 - conning tower

6in

Length

373ft

Armaments as built

Five 6in quick firing guns
Six 4.7in quick firing guns
Six 3pdr quick firing guns
Two machine guns
Three 18in torpedo tubes

Armament after 1905

Eleven 6in guns
Three 12pdr guns
Three 18in torpedo tubes

Crew complement

450

Launched

5 September 1895

Completed

9 November 1897

Captains

Captain R. G. D. Dewar
Captain Turton

Sold for break up

1921

Books on the First World War | Subject Index: First World War

How to cite this article: Rickard, J (11 November 2007), HMS Venus, http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_HMS_Venus.html

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