HMS Undaunted (1914)

Aerial view circa. 1914-1918
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Undaunted
Builder:	Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan
Laid down:	21 December 1912
Launched:	28 April 1914
Commissioned:	August 1914
Fate:	Sold for scrap, 9 April 1923
General characteristics (as built)
Class & type:	Arethusa-class light cruiser
Displacement:	3,512 long tons (3,568 t)
Length:	410 ft (125.0 m) p/p 436 ft (132.9 m) o/a
Beam:	39 ft (11.9 m)
Draught:	15 ft 7 in (4.75 m) (mean, deep load)
Installed power:	40,000 shp (30,000 kW) 8 × Yarrow boilers
Propulsion:	4 × shafts; 4 × steam turbines
Speed:	28.5 kn (52.8 km/h; 32.8 mph)
Range:	3,200 nmi (5,900 km; 3,700 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement:	270
Armament:	2 × single BL 6 in (152 mm) Mk XII guns 6 × single QF 4 in (102 mm) Mk V guns 1 × single QF 3-pounder (47 mm (1.9 in)) anti-aircraft gun 4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
Armour:	Waterline belt: 1–3 in (25–76 mm) Deck: 1 in (25 mm)

HMS Undaunted was one of eight Arethusa-class light cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the 1910s.

Design and description

The Arethusa-class cruisers were intended to lead destroyer flotillas and defend the fleet against attacks by enemy destroyers. The ships were 456 feet 6 inches (139.1 m) long overall, with a beam of 49 feet 10 inches (15.2 m) and a deep draught of 15 feet 3 inches (4.6 m). Displacement was 5,185 long tons (5,268 t) at normal^[1] and 5,795 long tons (5,888 t) at full load. Undaunted was powered by four Brown-Curtis steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, which produced a total of 40,000 indicated horsepower (30,000 kW). The turbines used steam generated by eight Yarrow boilers which gave her a speed of about 28.5 knots (52.8 km/h; 32.8 mph).^[2] She carried 840 long tons (853 t) tons of fuel oil^[1] that gave a range of 3,200 nautical miles (5,900 km; 3,700 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).^[3]

The main armament of the Arethusa-class ships consisted of two BL 6-inch (152 mm) Mk XII guns that were mounted on the centreline fore and aft of the superstructure and six QF 4-inch Mk V guns in waist mountings. They were also fitted with a single QF 3-pounder (47 mm (1.9 in)) anti-aircraft gun and four 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes in two twin mounts.^[2]

Construction and career

She was launched on 28 April 1914 at Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company's shipyard at Govan. Undaunted participated in numerous naval operations during the First World War. On commissioning she was assigned as the leader of the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla of the Harwich Force, guarding the eastern approaches to the English Channel. On 28 August 1914, Undaunted took part in the Battle of Heligoland Bight, and on 17 October 1914 she was involved in an action off the Dutch island of Texel with German torpedo boats. On 25 December 1914 she participated in the Cuxhaven Raid, and on 24 January 1915 she took part in the Battle of Dogger Bank. In April 1915 Undaunted was damaged in collision with the destroyer Landrail, and on 24 March 1916 she was again damaged in a collision, this time with the light cruiser Cleopatra while covering the Tondern Raid. In November 1918 was reassigned to the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron of the Grand Fleet. She survived to see the end of the First World War, and was sold for scrap on 9 April 1923 to Cashmore, of Newport.^[4]

Notes

1. Friedman 2010, p. 384
2. Gardiner & Gray, p. 55
3. Pearsall, Part I, p. 210
4. Gardiner & Gray, pp. 55–56

Bibliography

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. OCLC 67375475.
• Corbett, Julian. Naval Operations to the Battle of the Falklands. History of the Great War: Based on Official Documents I (2nd, reprint of the 1938 ed.). London and Nashville, Tennessee: Imperial War Museum and Battery Press. ISBN 0-89839-256-X.
• Corbett, Julian (1997). Naval Operations. History of the Great War: Based on Official Documents II (reprint of the 1929 second ed.). London and Nashille, Tennessee: Imperial War Museum in association with the Battery Press. ISBN 1-870423-74-7.
• Friedman, Norman (2010). British Cruisers: Two World Wars and After. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-59114-078-8.
• Friedman, Norman (2011). Naval Weapons of World War One. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-84832-100-7.
• Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1984). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships: 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
• Newbolt, Henry (1996). Naval Operations. History of the Great War Based on Official Documents V (reprint of the 1931 ed.). Nashville, Tennessee: Battery Press. ISBN 0-89839-255-1.
• Pearsall, Alan (1984). "Arethusa Class Cruisers, Part I". Warship (London: Conway Maritime Press) VIII: 203–11. ISBN 0-87021-983-9.
• Pearsall, Alan (1984). "Arethusa Class Cruisers, Part II". Warship (London: Conway Maritime Press) VIII: 258–65. ISBN 0-87021-983-9.

External links

• Ships of the Arethusa class