Forward-class cruiser
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Forward |
| Operators: |
 Royal Navy
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| Preceded by: | Adventure class |
| Succeeded by: | Pathfinder class |
| Built: | 1903–05 |
| In commission: | 1905–21 |
| Completed: | 2 |
| Scrapped: | 2 |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Type: | Scout cruiser |
| Displacement: | 2,850 long tons (2,896 t) |
| Length: | 365 ft (111.3 m) (p/p) |
| Beam: | 39 ft 2 in (11.9 m) |
| Draught: | 14 ft 3 in (4.3 m) |
| Installed power: |
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| Propulsion: | 2 Shafts, 2 triple-expansion steam engines |
| Speed: | 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) |
| Complement: | 289 |
| Armament: | |
| Armour: |
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The Forward-class cruiser was a pair of scout cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. Both ships participated in World War I; the vessels consisted of HMS Forward and HMS Foresight. Both ships survived the war, but were scrapped shortly after its end.
In 1901–02, the Admiralty developed scout cruisers to work with destroyer flotillas, leading their torpedo attacks and backing them up when attacked by other destroyers. In May 1902, it requested tenders for a design that was capable of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph), a protective deck, a range of 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km; 2,300 mi) and an armament of six quick-firing (QF) 12-pounder 18 cwt guns, eight QF 3-pounder (47 mm) guns and two 18-inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes. It accepted four of the submissions and ordered one ship from each builder in the 1902–03 Naval Programme and a repeat in the following year's programme.
The two ships from Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company became the Forward class. Four more 12-pounders were added to the specification in August. The ships had a length between perpendiculars of 365 feet (111.3 m), a beam of 39 feet 2 inches (11.9 m) and a draught of 14 feet 3 inches (4.3 m). They displaced 2,850 long tons (2,896 t) at normal load and 3,100 long tons (3,150 t) at deep load. Their crew consisted of 289 officers and other ranks.
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