HMS BLANCHE was a Blonde class scout cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was laid down in December 1909 at Pembroke Dockyard, launched on 25 November 1909 and completed in November 1910.
August 1914 she joined the Grand Fleet, and was attached to the Third Battle Squadron at Rosyth. In December 1914 she was away from the squadron, and was allocated to the force dispatched to deal with the German fleet that bombarded the Yorkshire Coast on 16 December. She was found to be too light to operate in the North Sea in winter, and was forced to turn back after she was disabled by heavy seas off the east coast of Scotland. In February 1916 HMS BLANCHE was one of three ships dispatched to guard the Norwegian coast during the hunt for the German raider SMS Greif, although she did not come into contact with the German ship before she was sunk.
HMS BLANCHE was present at the Battle of Jutland whilst attached to the Fourth Battle Squadron. She did not see action though, as the four attached light cruisers were sent to the rear to keep them out of danger. In March 1917 HMS BLANCHE was converted into a minelayer in March 1917 and laid 1,238 mines on 16 sorties. During this later part of her career, she was commanded by Reginald Drax, later to become an Admiral. Outdated and surplus to requirements after the war, HMS BLANCHE was sold for scrap on 27 July 1921 and broken up by Fryer, of Sunderland.
Name: HMS BLANCHE
Builder: Pembroke Dockyard
Laid down: 12 April 1909
Launched: 25 November 1909
Commissioned: November 1910
Fate: Sold 27 July 1921
General characteristics
Displacement: 3,350 tons normal
3,850 tons deep load
Length: 385 ft (117 m) (p/p)
405 ft (123 m) (o/a)
Beam: 41½ ft
Draught: 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m)
Propulsion: 12 Yarrow boilers
Parsons turbines
Four shafts
18,000 shp
Speed: 24.5 knots
Range: Carried 450 tons coal (780 tons max)
190 tons fuel oil
Complement: 314
Armament: 10 x BL 4-inch (101.6 mm) 50cal Mk VII guns (10 x 1)
Four x 3 pounder (4 x 1) guns
Two x 21 in Torpedo Tubes
Armour: conning tower: 4 inch
deck: 1.5 inch
Delandre label
Sources and links: Wikipedia.
Peter Crichton
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