British protected cruiser 1st class HMS Theseus 1892-1921

Blake-class

Edgar-class

Powerful-class

Part of the Edgar-class consisting of the Edgar, Hawke, Endymion, Royal Arthur (ex-Centaur), Gibraltar, Grafton, St. George, Theseus and Crescent, preceded by the Blake-class and succeeded by the Powerful-class. Built under the Naval Defence Act of 1889. Laid down by Thames Ironworks, Leamouth, England on 16 July 1890, launched on 8 September 1892, commissioned on 14 January 1894, rearmed and fitted out with bulges after October 1914 and broken up in Germany in 1921.

Displacement 7.770 tons and as dimensions 118,1 x 18 x 7,3 metres or 387.5 x 60 x 24 feet. Coal fired machinery consisted of 2-2 cylinder vertical triple steam expansion engines and 4 double ended cylindrical boilers supplying 12.000hp allowing a speed 20 knots and with a speed of 10 knots a range of 10.000 nautical miles. Crew numbered 544 men. Armament consisted of 2x1-23,37cm/9.2” inch breech loading Mk VI guns, 10x1-5,24cm/6” quick firing guns, 12x1-6pd guns, 5x1-3pd guns and 4-45,72cm/18“ torpedo tubes. Armour consisted of a 7,6cm/3”-12,7cm/5” deck with the casemate protected by 15,2cm/6” thick armour and the main guns by 7,6cm/3” thick shields and the conning tower by 25,4cm/10”.