 HMS Blonde at anchor
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Blonde class |
| Builders | Pembroke Dockyard |
| Operators |  Royal Navy |
| Preceded by | Boadicea class |
| Succeeded by | Active class |
| Built | 1909–1911 |
| In commission | 1910–1921 |
| Completed | 2 |
| Scrapped | 2 |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Type | Scout cruiser |
| Displacement | 3,350 long tons (3,400 t) |
| Length | 406 ft (123.7 m) (o/a) |
| Beam | 41 ft 6 in (12.6 m) |
| Draught | 15 ft 6 in (4.7 m) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed | 24.5 knots (45.4 km/h; 28.2 mph) |
| Range | 4,100 nmi (7,600 km; 4,700 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Complement | 314 |
| Armament |
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| Armour |
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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.