Emerald-class cruiser

HMS Emerald
Class overview
NameEmerald class
Operators Royal Navy
Preceded byDanae class
Succeeded byLeander class
In commission1926–1948
Planned3
Completed2
Cancelled1
Retired2
General characteristics
TypeLight cruiser
Displacement
  • 7,580 tons standard
  • 9,435 tons full
Length570 ft (173.7 m)
Beam54.5 ft (16.6 m)
Draught16.5 ft (5.0 m)
Installed power80,000 shp (60,000 kW)
Propulsion
Speed33 kn (61 km/h; 38 mph)
Range
  • 1,350 nmi (2,500 km; 1,550 mi) at 32 kn (59 km/h; 37 mph)
  • 8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Endurance1,746 tons fuel oil
Complement572
Armament
Armour
  • Original configuration:
  • Sides
    • 3 in (76 mm) amidships
    • 2.5–1.5 in (64–38 mm) bow
    • 2 in (51 mm) stern
  • Deck: 1 in (25 mm)
Aircraft carried1 × aircraft (later removed)
Aviation facilities1 × catapult (later removed)

The Emerald class or E class was a class of two light cruisers built for the Royal Navy. Following the Cavendish class, three ships of a new class were ordered in March 1918, towards the end of World War I, designed to emphasise high speed at the cost of other qualities, for use against rumoured new high-speed German cruisers – like the Brummer class – and particularly minelayers, in the North Sea. The third ship was cancelled in November 1918.