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.

NameConstance

BuilderCammell Laird

Laid down25 January 1915

Launched12 September 1915

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History

Constance departing Devonport in March 1919




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
Identification	Pennant number: C5 (1914); 49 (Jan 18);^[1] 90 (Apr 18); 81 (Nov 19).^[2]
Fate	Sold 8 June 1936 for scrapping


General characteristics
Class & type	C-class light cruiser
Displacement	3,750 long tons (3,810 t)
Length	446 ft (136 m)
Beam	41.5 ft (12.6 m)
Draught	15 ft (4.6 m)
Installed power	8 Yarrow boilers 40,000 shp (30,000 kW)
Propulsion	4 shafts; 2 steam turbines
Speed	28.5 knots (52.8 km/h; 32.8 mph)
Complement	323
Armament	4 × single 6 in (152 mm) guns 1 × single 4 in (102 mm) gun 2 × single 3 in (76 mm) guns 2 × single 2 pdr (40 mm (1.6 in)) AA guns 2 × twin 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
Armour	3 inch side (amidships) 2¼-1½ inch side (bows) 2½ - 2 inch side (stern) 1 inch upper decks (amidships) 1 inch deck over rudder

Close

Construction

Constance was laid down on 25 January 1915, launched on 12 September 1915, and completed in January 1916.^[3]

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.^[3]

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,^[4] 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,^[5] 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.^[3]

In March 1931, Constance was decommissioned, transferred to the Reserve Fleet, and placed in reserve at Portsmouth, remaining in reserve there until July 1935.^[3]

Disposal

Constance was sold in January 1936^[3] or on 8 June 1936^[6] (sources differ) to Arnott Young, of Dalmuir, Scotland, to be scrapped.

Notes

[1]
Colledge, J J (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Shepperton: Ian Allan. p. 48.
[2]
Dodson, Aidan (2024). "The Development of the British Royal Navy's Pennant Numbers Between 1919 and 1940". Warship International. 61 (2): 134–66.
[3]
Preston, p. 59
[4]
"Naval Gossip". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke Parish, Bermuda: The Royal Gazette. 14 December 1922. p. 1. For many months past repeated rumours have been current concerning H. M. S. "Raleigh" but now at last it seems probable that she really win join, as Flagship, the ships already on the North America and West Indies Station within the next two months. Her advent will mean that Vice-Admiral Sir William C. Pakenham, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., will be afloat during a greater part of the year instead of in residence at Admiralty House, Bermuda. The "Calcutta" is expected to return to this station with her new Commission towards the latter part of next month and sometime within the next nine months both the "Constance" and "Cambrian" are expected to be relieved by the "Curlew" and "Cape Town" respectively. The two new ships are of the same class as the "Calcutta", though of slightly different design.
[5]
"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.
[6]
Colledge, p. 89

HMS Constance (1915)

Construction

Service history

World War I

Postwar

Disposal

Notes

References

External links

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