HMS Euryalus (1901)

HMS Euryalus
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Euryalus
NamesakeEuryalus
Ordered1897-98 Programme
BuilderVickers, Sons & Maxim
Laid down18 July 1899
Launched20 May 1901
Sponsored byMrs. Douglas Vickers
Completed5 January 1904
In service1904-1920
Out of service1919
ReclassifiedAs minelayer, 1918
FateSold for scrap, 1 July 1920
General characteristics
Class and typeCressy-class armoured cruiser
Displacement12,000 long tons (12,000 t) (normal)
Length472 ft (143.9 m) (o/a)
Beam69 ft 6 in (21.2 m)
Draught26 ft 9 in (8.2 m) (maximum)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Complement725–760
Armament
Armour

HMS Euryalus was a Cressy-class armoured cruiser built for the Royal Navy around 1900. Badly damaged by multiple accidents while fitting out, she was not completed until 1904. She became flagship of the Australia Station that year and was reduced to reserve upon her return in 1905. Recommissioned in 1906, she became a training ship for the North America and West Indies Station before being placed in reserve with the Third Fleet in 1909.

Recommissioned at the start of World War I, Euryalus was assigned to the 7th Cruiser Squadron. She became flagship of the Southern Force defending the eastern end of the English Channel from any German attack, shortly after the war began. She was present at the Battle of Heligoland Bight a few weeks after the war began, but saw no combat. She was transferred to convoy escort duties in the Bay of Biscay in late 1914, before being sent to Egypt in early 1915. Euryalus was then assigned to support British troops during the Gallipoli Campaign by providing naval gunfire. She covered the landing at Cape Helles in April as well as providing fire support during one subsequent British offensive. She became the flagship of the East Indies Station in January 1916, until relieved in July 1917. Later that year she began a conversion into a minelayer at Hong Kong, but this was still incomplete when the war ended. Euryalus returned home in 1919 and was sold for scrap the following year.
Cite error: There are <ref group=Note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=Note}} template (see the help page).