HMS Blanche (1909)

Blanche at anchor
History
Royal Navy EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Blanche
BuilderPembroke Royal Dockyard
Laid down12 April 1909
Launched25 November 1909
CompletedNovember 1910
Decommissioned1919
FateSold for scrap, 27 July 1921
General characteristics
Class and typeBlonde-class scout cruiser
Displacement3,350 long tons (3,400 t) (normal)
Length406 ft (123.7 m) (o/a)
Beam41 ft 6 in (12.6 m)
Draught14 ft 3 in (4.3 m)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Complement317
Armament
Armour

HMS Blanche was the second of two Blonde-class scout cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. She led the 1st Destroyer Flotilla from completion until 1912 and was then briefly transferred to the 4th Destroyer Flotilla before the ship was assigned to the 3rd Battle Squadron in 1913. During World War I, Blanche was assigned to several different battleship squadrons of the Grand Fleet. She was present at, but did not fight in, the Battle of Jutland in mid-1916. The ship was converted into a minelayer in early 1917 and made 16 sorties to lay mines during the war. Blanche was paid off in 1919 and sold for scrap in 1921.