Part of the C-class light cruisers Carlisle subclass consisting of the Cairo, Calcutta, Capetown (ex-Cawnpore) and Colombo. Preceded by the Arethusa-class and succeeded by the Danae-class. This subclass was ordered in June-July 1917 under the War Emergency Programme and differs from the preceding Ceres sub-class by lacking a conning tower and having a raised bow due to the added so-called trawler bow. Laid down by Vickers Limited, Barrow-in-Furness, England on 18 October 1917, launched on 9 July 1918, commissioned on 28 August 1919, converted into an aircraft carrier at the Chatham Dockyard in August 1938-July 1939 and sunk by a German air attack off Alexandria, Egypt on 1 June 1941.
Tons burthen 4.190 tons and as dimensions 137,6 x 13,4 x 4,3 metres or 451.4 x 43.9 x 14 feet. The Parsons geared turbines and Yarrow boilers delivered 40.000 shp allowing with the 2 screws a speed of 29 knots. Fuel oil bunker capacity 300-950 (maximum) tons. Her crew numbered 330-350 men. The armour consisted of 1,5-2,25” (side bows)-2” (side stern)-3” (amidships), 1” upper deck amidships and 1” thick deck above the rudder. The armament consisted of 5x1-15,2cm/6” guns, 2-7,6cm 3” anti aircraft guns, 4-3pd guns, 2-2pd pom pom guns, 1 machinegun and 4x2-21” torpedo tubes. As an aircraft carrier 4x2-10,16cm/ 4” quick firing Mk XVI naval guns, 1x4-2pd pom pom and 2x4-0,50 Vickers machineguns.
