Armored cruiser

The armored cruiser was a naval cruiser protected by armor on its sides as well as on the decks and gun positions. This class was used from around 1875 until World War I, and in auxiliary roles in the 1930s and even during World War II.

History

The first armored cruiser was the British Shannon (1875). Early armored cruisers had a usual displacement of around 6,000 - 12,000 tons and a speed of 18 to 20 knots (33 to 37 km/h). This type reached its zenith in 1906-1908 with displacements of 14,000-16,000 tons and speeds of 22 to 23 knots (41 to 43 km/h). Typical armament was either 2 or 4 large-calibre guns, usually between 8 and 10 inches (203 to 254 mm), and some dozen guns of 6in (152mm) calibre or similar.

Related Topics:
''Shannon'' - Knot - 1906 - 1908

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For example, the first Russian Ryurik (1895) had 4 x 8 in (203 mm) guns, 16 x 6 in (152 mm) guns and 6 x 4.7 in (120 mm) guns and the French Victor Hugo (1904) had 4 x 9.4 in (194 mm) guns and 16 x 7.5 in (164 mm) guns. The British HMS Monmouth was an exception, with a weak armament of only 14 guns of 6 in (152 mm). The last armored cruisers had a stronger armament, like the British HMS Warrior (1905) - 6 x 9.2 in (234 mm) guns and 4 x 7.5 in (190 mm) guns; the German SMS Blücher (1909) - 12 x 210 mm (8.2 in) guns and 6 x 150 mm (5.9 in) guns; and the second Russian Ryurik (1909, British-built) had 4 x 10 in (254 mm) guns, 8 x 8 in (203 mm) guns, and 20 x 4.7 in (120 mm) guns.

Related Topics:
Russian - Ryurik - HMS ''Monmouth'' - HMS ''Warrior'' - SMS ''Blücher''

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Armored cruisers were the chief combatants in two naval battles: the Battle of Ulsan in the Russo-Japanese War, and the Battle of Coronel in World War I, and played important supporting roles in other battles of the period. On the other hand, the Battle of the Falkland Islands and the Battle of Jutland showed that their armor was insufficient to allow them to take on capital ships. The last armored cruisers were built around 1910, after technological developments allowed the type to evolve alongside battleships by including a uniform main gun armament and increasing their speeds. They were eventually known as battlecruisers.

Related Topics:
Battle of Ulsan - Russo-Japanese War - Battle of Coronel - World War I - Battle of the Falkland Islands - Battle of Jutland - 1910 - Battleship - Battlecruiser

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One armored cruiser still exists: Giorgios Averoff, preserved as a museum in Greece.

Related Topics:
''Giorgios Averoff'' - Greece

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