HMS Blonde (1910)
HMS Blonde at anchor
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| History | |
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 United Kingdom
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| Name: | Blonde |
| Builder: | Pembroke Royal Dockyard |
| Laid down: | 6 December 1909 |
| Launched: | 22 July 1910 |
| Completed: | May 1911 |
| Fate: | Sold for scrap, 6 May 1920 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Blonde-class scout cruiser |
| Displacement: | 3,350 long tons (3,400 t) (normal) |
| Length: | 406 ft (123.7 m) (o/a) |
| Beam: | 41 ft 6 in (12.6 m) |
| Draught: | 14 ft 3 in (4.3 m) |
| Installed power: |
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| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) |
| Complement: | 317 |
| Armament: |
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| Armour: |
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HMS Blonde was the lead ship of the her class of scout cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. She led the 7th Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean Fleet from completion until 1912. The ship was temporarily assigned to the 1st Destroyer Flotilla before she joined the 4th Battle Squadron in 1913. During the First World War, Blonde was assigned to various battleship squadrons of the Grand Fleet. The ship was converted into a minelayer in 1917, but never actually laid any mines. She was reduced to reserve in 1919 and sold for scrap in 1920.
Designed to provide destroyer flotillas with a command ship capable of outclassing enemy destroyers with her 10 four-inch (102 mm) guns, Blonde proved too slow in service from the start of her career. Her 25-knot (46 km/h; 29 mph) speed was inadequate to match the 27-to-30-knot (50 to 56 km/h; 31 to 35 mph) speeds of the destroyers she led in her flotilla.
Displacing 3,350 long tons (3,400 t), the ship had an overall length of 406 feet (123.7 m), a beam of 41 feet 6 inches (12.6 m) and a deep draught of 14 feet 3 inches (4.3 m). She was powered by four Parsons steam turbines, each driving one shaft. The turbines produced a total of 18,000 indicated horsepower (13,000 kW), using steam produced by 12 Yarrow boilers, and gave a maximum speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph). She carried a maximum of 780 long tons (790 t) of coal and 189 long tons (192 t) of fuel oil. Her crew consisted of 314 officers and enlisted men.
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