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 Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Scotland on 2 October 1917, launched on 9 July 1918, commissioned on 11 November 1918, refitted between 1921-1929, converted into an anti-aircraft cruiser in 1940, base ship at Alexandra, Egypt in March 1944, hulk at Alexandria, Egypt in 1948, sold on 5 April and finally broken up at Alexandria in 1949. Originally fitted out with a hander below the bridge as planned that she was to take aircraft with her with however never ws executed. The hangar was later removed.
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 and 1x4-2pd pom pom.
