Blake-class cruiser

The Blake class was a two-ship class of first-class protected cruiser built around 1890 for the Royal Navy.

Design
The Blake class were designed under the supervision of William White, shortly after he had become Director of Naval Construction. They were planned to combine the roles of trade protection with the ability to operate with the fleet when required. As such, the design requirement combined high speed and long range. Unlike the previous class of first-class cruisers for the Royal Navy, the Orlando class, the new class were protected cruisers, with protection provided by a full-length armoured deck with no side armour. They were the first class of first-class cruisers built for the Royal Navy.

Main gun armament was similar to that of the Orlandos, consisting of two 9.2 in Mark VI breech loading guns mounted in single mounts fore and aft on the ship's centreline, and ten 6 in (152 mm) QF guns, of which six were mounted in single mounts on the ships' top deck and the remaining four mounted behind armoured casemates on the ships' main deck. Secondary armament consisted on sixteen 3 pounder guns. Four 14 inch torpedo tubes completed the ships' armament, with two submerged tubes and two above the waterline. The arched armoured deck was at approximately the level of the waterline, with a thickness of 3 in at the centre and 6 in at the sides, while the ships' conning tower was protected by 12 in of armour. The 9.2 inch guns were behind 4.5 in gunshields while the casemates protecting the main deck 6 inch guns were 6 inch thick.

Machinery consisted of 4 three-cylinder triple expansion engines fed by six double-ended cylindrical boilers and driving two shafts. The engines generated 13000 ihp under natural draught and 20000 ihp with forced draught, giving a speed of 22 kn with forced draught and 20 kn with natural draught. The forward two engines could be disconnected for longer endurance at low speeds. 1800 LT of coal could be carried, double the fuel of the Orlandos, giving a range of 10000 nmi at 10 kn, which was much less than the 15000 nmi expected.

Service
The two ships were obsolete by the outbreak of the First World War, and served as depot ships. HMS Blenheim had the more active career, supporting the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at the Battle of Gallipoli, and repatriating three dignitaries to their home countries after their deaths abroad. They were Prince Henry of Battenberg and former Canadian Prime Ministers Sir John Thompson and Sir Charles Tupper.

Building Programme
The following table gives the build details and purchase cost of the members of the Blake class. Standard British practice at that time was for these costs to exclude armament and stores.