Arethusa in 1914
History
United Kingdom
Name	HMSArethusa
Namesake	Arethusa
Builder	Chatham Dockyard
Laid down	28 October 1912
Launched	25 October 1913
Commissioned	August 1914
Identification	Pennant number: 3C[1]
Fate	Damaged by mine, laid bySM UC-7, on 11 February 1916 and wrecked
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type	Arethusa-classlight cruiser
Displacement	3,512long tons (3,568 t)
Length	410 ft (125.0 m)p/p 436 ft (132.9 m)o/a
Beam	39 ft (11.9 m)
Draught	15 ft 7 in (4.75 m) (mean,deep load)
Installed power	40,000 shp (30,000 kW) 8 ×Yarrow boilers
Propulsion	4 × shafts; 4 ×steam turbines
Speed	28.5knots (52.8 km/h; 32.8 mph)
Range	3,200 nmi (5,900 km; 3,700 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Capacity	840 long tons (853 t)fuel oil
Complement	270
Armament	2 × singleBL 6 in (152 mm) Mk XII guns 6 × singleQF 4 in (102 mm) Mk V guns 1 × singleQF 3-pounder 47 mm (1.9 in)anti-aircraft gun 4 ×21 in (533 mm)torpedo tubes
Armour	Waterline belt: 1–3 in (25–76 mm) Deck: 1 in (25 mm)

HMSArethusa was thename ship ofher class of eightlight cruisers built for theRoyal Navy in the 1910s. She saw a considerable amount of action during the early years of theFirst World War, participating in theBattle of Heligoland Bight and theBattle of Dogger Bank.

TheArethusa-class cruisers were intended to leaddestroyerflotillas and defend the fleet against attacks by enemy destroyers. The ships were 456 feet 6 inches (139.1 m)long overall, with abeam of 49 feet 10 inches (15.2 m) and a deepdraught of 15 feet 3 inches (4.6 m).Displacement was 5,185long tons (5,268 t) at normal^[2] and 5,795 long tons (5,888 t) at full load.Arethusa was powered by fourBrown-Curtis steam turbines, each driving onepropeller shaft, which produced a total of 40,000shaft horsepower (30,000 kW). The turbines used steam generated by eightYarrow boilers which gave her a speed of about 28.5knots (52.8 km/h; 32.8 mph).^[3] She carried 840 long tons (853 t) offuel oil^[2] that gave a range of 3,200nautical miles (5,900 km; 3,700 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).^[4]

The main armament of theArethusa-class ships consisted of twoBL 6-inch (152 mm) Mk XII guns that were mounted on the centreline fore and aft of thesuperstructure and sixQF 4-inch (102 mm) Mk V guns in waist mountings. They were also fitted with a singleQF 3-pounder 47 mm (1.9 in)anti-aircraft gun and four21-inch (533 mm)torpedo tubes in two twin mounts.^[3]

She was laid down atChatham Dockyard in October 1912, launched on 25 October 1913, and commissioned in August 1914 as flotilla leader for theHarwich Force. On 28 August 1914, she fought at the Battle of Heligoland Bight, flying the flag ofCommodore Reginald Tyrwhitt. She was seriously damaged by the German cruisersSMS Frauenlob andStettin and had to be towed home. On 25 December,Arethusa took part in theCuxhaven Raid and on 24 January 1915 she fought at theBattle of Dogger Bank. Later in the same year, she was transferred to the5th Light Cruiser Squadron of the Harwich Force. In September 1915, she captured four German trawlers. On11 February 1916, she struck a mine offFelixstowe, drifted onto ashoal while under tow, and broke her back.^[5] Approximately near Harwich (51.925, 1.295)^[6][7]

One of the four relief panels onBrierley Hill War Memorial, in Dudley, England, depictsArethusa sending out its boats to rescue German sailors from a ship it had sunk.^[8]

One ofArethusa's 4-inch guns was salvaged from the wreck on 27 March 1916. It was fitted to the yachtVittoria, serving as aminesweeper, until 27 February 1918. It was then taken on by thedrill shipHMSSatellite on 25 September 1920, where it was used in anti-submarine training until the beginning of theSecond World War. It was presented by the shipbreaking firm J. G. Potts to the Armstrong & Aviation Museum atBamburgh Castle on 16 February 1948, where it remains as of 2024.^[9]

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969].Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing.ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
• Corbett, Julian (March 1997).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.
• Corbett, Julian (1997).Naval Operations. History of the Great War: Based on Official Documents. Vol. II (reprint of the 1929 second ed.). London and Nashville, Tennessee: Imperial War Museum in association with the Battery Press.ISBN 1-870423-74-7.
• Friedman, Norman (2010).British Cruisers: Two World Wars and After. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth.ISBN 978-1-59114-078-8.
• Friedman, Norman (2011).Naval Weapons of World War One. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth.ISBN 978-1-84832-100-7.
• Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985).Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
• Newbolt, Henry (1996).Naval Operations. History of the Great War Based on Official Documents. Vol. V (reprint of the 1931 ed.). Nashville, Tennessee: Battery Press.ISBN 0-89839-255-1.
• Pearsall, Alan (1984). "Arethusa Class Cruisers, Part I".Warship.VIII. London: Conway Maritime Press:203–11.ISBN 0-87021-983-9.
• Pearsall, Alan (1984). "Arethusa Class Cruisers, Part II".Warship.VIII. London: Conway Maritime Press:258–65.ISBN 0-87021-983-9.

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53°58′N6°42′E / 53.967°N 6.700°E /53.967; 6.700

• 1913 ships
• Arethusa-class cruisers (1913)
• Ships built in Chatham
• Ships sunk by mines
• World War I cruisers of the United Kingdom
• World War I shipwrecks in the North Sea

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