Emerald-class cruiser

HMS Emerald
Class overview
Name	Emerald class
Operators	Royal Navy
Preceded by	Danae class
Succeeded by	Leander class
In commission	1926–1948
Planned	3
Completed	2
Cancelled	1
Retired	2
General characteristics
Type	Light cruiser
Displacement	7,580 tons standard 9,435 tons full
Length	570 ft (173.7 m)
Beam	54.5 ft (16.6 m)
Draught	16.5 ft (5.0 m)
Installed power	80,000 shp (60,000 kW)
Propulsion	Eight Yarrow-type water-tube boilers Four shaft Brown-Curtis single-reduction geared turbines
Speed	33 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)
Endurance	1,746 tons fuel oil
Complement	572
Armament	Emerald: 7 × BL 6 in (152 mm) L/45 Mk XII guns in single mounts CP Mk.XIV Enterprise: 2 × BL 6 in (152 mm) L/50 Mk XXIII guns in twin mount Mk.XXI 5 × BL 6 in (152 mm) L/45 Mk XII guns in single mounts CP Mk.XIV 3 × single QF 4 in L/45 (102 mm) Mk.V anti-aircraft guns in mount HA Mk.III, 2 × QF 2 pounder pom-pom (40 mm) Mk.II guns 9 × smaller guns 4 × quad tubes for 21 in (533 mm) torpedoes Mk.IX
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 carried	1 × aircraft (later removed)
Aviation facilities	1 × 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.