Allied Warships

Light cruisers

Ceres class

5 ships


The light cruiser HMS Ceres (D 59) of the Royal Navy.

Technical information

TypeLight cruiser
Displacement4190 BRT 
Length451.5 feet (oa) 
Complement400 men 
Armament5 6" guns (5x1)
2 3" AA (2x1)
2 2pdr AA (2x1)
8 21" torpedo tubes (4x2)

Curlew and Coventry;
10 4" AA guns (10x1)
16 2pdr AA (2x8) 

Max speed29 knots
EnginesGeared turbines, 2 shafts 
Power40000 HP 
Notes on classHMS Curacoa was reconstructed as Anti-Aircraft cruiser during the war, see her page for details. 


All ships of the Ceres class


Royal Navy Royal Navy (more on Royal Navy)

HMS Cardiff (D 58)
HMS Ceres (D 59)
HMS Coventry (D 43) Lost on 14 Sep 1942
HMS Curacoa (D 41) Lost on 2 Oct 1942
HMS Curlew (D 42) Lost on 26 May 1940


5 Light cruisers of the Ceres class. 3 of them were lost.

Full wartime service history on this vessel.

See all Light cruiser classes.


Books dealing with this subject include:



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