Copies of the first decade of the twentieth century was for all the sailors of Europe, and the English, in particular, is very tense. The terrible specter of a future war and an elusive championship in the world forced the admirals “mistress of the seas” require for growing, by leaps and bounds, the Grand fleet more ships of all classes, not just battleships. To provide intelligence for action last and to protect them from enemy light forces had the latest high-speed cruisers, and several dozen. In such situation on the foreground the luck incorrectly designed version managed to replicate even before the defects would manifest itself in the service. Fortunately for Britain, at the disposal of designers there was quite a decent naval project leader-scout “Aretusa”. The Admiralty has taken the path of least resistance (in this case it is wise) is ordered by 1913 six more cruisers of the same type, making the project only a small change. A young talented engineer, Stanley Goodall, which was led personally by the shipbuilder to the Navy, Eustace Tennis d Ankort, prepared sketches in just a few days.
It was agreed that a series of new type the letters of the alphabet and units of the program in 1913 got to the third, “si”. Six “Carolyn has given” names beginning with that letter, the benefit in the history of the fleet lacked the appropriate historical ships. But who would have guessed that the series will stretch so much that by the end of it with the new items there will be some problems, although the “si” in the English language, the letter is very common: it starts a large number of words.
The greatest debate was caused by service. Some of the sailors insisted on a uniform of the artillery of the six-inch, while others believed that much more preferable over rapid-chetyrehmetrovy as to cope with a heavy 45-pound “blanks” on the swaying decks of small ships gun workers will be difficult. The result went on the compromise “mixed” way, by installing both the caliber and the number 102-millimetrovogo increased to eight. The most original was the replacement of the bow six-inch gun (available on the “Arethusa”) two four-inch. The main consideration was the high density of fire in the forward sector, which for reasons of admirals “could be useful in the prosecution of the destroyers”. The waste also had two six-inch guns (“legal” food and moved from the nose to the superstructure), and one or two chetyrehmetrovy that was almost equal to the weight of a broadside of the standard German light cruiser. In the case of the enemy’s superiority in forces scout, before leaving, could still “treat” it with heavy fire. I must say that all these tricks are not met with understanding among sailors, who did not like defective nasal volley. After a year or two after the entry into operation a few four-Dujmovic was replaced by the third restituisce. And after a year ashore passed the rest 102-the graph paper setting of the fourth 152-mm gun on the superstructure behind the smokestacks. The vacant place on the deck took two additional twin-tube torpedo tubes, with the result that the number of torpedo tubes has reached eight. At the same time a high forward mast was replaced by tripod, the top of which posted fire control, and anti-aircraft artillery, consisting of only 76 mm gun, greatly increased. So “firstborn of the letter” has acquired a final form and become very similar to their more recent “relatives”. The only disadvantage of such rearmament has become a significant overload, so after the war, the cruiser began to slowly unload
Important changes have affected the forms of the buildings. Although already on the “Arethusa” lines were very perfect, the designers drove a lot of models of different variants of underwater part of “si” in hydraulic canals and achieved outstanding results. The larger ships at the same power mechanisms could develop half knot more than their predecessors! The “passport” of 29 knots is usually able to maintain the service that was provided by the British scouts a slight advantage in running over the cruisers of the enemy — Germany up to the end of the First world war.
Only the first series of “si”, “Caroline” and “sisters” consisted of six units, but at the same time they built a couple more — “Kaliopa” and “champion”, which had almost the same characteristics, but in fact, were experienced by the ships. For the first time on cruisers mounted gear reducer, reducing the angular velocity of the output shafts of the turbines exceeding 300 rpm at full speed, to more optimal to work the screws. “Kaliopa” had four propeller shafts, and the gear was too bulky and heavy but a two-shaft installation “Champion” was considered very successful. As a result, he developed a 29.5 host — a very good indicator by itself, but. importantly, about half a knot more direct drive record sisterships. In addition to such important modifications of the mass, has changed little and appearance. Two front tubes combined into one, wider than the remaining race back. It is this silhouette caught on in the subsequent “Sistah”.
On the fields of Europe was already raging world war, when in late 1914, private firms and the Navy shipyard in Pembroke started to build a following Quartet which became the standard cruisers. By the time “Kaliopa” and “champion” hasn’t even launched, so the Admiralty “blindly” chosen for the “newcomers” chetyrehbalnoy installation with reducer. On the head “Cambrian” managed repeat “protivogelmintnoe” couple 102-millimetrovogo on the forecastle, but the other three immediately got restituisce. This model was the replacement of the surface coupled torpedo tubes on single tube underwater. Shoot from a high angle to the direction of movement of gross proved impossible, even in the middle course, not to mention max combat torpedoes were just broken by the flow of water. In the end, this Quartet has acquired almost the same weapons, and upgraded predecessors.