HMS Adventure (M23)

Adventure in February 1943
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Adventure
Ordered18 July 1921
BuilderVickers Limited, Barrow-in-Furness & Devonport Royal Dockyard
Laid down29 November 1922
Launched18 June 1924
Commissioned2 October 1926
ReclassifiedRepair ship 1944
FateSold for scrapping, 1947
General characteristics
TypeMinelaying cruiser
Displacement
  • 6,740 long tons (6,848 t) (standard)
  • 8,370 long tons (8,504 t) (full load)
Length
  • 500 ft (152.4 m) p/p
  • 539 ft (164.3 m) o/a
Beam59 ft (18.0 m) over bulges
Draught14 ft 6 in (4.42 m), 17 ft 3 in (5.26 m) full load
Installed power
  • 40,000 shp (30,000 kW) (steam turbines)
  • 9,200 hp (6,900 kW) (diesel engines)
  • 6,600 kW (alternators)
  • 8,000 hp (6,000 kW) (electric motors)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 27.75 knots (51.39 km/h; 31.93 mph) on steam turbines
  • 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) on diesels
Range
  • 4,500 nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
  • 1,820 nmi (3,370 km; 2,090 mi) at 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Complement395 (560 wartime)
Armament4 × QF 4.7-in Mark VIII on single mounting HA Mark XII, 4 × QF 2-pounder Mk.II on single mounts HA Mk.II, later; 8 × QF 2-pounder Mk.VIII on octuple mount HA Mk.VIII, 8 × .5 in (13 mm) Vickers machine guns on quadruple mounts Mk.I, later; 9 × 20 mm Oerlikon guns on single mounts P Mk.III, 280 (large pattern) - 340 (small pattern) mines

HMS Adventure, pennant number M23, was an Adventure-class minelaying cruiser of the Royal Navy built in the 1920s that saw service during the Second World War. Her commander between 1928 and 1929 was the future First Sea Lord John H. D. Cunningham. Laid down at Devonport in November 1922 and launched in June 1924, Adventure was the first vessel built for service as a minelayer; she was also the first warship to use diesel engines, which were used for cruising. Adventure first joined the Atlantic Fleet, then was transferred to the China Station in 1935. In World War II, the ship was damaged in 1941 and 1944, and was converted to a landing craft repair in 1944. In 1945 Adventure was reduced to reserve and in 1947 she was sold and broken up for scrap.