Devonshire-class cruiser (1903)
HMS Antrim at anchor
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| Class overview | |
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| Name: | Devonshire |
| Operators: |
 Royal Navy
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| Preceded by: | Monmouth class |
| Succeeded by: | Duke of Edinburgh class |
| Built: | 1902–1905 |
| In commission: | 1905–1922 |
| Completed: | 6 |
| Lost: | 2 |
| Scrapped: | 4 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Armoured cruiser |
| Displacement: | 10,850 long tons (11,020 t) (normal) |
| Length: | 473 ft 6 in (144.3 m) (o/a) |
| Beam: | 68 ft 6 in (20.9 m) |
| Draught: | 24 ft (7.3 m) |
| Installed power: |
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| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) |
| Complement: | 610 |
| Armament: |
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| Armour: | |
The Devonshire-class cruiser was a group of six armoured cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. All ships of the class served in World War I. Argyll was wrecked, and Hampshire was sunk by a naval mine. The four survivors were disposed of soon after the war.
The Devonshire class was designed as improved versions of the preceding Monmouth class and were also intended for commerce protection. The armament of the new design was made more powerful by the replacement of the twin six-inch (152 mm) turrets and the forward double six-inch casemates by four 7.5-inch (190 mm) single turrets in a diamond arrangement. The ships were designed to displace 10,850 long tons (11,020 t). They had an overall length of 473 feet 6 inches (144.3 m), a beam of 68 feet 6 inches (20.9 m) and a deep draught of 24 feet (7.3 m). The Devonshire-class ships were powered by two 4-cylinder triple-expansion steam engines, each driving one shaft, which produced a total of 21,000 indicated horsepower (16,000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph). The engines were powered by seventeen Yarrow and six cylindrical boilers. They carried a maximum of 1,033 long tons (1,050 t) of coal and their complement consisted of 610 officers and other ranks.
The main armament of the Devonshire class consisted of four breech-loading (BL) 7.5-inch Mk I guns mounted in four single-gun turrets, one each fore and aft of the superstructure and one on each side. The guns fired their 200-pound (91 kg) shells to a range of about 13,800 yards (12,600 m). Their secondary armament of six BL 6-inch Mk VII guns was arranged in casemates amidships. Four of these were mounted on the main deck and were only usable in calm weather. They had a maximum range of approximately 12,200 yards (11,200 m) with their 100-pound (45 kg) shells. The ships also carried 18 quick-firing (QF) 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns and two submerged 18-inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes. Her two 12-pounder 8-cwt guns could be dismounted for service ashore.
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