HMS Dragon (D46)

History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Dragon
Ordered:	1916
Builder:	Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Greenock
Laid down:	24 January 1917
Launched:	29 December 1917
Commissioned:	16 August 1918
Fate:	To Polish Navy, 15 January 1943
Poland
Name:	ORP Dragon
Commissioned:	15 January 1943
Fate:	Damaged 7 July 1944 and scuttled as part of artificial harbour
General characteristics
Class and type:	Danae-class light cruiser
Displacement:	4,276 long tons (4,345 t) light 5,603 long tons (5,693 t) full 4,850 long tons (4,928 t) after 1924
Length:	445 ft (136 m)
Beam:	46.5 ft (14.2 m)
Draught:	14.5 ft (4.4 m)
Propulsion:	Six Yarrow-type water-tube boilers Parsons geared steam turbines Two shafts 40,000 shp (30 MW)
Speed:	29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph)
Range:	2,300 nmi (4,300 km)
Complement:	462
Armament:	1918: 6 × BL 6 in L/45 Mark XII guns on single mountings CP Mark XIV (152 mm) 2 × 3-inch (76 mm) Mk II AA guns 2 × 40 mm QF 2 pdr "Pom-pom" AA guns 12 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes (4 triple launchers) 1930: 6 × 152 mm Mk XII guns 3 × QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mk V AA guns 2 × 40 mm 2 pdr Pom-pom AA guns 12 × 533 mm torpedo launchers 1942: 6 × 152 mm Mk XII guns 2 × 102 mm Mk V AA guns 6 × 40 mm 2 pdr Pom-pom AA 12 × 533 mm torpedo launchers 1943: 5 × 152 mm guns 1 × 102 mm gun 8 × 40 mm 2 pdr Pom-pom AA guns 3 × quadruple mounting Mark VII 2 pounder Mark VIII gun 12 × 20 mm Oerlikon AA guns depth charge launcher
Armour:	3 inch side (amidships) 2, 1¾, 1½ side (bow and stern) 1 inch upper decks (amidships) 1 inch deck over rudder

HMS Dragon, also known in Polish service as ORP Dragon (Polish: dragoon), was a D- or Danae-class cruiser built for the Royal Navy. She was launched in Glasgow, in December 1917, and scuttled in July 1944 off the Normandy beaches as part of the Arromanches Breakwater.

One of the fastest-built ships of the time, Dragon (pennant number D46) was laid down on 24 January 1917 in Glasgow. She was launched on 29 December that year. However, it was not until 10 August 1918 she was finally commissioned at Harwich Dockyard by the Royal Navy as HMS Dragon, commanded by Capt. A. H. Allington. Armed with six 6-inch guns, the light cruiser was commissioned too late to enter service during the World War I. She carried the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VIII) to Canada in August 1919 to begin a royal tour.

She then took part in the Russian Civil War as part of a task force aiding independent Latvia and Estonia against the Bolsheviks and German forces in October and November 1919, as part of the British intervention in the Baltic. On 17 October 1919 Dragon was hit by three shells fired from a shore battery while taking part in operations against German forces attacking Riga, suffering nine killed and five wounded.

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Wikipedia