HMS Lowestoft (1913)

The Birmingham sub-class were slightly larger and improved versions of the preceding Chatham sub-class.Gardiner & Gray, p. 54 They were {{convert|457|ft|m|1}} long overall, with a beam of {{convert|50|ft|m|1}} and a draught of {{convert|16|ft|m|1}}. Displacement was {{convert|5440|LT|t|lk=on}} normalFriedman, p. 384 and {{convert|6040|LT|t}} at full load. Twelve Yarrow boilers fed Lowestoft{{'}}s Parsons steam turbines, driving four propeller shafts, that were rated at {{convert|25000|shp|lk=in}} for a design speed of {{convert|25.5|kn}}. The ship reached {{convert|25.4|kn}} during her sea trials from {{convert|23620|shp|abbr=on}}.Lyon, Part 2, pp. 59–60 The boilers used both fuel oil and coal, with {{convert|1165|LT|t|0}} of coal and {{convert|235|LT|t|0}} tons of oil carried, which gave a range of {{convert|4140|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|10|kn}}.

The primary improvement of the Birminghams over the Chathams was the introduction of lighter, easier to work, BL 6-inch (152 mm) Mk XII guns. The lighter guns allowed the addition of another weapon forward of the superstructure.Lyon, Part 2, p. 57 One of these guns was mounted on the centreline aft of the superstructure and two more were mounted on the forecastle deck abreast the bridge. The remaining four guns positioned amidships, two on each broadside. All these guns were fitted with gun shields. Four Vickers 3-pounder (47 mm) saluting guns were also fitted. The armament was completed by two submerged 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes.Lyon, Part 2, pp. 55–57

The ship was laid down on 29 July 1912 by Chatham Royal Dockyard and launched on 23 April 1913. Upon completion in April 1914, Lowestoft was assigned to the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron of the Grand Fleet, and in August 1914 she sank a German merchant ship. On 28 August 1914, she participated in the Battle of Heligoland Bight, and on 24 January 1915 Lowestoft took part in the Battle of Dogger Bank. In February 1915, she was reassigned to the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron, and in 1916 reassigned again to the 8th Light Cruiser Squadron, operating in the Mediterranean. She survived the war and was sold for scrap on 8 January 1931 to Thos. W. Ward, of Milford Haven.Lyon, Part 3, p. 51

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book|last=Brown|first=David K.|title=The Grand Fleet: Warship Design and Development 1906–1922|year=2010|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|location=Barnsley, UK|isbn=978-1-84832-085-7}}
• {{Cite Colledge2006}}
• {{cite book|last=Corbett|first=Julian|author-link=Julian Corbett|title=Naval Operations to the Battle of the Falklands|edition=2nd, reprint of the 1938|series=History of the Great War: Based on Official Documents|volume=I|publisher=Imperial War Museum and Battery Press|location=London and Nashville, Tennessee|isbn=0-89839-256-X}}
• {{cite book|last=Corbett|first=Julian|author-link=Julian Corbett|title=Naval Operations|edition=reprint of the 1929 second|series=History of the Great War: Based on Official Documents|volume=II|year=1997|publisher=Imperial War Museum in association with the Battery Press|location=London and Nashville, Tennessee|isbn=1-870423-74-7}}
• {{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=British Cruisers: Two World Wars and After|year=2010|publisher=Seaforth|location=Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK|isbn=978-1-59114-078-8}}
• {{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 journal|last=Lyon|first=David|title=The First Town Class 1908–31: Part 1|journal=Warship|issue= 1|volume= 1|year=1977|pages=48–58|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=London|isbn=0-85177-132-7}}
• {{cite journal|last=Lyon|first=David|title=The First Town Class 1908–31: Part 2|journal=Warship|issue= 2|volume= 1|year=1977|pages=54–61|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=London|isbn=0-85177-132-7}}
• {{cite journal|last=Lyon|first=David|title=The First Town Class 1908–31: Part 3|journal=Warship|issue= 3|volume= 1|year=1977|pages=46–51|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=London|isbn=0-85177-132-7}}
• {{cite book|last=Newbolt|first=Henry|title=Naval Operations|edition=reprint of the 1931|series=History of the Great War Based on Official Documents|volume=V|year=1996|publisher=Battery Press|location=Nashville, Tennessee|isbn=0-89839-255-1}}

• [http://www.worldwar1.co.uk/light-cruiser/hms-Birmingham.html Ships of the Birmingham group]
• {{Cite web | title = Royal Navy Log Books - HMS Lowestoft

| accessdate = 2013-12-22

| url = http://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-06-HMS_Lowestoft.htm

|work=naval-history.net

}} OldWeather.org transcription of ship's logbooks 19 September to September 1920

{{Town class cruiser 1910}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lowestoft}}

Category:Town-class cruisers (1910) of the Royal Navy

Category:Ships built in Chatham

Category:1913 ships

Category:World War I cruisers of the United Kingdom