The Challenger-class cruisers were essentially repeats of the previous Highflyer class, albeit with more powerful propulsion machinery. They were designed to displace 5,880 long tons (5,970 t). The ships had a length between perpendiculars of 355 feet (108.2 m), a beam of 56 feet (17.1 m) and a draught of 21 feet 3 inches (6.5 m). Their crew consisted of 490 officers and other ranks.[1]
The ships were powered by two 4-cylinder triple-expansion steam engines, each driving one shaft, using steam provided by 18 Babcock & Wilcox (Challenger) or Dürr (Encounter) water-tube boilers. These boilers were heavier and bulkier, but more powerful than the Belleville boilers used in the Highflyer class. Sir William White, Director of Naval Construction, was uncertain if the extra power would offset the weight sufficiently to reach 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) and rated the ships at 20.75 knots (38.43 km/h; 23.88 mph). The boilers were designed to produce enough steam to allow the engines to reach 12,500 indicated horsepower (9,300 kW).[2] The ships easily exceeded their designed power and speeds during their sea trials.[3] They carried a maximum of 1,150 long tons (1,170 t) of coal.[1]
The ships' protective deck armour ranged in thickness from 1.5 to 3 inches (38 to 76 mm). The engine hatches were protected by 5-inch (127 mm) of armour. The main guns were fitted with 3-inch gun shields and the conning tower had armour 6 inches thick.[3]
Chesneau, Roger & Kolesnik, Eugene M., eds. (1979). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. Greenwich: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-8317-0302-4.
Corbett, Julian. Naval Operations to the Battle of the Falklands. History of the Great War: Based on Official Documents. Vol. I (2nd, reprint of the 1938 ed.). London and Nashville, Tennessee: Imperial War Museum and Battery Press. ISBN0-89839-256-X.
Friedman, Norman (2012). British Cruisers of the Victorian Era. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth. ISBN978-1-59114-068-9.
Friedman, Norman (2011). Naval Weapons of World War One. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth. ISBN978-1-84832-100-7.
Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-85177-245-5.
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January 01, 1970
challenger, class, cruiser, were, pair, second, class, protected, cruisers, built, royal, navy, first, decade, 20th, century, ship, encounter, later, transferred, royal, australian, navy, challengerclass, overview, namechallenger, operators, royal, navy, royal. The Challenger class cruisers were a pair of second class protected cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century One ship HMS Encounter was later transferred to the Royal Australian Navy HMS ChallengerClass overview NameChallenger Operators Royal Navy Royal Australian Navy Preceded byHighflyer class Succeeded byTopaze class Built1900 1905 In commission1904 1929 Completed2 Scrapped2 General characteristics as built TypeProtected cruiser Displacement5 880 long tons 5 970 t Length355 ft 108 2 m p p Beam56 ft 17 1 m Draught21 ft 3 in 6 5 m Installed power12 500 ihp 9 300 kW 18 water tube boilers Propulsion2 shafts 2 Triple expansion steam engines Speed21 knots 38 9 km h 24 2 mph Complement490 Armament11 BL 6 inch 152 mm guns 9 QF 12 pounder 12 cwt 3 inch guns Note 1 6 QF 3 pounder 47 mm guns 2 18 inch 450 mm torpedo tubes ArmourDeck 1 5 3 in 38 1 76 2 mm Gun shields 3 in 76 mm Conning tower 6 in 152 mm Contents 1 Design and description 2 Ships 3 Notes 4 Footnotes 5 Bibliography 6 External linksDesign and description editThe Challenger class cruisers were essentially repeats of the previous Highflyer class albeit with more powerful propulsion machinery They were designed to displace 5 880 long tons 5 970 t The ships had a length between perpendiculars of 355 feet 108 2 m a beam of 56 feet 17 1 m and a draught of 21 feet 3 inches 6 5 m Their crew consisted of 490 officers and other ranks 1 The ships were powered by two 4 cylinder triple expansion steam engines each driving one shaft using steam provided by 18 Babcock amp Wilcox Challenger or Durr Encounter water tube boilers These boilers were heavier and bulkier but more powerful than the Belleville boilers used in the Highflyer class Sir William White Director of Naval Construction was uncertain if the extra power would offset the weight sufficiently to reach 21 knots 39 km h 24 mph and rated the ships at 20 75 knots 38 43 km h 23 88 mph The boilers were designed to produce enough steam to allow the engines to reach 12 500 indicated horsepower 9 300 kW 2 The ships easily exceeded their designed power and speeds during their sea trials 3 They carried a maximum of 1 150 long tons 1 170 t of coal 1 The main armament of the Challenger class consisted of 11 quick firing QF 6 inch 152 mm Mk I guns 4 One gun was mounted on the forecastle and two others were positioned on the quarterdeck The remaining eight guns were placed port and starboard amidships 5 They had a maximum range of approximately 10 000 yards 9 100 m with their 100 pound 45 kg shells 6 Eight QF 12 pounder 12 cwt guns were fitted for defence against torpedo boats One additional 12 pounder 8 cwt gun could be dismounted for service ashore 1 They also carried six 3 pounder Hotchkiss guns and two submerged 18 inch 450 mm torpedo tubes 3 The ships protective deck armour ranged in thickness from 1 5 to 3 inches 38 to 76 mm The engine hatches were protected by 5 inch 127 mm of armour The main guns were fitted with 3 inch gun shields and the conning tower had armour 6 inches thick 3 Ships editHMS Challenger Sold 1920 HMS Encounter To Australia in 1912 as HMAS Encounter renamed Penguin 1923 scuttled 1932 Notes edit Cwt is the abbreviation for hundredweight 20 cwt referring to the weight of the gun Footnotes edit a b c Friedman 2012 p 336 Friedman pp 170 71 334 a b c Chesneau amp Kolesnik p 79 Friedman 2011 p 87 Friedman 2012 p 171 Friedman 2011 pp 87 88Bibliography editChesneau Roger amp Kolesnik Eugene M eds 1979 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1860 1905 Greenwich Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 8317 0302 4 Corbett Julian Naval Operations to the Battle of the Falklands History of the Great War Based on Official Documents Vol I 2nd reprint of the 1938 ed London and Nashville Tennessee Imperial War Museum and Battery Press ISBN 0 89839 256 X Friedman Norman 2012 British Cruisers of the Victorian Era Barnsley South Yorkshire UK Seaforth ISBN 978 1 59114 068 9 Friedman Norman 2011 Naval Weapons of World War One Barnsley South Yorkshire UK Seaforth ISBN 978 1 84832 100 7 Gardiner Robert amp Gray Randal eds 1985 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1906 1921 Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 85177 245 5 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Challenger class cruiser Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Challenger class cruiser amp oldid 1134774699, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
