HMS BOADICEA was the lead ship of the Boadicea-class scout cruisers which served with the British Royal Navy. She was built at Pembroke Dockyard, being laid down in June 1907, launched on 14 May 1908 and commissioned in June 1909.
She joined the Grand Fleet in Scapa Flow at the start of hostilities in the First World War and was attached to the Second Battle Squadron. Further shortcomings were exposed as she proved unable to take the rough conditions in the North Sea, losing her bridge on 15 December 1914, with several men drowned. She then had to return to port while her Squadron chased German raiders off the Yorkshire coast in December 1914.
HMS BOADICEA was rearmed in 1916, with four additional 4 in (100 mm) guns and a 3 in (76 mm) anti-aircraft gun, which was upgraded to a 4 in (100 mm) weapon before the end of the war. HMS BOADICEA was at the Battle of Jutland but took no part in the fighting, being judged too light in armour and firepower to engage the enemy. She actually spotted the German fleet the night after the battle, but her report was not passed to Admiral John Jellicoe for fear of giving away the position of the British Fleet.
She was converted to mine laying duties in December 1917 and completed three missions in that role, laying 184 mines. She operated in Dartmouth harbour from January 1921, until being sold for scrap on 13 July 1926 to be broken up at Alloa, Rosyth.
Builder: Pembroke Dockyard
Laid down: 1 June 1907
Launched: 14 May 1908
Commissioned: June 1909
Fate: Sold 13 July 1926
General characteristics
Displacement: 3,300 long tons (3,400 t) (normal); 3,800 long tons (3,900 t) (deep load)
Length: 385 ft (117 m) (p/p); 405 ft (123 m) (o/a)
Beam: 41 ft (12 m)
Draught: 13.5 ft (4.1 m) (mean); 14 ft (4.3 m) (maximum)
Installed power: 18,536 shp (13,822 kW) (trials); 18,000 shp (13,000 kW) (service)
Propulsion: 4 × Parsons turbines,
12 × Yarrow boilers,
4 × shafts
Speed: 25.5 kn (29.3 mph; 47.2 km/h) (trials); 25 kn (29 mph; 46 km/h) (service)
Capacity: Coal: 450 tons (normal), 855 tons (maximum); Fuel Oil: 200 tons
Complement: 317
Armament: As Built:
6 × BL 4 in (100 mm)/50 cal Mk VII guns (6x1)
4 × 3-pounder (47 mm (1.9 in)) guns
1 × 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine gun
2 × 18 in (460 mm) torpedo tubes
1916:
10 × 4 in (100 mm)/50 cal Mk VII guns (10x1)
1 × 3 in (76 mm) AA gun (later replaced with a 4 in (100 mm) gun)
4 × 3-pounder (47 mm (1.9 in)) guns
1 × 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine gun
2 × 18 in (460 mm) torpedo tubes
Armour: Deck: 1 in (25 mm)
Conning Tower: 4 in (100 mm)
Delandre label
Sources and links: Wikipedia.
Peter Crichton
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