Part of the Cressy-class armoured cruisers consisting of the Cressy, Aboukir, Sutlej, Hogue, Baccante and Euryalus, preceded by the Diadem-class and succeeded by the Drake-class. Laid down by Fairfield Shipbuilding, Govan, Scotland on 9 November 1898, launched on 16 May 1900, completed on 3 April 1902 and sunk by the German submarine U-9 off the Dutch coast on 22 September 1914.
Displacement 12.000 tons and as dimensions 143,9 (over all) x 21,2 x 8,2 (maximum) metres. Machinery consisted of 2-4 cylinder triple expansion steam engines and 30 Belleville boilers delivering 21.000ihp via 2 shafts allowing a speed of 21 knots. Her crew numbered 725-760 men. Armour consisted of a 5,1cm/2”-15,2cm/6” thick belt, 2,5cm/1”- 7,6cm/3” thick decks, 12,7cm/5” thick bulkheads with the barbettes, gun turrets and conning tower protected by respectively 15,2cm/6”, 15,2cm/6” and 30,5cm/12” thick armour. Armament consisted of 2x1-23,4cm/9.2” Mk X breech loading guns, 12x1-15,2cm/6” Mk VII breech loading guns, 12x1-7,6cm/3”/12pd 12cwt quick firing guns, 3-4,7cm/1.6”/3pd Hotchkiss guns and 2x45cm/18” submerged torpedo tubes.
