H.M.S. Phaeton (1914)

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H.M.S. Phaeton (1914)
Pendant Number: 6AC (1914)
93 (Jan 1918)
45 (Apr 1918)[1]
Builder: Vickers[2]
Ordered: Sep, 1912[3]
Laid down: 12 Mar, 1913[4]
Launched: 21 Oct, 1914[5]
Commissioned: Feb, 1915[6]
Sold: 16 Jan, 1923[7]
Fate: to King, Troon[8]

Light cruiser H.M.S. Phaeton was one of eight in the Arethusa class, and fought at the Battle of Jutland as part of the First Light Cruiser Squadron.

Torpedoes

In mid-1920, it was ordered that Galatea, Phaeton and Royalist should replace their 21-in Mark IV S.L. torpedoes with the Mark II***** version.[9]

Service

Captain John E. Cameron commanded her from her commissioning through the entire war.

She served first with the Fourth Light Cruiser Squadron from June to November, 1915. She was then moved to the First Light Cruiser Squadron, which was tasked with screening the Battle Cruiser Fleet. It was in this formation that she fought at the Battle of Jutland under the command of Captain John E. Cameron.[10]

In August, 1917, she completed a refit to be a minelayer, capable of carrying 70 (or 74) mines.[11] She was able to conduct up to six minelaying operations per month, with an operational radius of 1270 miles.[12] She conducted five operations and laid 358 mines in total.[13]

Phaeton remained with 1 L.C.S. until April 1919, when she joined the Second Light Cruiser Squadron, whose role was to screen the Third Battle Squadron. She remained with this formation until at least July 1919.

Phaeton was reduced to a C. & M. Party on 6 February, 1920.[14]

She was paid off at Devonport on 31 May, 1922.[15]

Alterations

In 1915-1916, she was given a Wise Pressure Telegraphy System Type B to trial for torpedo control. Based on this trial, in 1917, she likely received Chadburn's Torpedo Order Telegraphs and had her Wise gauges redone to indicate Torpedo Deflection only, as well as having Barr and Stroud instruments provided to acknowledge torpedo orders given via Wise and Chadburn.[16]

Phaeton was fitted with a director in January, 1918. This alteration required her pole mast to be replaced with a tripod mast for greater rigidity.[17]

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

See Also

Footnotes

  1. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 47.
  2. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 47.
  3. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 47.
  4. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 55.
  5. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 47.
  6. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 55.
  7. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 47.
  8. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 47.
  9. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1920. pp. 6-7. (G. 10141/20-6.8.1920).
  10. Battle of Jutland Official Despatches. p. 46.
  11. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 117.
  12. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, Mining Appendix, 1917-18. Plate 7.
  13. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 117.
  14. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 830.
  15. The Navy List. (January, 1923). p. 793.
  16. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1916. p. 30.
  17. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 3, Part 23. pp. 11-12.
  18. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 867.
  19. Cameron Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/409. f. 453.
  20. Cameron Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/409. f. 453.
  21. Dundas Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/420. f. 467.
  22. The Navy List. (February, 1920). p. 829.
  23. Dundas Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/43/420. f. 467.
  24. Bowles Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/144. f. 245.
  25. Bowles Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/144. f. 245.

Bibliography

  • Dittmar, F.J.; Colledge, J.J. (1972). British Warships 1914–1919. London: Ian Allan.
  • Gray, Randal (editor) (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. (on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk).
  • Admiralty, Gunnery Branch (1918). Handbook of Captain F. C. Dreyer's Fire Control Tables, 1918. C.B. 1456. Copy No. 10 at Admiralty Library, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
  • Admiralty, Technical History Section (1919). The Technical History and Index: Fire Control in H.M. Ships. Vol. 3, Part 23. C.B. 1515 (23) now O.U. 6171/14. At The National Archives. ADM 275/19.


Arethusa Class Light Cruiser
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