Ron van Maanen
Pennant number 12. Her building at the Portsmouth Dockyard was ordered on 1 March 1935, she was laid down on 23 July of the same year, launched in 20 August 1936, completed in November 1937 and commissioned on 12 November that month. She was sold on 19 May 1948 to Nationalist China and commissioned as the Chung King. When her crew choose the side of the Chinese Communists in 25 February 1949 was she renamed Tchounk King. A month later was sunk by a National aircraft attack in the Taku harbour. Russia assisted with the salvage but she was completely stripped as a repayment and her empty hulk was used as floating accommodation and warehouse. Since her salvage was she renamed Hsunag Ho (1951), Pei Ching (in the same year) and finally Kuang Chou.
Of the Arethusa-class a smaller edition of the Amphion was preceded by the Leander-class and succeeded by the Town-class. Of the originally six planned units were just four realized, the building of two ships was cancelled. Her sister ships were the Penelope, Arethusa and Galatea.
With a displacement of 5,220 (standard load)-6,665 (full load) tons and as dimensions 154 x 16 x 4,3 metres or 506 x 51 x 14 feet. The four parsons geared turbines and the four Admiralty 3-drum oil-fired boilers supplied via four shafts 64,000 shp allowing a speed of 32 knots. She had a bunker oil capacity of 1,325 tons. Her crew in British service numbered 500 men. She was slightly armoured with a 2.25” thick belt and deck, turrets and bulkheads with 1” thickness armour and the magazine protected by 1-3” armour. The original armament consisted of 3x2-6” guns, 4x1-4” anti aircraft guns, 2-4cm pom pom quad aircraft guns, 3x1-2cm Oerlikon anti aircraft guns, 2-0.5” quadruple machine guns and 2x3-21” torpedo tubes. The armament was later changed.
