Town-class cruiser (1936)

Liverpool in 1942
Class overview
NameTown class
Operators Royal Navy
Preceded byArethusa class
Succeeded by
Subclasses
  • Southampton
  • Gloucester
  • Edinburgh
Built1934–1939
In commission1937–1963
Completed10
Lost4
Retired5
Preserved1
General characteristics
Class and typeLight cruiser
Displacement
  • Southampton class: 11,540 long tons (11,730 t)
  • Gloucester class: 11,930 long tons (12,120 t)
  • Edinburgh class: 13,175 long tons (13,386 t)
Length
  • Southampton and Gloucester classes: 591 ft 7.2 in (180.3 m)
  • Edinburgh class: 613 ft 7.2 in (187.0 m)
Beam
  • Southampton class: 62 ft 3.6 in (19.0 m)
  • Gloucester and Edinburgh classes: 64 ft 10.8 in (19.8 m)
Draught
  • Southampton class: 20 ft (6.10 m)
  • Gloucester class: 20 ft 7.2 in (6.28 m)
  • Edinburgh class: 22 ft 7.2 in (6.89 m)
Installed power
Propulsion4 × shafts; 4 × steam turbines
Speed
  • Southampton class:32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)
  • Gloucester and Edinburgh classes:32.25 knots (59.73 km/h; 37.11 mph)
Range5,300 nmi (9,800 km; 6,100 mi) at 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph)
Complement750
Armament
Aircraft carried2 × Supermarine Walrus flying boats (removed in the latter part of WWII)
Aviation facilities1 × catapult

The Town class consisted of 10 light cruisers built for the Royal Navy during the 1930s. The Towns were designed within the constraints of the London Naval Treaty of 1930. The ships were built in the sub-classes, Southampton, Gloucester and Edinburgh, each sub-class adding more weaponry.