Eclipse-class cruiser

File:Eclipse class cruiser diagrams Brasseys 1896.jpg

These ships were enlarged and improved versions of the preceding {{sclass|Astraea|cruiser|4}}. The Eclipse-class ships were {{convert|373|ft|m|1}} long overall, had a beam of {{convert|53|ft|6|in|m}} and a draught of {{convert|20|ft|6|in|m|1}}. They displaced {{convert|5600|LT|t|lk=in}} at normal load. To reduce biofouling, the hulls of the ships were sheathed with wood and copper. Their crew consisted of 450 officers and enlisted men. Their metacentric height was approximately {{convert|3|ft|m|1}}.McBride, pp. 138–39

The Eclipse-class ships were powered by two inverted triple-expansion steam engines using steam generated by eight cylindrical boilers at a pressure of {{convert|155|psi|kPa kg/cm2|0|abbr=on|lk=on}}. Using normal draught, the boilers were intended to provide the engines with enough steam to generate {{convert|8000|ihp|lk=in}} and to reach a speed of {{convert|18.5|kn|lk=in}}; using forced draft, the equivalent figures were {{convert|9600|ihp}} and a speed of {{convert|19.5|kn}}. During their sea trials, all of the lightly loaded ships exceeded their specifications and reached a top speed of {{convert|20|kn}}. They carried a maximum of {{convert|1075|LT|t}} of coal.McBride, pp. 137–39

The ships carried five 40-calibre QF 6 inch Mk I - III naval gun quick-firing (QF) guns in single mounts protected by gun shields. One gun was mounted on the forecastle, two on the quarterdeck and one pair was abreast the bridge.McBride, p. 137 They fired {{convert|100|lb|kg|adj=on|0}} shells at a muzzle velocity of {{convert|2205|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}}.Friedman, pp. 87–88 The secondary armament consisted of six 40-calibre {{convert|4.7|in|mm|adj=on}} guns; three on each broadside. Their {{convert|45|lb|kg|adj=on|1}} shells were fired at a muzzle velocity of {{convert|2125|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}}.Friedman, p. 92

Defense against torpedo boats was provided by eight QF 12-pounder 12 cwt"Cwt" is the abbreviation for hundredweight, 12 cwt referring to the weight of the gun. guns and six {{convert|47|mm|adj=on}} three-pounder Hotchkiss guns. Four of the 12-pounders were mounted in the sides of the hull fore and aft while the remaining four guns were interspersed between the 4.7-inch guns. The three-pounders were mounted in the fighting tops, three in each one.McBride, pp. 137–38 The 12-pounders fired {{convert|3|in|adj=on|0}}, {{convert|12.5|lb|adj=on}} projectiles at a muzzle velocity of {{convert|2359|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}}.Friedman, p. 114 The ships also equipped with three 18-inch torpedo tubes, one submerged tube on each broadside and one above water in the stern.Chesneau & Kolesnik, p. 78 The ammunition supply consisted of 200 six-inch rounds per gun, 250 shells for each 4.7-inch gun, 300 rounds per gun for the 12-pounders and 500 for each three-pounder. Each ship also carried ten torpedoes, presumably four for each broadside tube and two for the stern tube.McBride, p. 139

Between 1903 and 1905, all of the ships in the class except for Eclipse had their mixed armament replaced with a more uniform armament of eleven 6-inch, nine 12-pounders and seven 3-pounder guns.

The primary protection of the Eclipse class was its sloping armoured deck. This ranged in thickness from {{convert|1.5|to|3|in}}, with its slopes being {{convert|2.5|in}} thick. It covered an area six inches above the waterline to {{convert|5|ft|m|1}} below it. The engines were protected by a six-inch armoured hatch that extended above the armoured deck. The gun shields for the six-inch guns were three inches thick and the conning tower's armour was six inches thick.

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{{reflist|group=Note}}

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• {{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905|editor1-last=Chesneau|editor1-first=Roger|editor2-last=Kolesnik|editor2-first=Eugene M.|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=Greenwich, UK|year=1979|isbn=0-8317-0302-4|name-list-style=amp|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/conwaysallworlds0000unse_l2e2}}
• {{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=Naval Weapons of World War One|publisher=Seaforth|location=Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK|year=2011|isbn=978-1-84832-100-7}}
• {{cite book |editor1-last=Gardiner|editor1-first=Robert|editor2-last=Gray|editor2-first=Randal|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921|year=1985|location=Annapolis, Maryland|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=0-85177-245-5|name-list-style=amp}}
• {{cite book|last=McBride|first=Keith|title=Warship 2012|editor=John Jordan|publisher=Conway|location=London|year=2012|pages=136–41|chapter=The Cruiser Family Talbot |isbn=978-1-84486-156-9}}

{{Commons category|Eclipse class cruiser}}

• [http://www.worldwar1.co.uk/light-cruiser/hms-Eclipse.html Eclipse Class Second Class Protected Cruisers on World War 1 Naval Combat]
• [http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/eclipse_class.html Eclipse Class on Battleships & Cruisers]

{{Eclipse class cruiser}}

{{WWI British ships}}

Category:Cruiser classes

Category:Ship classes of the Royal Navy