HMS Inconstant was one of eight Arethusa-class light cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the 1910s. She fought in the First World War, participating in the Battle of Jutland. Following the war, she was scrapped.
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Inconstant |
| Builder | William Beardmore and Company |
| Laid down | 3 April 1913 |
| Launched | 6 July 1914 |
| Commissioned | January 1915 |
| Identification | Pennant number: 5A (1914); 73 (Jan 18);[1] 77 (Apr 18); 56 (Nov 19)[2] |
| Fate | Sold for scrap, 9 June 1922 |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Class and type | Arethusa-class light cruiser |
| Displacement | 3,512 long tons (3,568 t) |
| Length | |
| Beam | 39 ft (11.9 m) |
| Draught | 15 ft 7 in (4.75 m) (mean, deep load) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion | 4 × shafts; 4 × steam turbines |
| Speed | 28.5 kn (52.8 km/h; 32.8 mph) |
| Range | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
| Complement | 270 |
| Armament |
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| Armour |
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Design and description
editThe 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[3] and 5,795 long tons (5,888 t) at full load. Inconstant was powered by four Parsons 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).[4] She carried 840 long tons (853 t) tons of fuel oil[3] that gave a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).[5]
The main armament of the Arethusa-class ships was 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.[4]
Construction and service
editThe ship was launched on 6 July 1914 at William Beardmore and Company shipyard. On being commissioned, she was assigned to the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron of the Grand Fleet. On 31 May to 1 June 1916 Inconstant took part in the Battle of Jutland. She survived the battle and the First World War, and was sold for scrapping on 9 June 1922 to Cashmore, of Newport.[6]
Notes
edit- ^ Colledge, J J (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. Shepperton: Ian Allan. p. 47.
- ^ Dodson, Aidan (2024). "The Development of the British Royal Navy's Pennant Numbers Between 1919 and 1940". Warship International. 61 (2): 134–66.
- ^ a b Friedman 2010, p. 384
- ^ a b Gardiner & Gray, p. 55
- ^ Pearsall, Part I, p. 210
- ^ Gardiner & Gray, p. 56
Bibliography
edit- 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.
- Corbett, Julian. Naval Operations to the Battle of the Falklands. History of the Great War: Based on Official Documents. Vol. 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. Vol. II (reprint of the 1929 second ed.). London and Nashville, 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. (1985). 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. Vol. V (reprint of the 1931 ed.). Nashville, Tennessee: Battery Press. ISBN 0-89839-255-1.
- Pearsall, Alan (1984). "Arethusa Class Cruisers, Part I". Warship. VIII. London: Conway Maritime Press: 203–11. ISBN 0-87021-983-9.
- Pearsall, Alan (1984). "Arethusa Class Cruisers, Part II". Warship. VIII. London: Conway Maritime Press: 258–65. ISBN 0-87021-983-9.
External links
edit
- Ships of the Arethusa class
- "Royal Navy Log Books - HMS Inconstant". naval-history.net. Retrieved 3 January 2014. OldWeather.org transcription of ship's logbooks December 1914 to February 1915
- Battle of Jutland Crew Lists Project - HMS Inconstant Crew List