Blonde-class cruiser
Blonde at anchor
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| Class overview | |
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| Name: | Blonde |
| Builders: | Pembroke Dockyard |
| Operators: |
 Royal Navy
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| Preceded by: | Boadicea class |
| Succeeded by: | Active class |
| Built: | 1909–11 |
| In commission: | 1910–21 |
| Completed: | 2 |
| Scrapped: | 2 |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Type: | Scout cruiser |
| Displacement: | 3,350 long tons (3,400 t) |
| Length: | 406 ft (123.7 m) (o/a) |
| Beam: | 41 ft 6 in (12.6 m) |
| Draught: | 15 ft 6 in (4.7 m) |
| Installed power: |
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| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 24.5 knots (45.4 km/h; 28.2 mph) |
| Range: | 4,100 nautical miles (7,600 km; 4,700 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Complement: | 314 |
| Armament: |
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| Armour: |
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The Blonde-class cruisers were a pair of scout cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. Upon completion in 1910–11, they served as flotilla leaders for destroyer flotillas of the First Fleet until 1913 when they were assigned to battleship squadrons. When the First World War began in August 1914, they remained with their squadrons as the First Fleet was incorporated into the Grand Fleet, although they changed squadrons over the course of the war. Blonde did not participate in the Battle of Jutland in mid-1916, unlike her sister ship, Blanche, which did, but never fired a shot. They were converted into minelayers the following year, but only Blanche actually laid mines. The sisters were reduced to reserve in 1919 and sold for scrap in 1920–21.
These scout cruisers were too slow to lead destroyers in battle or to defend the fleet against enemy destroyer attacks, but they were still used as flotilla leaders. The Blonde class was essentially a repeat of the preceding Boadicea class, albeit with a more powerful armament and less fuel.Displacing 3,350 long tons (3,400 t), the ships had an overall length of 405 feet (123.4 m), a beam of 41 feet 6 inches (12.6 m) and a deep draught of 15 feet 6 inches (4.7 m). They were powered by four sets of Parsons steam turbines, each driving two shafts. The turbines produced a total of 18,000 indicated horsepower (13,000 kW), using steam produced by 12 Yarrow boilers that burned both fuel oil and coal, and gave a maximum speed of 24.5 knots (45.4 km/h; 28.2 mph). They carried a maximum of 780 long tons (790 t) of coal and 190 long tons (190 t) of fuel oil that gave them a range of 4,100 nautical miles (7,600 km; 4,700 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). Their crew consisted of 314 officers and ratings.
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