Danae
Class overview
Name	Danae class
Builders	Armstrong Whitworth (3) Fairfield Shipbuilding (1) Palmers Shipbuilding (1) Scotts Shipbuilding (2) Vickers Limited (1)
Operators	Royal Navy  Polish Navy
Preceded by	C class
Succeeded by	Emerald class
In commission	1918–1946
Planned	12
Completed	8
Cancelled	4
Lost	3
General characteristics
Type	Light cruiser
Displacement	4,850 tons standard 5,925 tons full
Length	445 ft (135.6 m) (p/p) 472.5 ft (144.0 m) (o/a)
Beam	46.5 ft (14.2 m) (47 ft (14 m) inDespatch andDiomede)
Draught	14.5 ft (4.4 m) (16.5 ft (5.0 m) full)
Propulsion	SixYarrow-typewater-tube boilers Parsons (Brown-Curtis inDauntless,Diomede) gearedsteam turbines Two shafts 40,000 shp (30,000 kW)
Speed	29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph) (27 knots full)
Range	2,300 nmi (4,260 km) at 27 knots (50.0 km/h)
Complement	450 / 469 war
Armament	6 ×BL 6-inch (152.4 mm) L/45 Mark XII guns on single mountings CP Mark XIV (Diomede 1 × mount CP Mk.XVI) 2 ×QF 3 inch 20 cwt L/45 Mk.I on mounts HA Mk.II 2 ×QF 2-pounder L/39 Mk.II on mounts HA Mk.II 4 × triple tubes for21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes
Armour	Main belt: 1.5–2.25 in (38–57 mm) forward 3 in (76 mm) amidships 2.25–2 in (57–51 mm) aft Upper deck:1 in (25 mm) over machinery Main deck: 1 in over steering gear Gunshields: 1 in

TheDanae orD class consisted of eightlight cruisers built for theRoyal Navy at the end ofWorld War I which also saw service inWorld War II.

TheDanaes were based on the design of the precedingC class series, but were lengthened by 20 feet (6 m) to allow a sixth 6-inch (152 mm) gun to be worked in between the bridge and the fore funnel. This gave an 'A', 'B', 'P', 'Q', 'X', 'Y' arrangement. Additionally, the twintorpedo tubes in the C class were replaced by triples, giving theDanaes a total of twelve tubes, the heaviest torpedo armament for a cruiser at the time. Machinery and general layout was otherwise the same as theCeres group of C-class cruisers. However,Danae,Dauntless andDragon were ordered before theCapetown group, and therefore did not incorporate the improved bow design of the latter; the C class werevery wet forwards, and in theCapetownssheer was increased forwards into a knuckled "trawler bow". Such was the success of the knuckled bow that it was incorporated into all subsequent British cruisers (exceptBirmingham of 1935 which was completed without).Despatch andDiomede had their beam increased by ½ foot to increase stability andDragon andDauntless were completed with a hangar for afloatplane built into the bridge, the compass platform being on top.Delhi,Dunedin,Durban,Despatch andDiomede were provided withflying-off platforms for a wheeled aircraft aft.Despatch andDiomede were completed with 4 inchanti-aircraft (A/A) gunsvis 12 pounder (3 inch) guns in their sisters andDiomede had 'A' gun shipped in a weatherproof housing CP Mark XVI, an encouraging development for gun crews hitherto exposed to the worst of the elements on thefo'c'sle.

The lessons of theBattle of Jutland were applied and protection was improved in detail. Additional torpedo tubes were installed anddepth charge throwers were also included. The Mk XII 6-inch (152 mm) gun was retained but, inDiomede, a new prototype gun house (allowing greaterelevation) was used and found to be most satisfactory.

Inter-war, all ships had their anti-aircraft armament standardised as threeQF 4 inch Mark V guns on mountings HA Mark III, with aQF 2 pdr Mk.II gun in each bridge wing. All aircraft equipment were removed andDragon andDauntless had their bridges rebuilt along the lines of the rest of the class.

Early modifications in World War II included the addition ofRadar Type 286 air warning at the foremast head and, later,Type 273 centimetric target indication set on the searchlight platform amidships. Between 6 and 820 mm Oerlikon guns were generally added, replacing the old 2 pounder guns in the bridge wings, on either side of 'P' and 'Q' guns and on thequarterdeck. In 1942,Dauntless (and in 1943,Danae) had the aft 4 inch A/A gun replaced by a quadruple mounting Mark VII for the 2 pounder Mark VIII gun and in 1943,Danae andDragon had 'P' gun and the forward pair of 4-inch (102 mm) guns replaced by two such mountings and theirRadar Type 282 equipped directors.Dragon andDanae were taken in hand again in 1943 and had the aft 4 inch / 2 pounder mountings replaced by a twin Mounting Mark XIX for theQF 4 inch Mark XVI gun.Danae also received twin in lieu of single Oerlikon mounts and later received a pair of singleBofors 40 mm guns.Diomede landed her torpedo tubes in 1943 and received one twin mount "Hazemeyer" Mark IV and two single mounts Mark III for Bofors guns.

Between 1941 and 1942,Delhi was rebuilt in theUnited States as an anti-aircraft vessel. All armaments were removed, and five5 inch L/38 Mark 12 guns in Mark 30 single mountings were added, controlled by a pair of Mark 37 Fire Control Systems. The guns were in all but the former 'P' position. She carried a new bridge and stepped light tripod masts fore and aft, carryingType 291 air warning radar. A Type 273 target indication radar was added amidships and aType 285 on the Mark 37 FCS for target ranging and bearings. The light armament consisted of two quadruple 2 pounder mounts Mark VII and their directors with Radar Type 282, a pair of twin Oerlikon mounts Mark V in the bridge wings and six single Mark III Oerlikon pedestal mounts.

Dragon andDurban were expended as breakwaters in support of theNormandy landings in June 1944,Dragon being replaced in Polish service by theDanae (as ORPConrad) andDespatch was disarmed as a depot ship.

Three ships were ordered in Sep 1916 under the War Emergency Programme:

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This article includes alist of references,related reading, orexternal links,but its sources remain unclear because it lacksinline citations. Please helpimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(April 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

• Campbell, N.J.M. (1980). "Great Britain". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.).Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. New York: Mayflower Books. pp. 2–85.ISBN 0-8317-0303-2.
• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969].Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of All Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy from the 15th Century to the Present (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing.ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.OCLC 67375475.
• Friedman, Norman (2010).British Cruisers: Two World Wars and After. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing.ISBN 978-1-59114-078-8.
• Friedman, Norman (2011).Naval Weapons of World War One: Guns, Torpedoes, Mines and ASW Weapons of All Nations; An Illustrated Directory. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing.ISBN 978-1-84832-100-7.
• Lenton, H. T. (1998).British & Empire Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN 1-55750-048-7.
• Preston, Antony (1985). "Great Britain and Empire Forces". In Gray, Randal (ed.).Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 1–104.ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
• Raven, Alan & Roberts, John (1980).British Cruisers of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN 0-87021-922-7.
• Rohwer, Jürgen (2005).Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
• Whitley, M. J. (1995).Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. London: Cassell.ISBN 1-86019-874-0.

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