HMS Blanche (1909)
Blanche at anchor
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| History | |
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 United Kingdom
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| Name: | HMS Blanche |
| Builder: | Pembroke Royal Dockyard |
| Laid down: | 12 April 1909 |
| Launched: | 25 November 1909 |
| Completed: | November 1910 |
| Decommissioned: | 1919 |
| Fate: | Sold for scrap, 27 July 1921 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Blonde-class scout cruiser |
| Displacement: | 3,350 long tons (3,400 t) (normal) |
| Length: | 406 ft (123.7 m) (o/a) |
| Beam: | 41 ft 6 in (12.6 m) |
| Draught: | 14 ft 3 in (4.3 m) |
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| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) |
| Complement: | 317 |
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| Armour: |
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HMS Blanche was the second of two Blonde-class scout cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. She led the 1st Destroyer Flotilla from completion until 1912 and was then briefly transferred to the 4th Destroyer Flotilla before the ship was assigned to the 3rd Battle Squadron in 1913. During World War I, Blanche was assigned to several different battleship squadrons of the Grand Fleet. She was present at, but did not fight in, the Battle of Jutland in mid-1916. The ship was converted into a minelayer in early 1917 and made 16 sorties to lay mines during the war. Blanche was paid off in 1919 and sold for scrap in 1921.
Designed to provide destroyer flotillas with a command ship capable of outclassing enemy destroyers with her 10 four-inch (102 mm) guns, Blanche proved too slow in service from the start of her career. Her 25-knot (46 km/h; 29 mph) speed was inadequate to match the 27-to-30-knot (50 to 56 km/h; 31 to 35 mph) speeds of the destroyers she led in her flotilla.
Displacing 3,350 long tons (3,400 t), the ship had an overall length of 406 feet (123.7 m), a beam of 41 feet 6 inches (12.6 m) and a deep draught of 14 feet 3 inches (4.3 m). She was powered by four Parsons steam turbines, each driving one shaft. The turbines produced a total of 18,000 indicated horsepower (13,000 kW), using steam produced by 12 Yarrow boilers, and gave a maximum speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph). She carried a maximum of 780 long tons (790 t) of coal and 189 long tons (192 t) of fuel oil. Her crew consisted of 314 officers and enlisted men.
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