Blonde-class cruiser

HMS Blonde at anchor
Class overview
NameBlonde class
BuildersPembroke Dockyard
Operators Royal Navy
Preceded byBoadicea class
Succeeded byActive class
Built1909–1911
In commission1910–1921
Completed2
Scrapped2
General characteristics (as built)
TypeScout cruiser
Displacement3,350 long tons (3,400 t)
Length406 ft (123.7 m) (o/a)
Beam41 ft 6 in (12.6 m)
Draught15 ft 6 in (4.7 m)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed24.5 knots (45.4 km/h; 28.2 mph)
Range4,100 nmi (7,600 km; 4,700 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement314
Armament
Armour

The Blonde-class cruisers were a pair of scout cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. Upon completion in 1910–11, they served as flotilla leaders for destroyer flotillas of the First Fleet until 1913 when they were assigned to battleship squadrons. When the First World War began in August 1914, they remained with their squadrons as the First Fleet was incorporated into the Grand Fleet, although they changed squadrons over the course of the war. Blonde did not participate in the Battle of Jutland in mid-1916, unlike her sister ship, Blanche, which did, but never fired a shot. They were converted into minelayers the following year, but only Blanche actually laid mines. The sisters were reduced to reserve in 1919 and sold for scrap in 1920–1921.