The heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher (D 81) of the Royal Navy.
Technical information
| Type | Heavy cruiser |
| Displacement | 9800 BRT, Effingham as modified 9550 BRT |
| Length | 605 feet (oa) |
| Complement | 712 men |
| Armament | As designed;
7 7.5" guns (7x1)
4 4" AA guns (4x1)
4 21" torpedo tubes (4x1 fixed)
Effingham as modified; 9 6" guns (9x1) 8 4" AA guns (4x2) 8 2pdr AA (2x4) 8 .5" MG AA (2x4) 4 21" torpedo tubes (4x1 fixed) 1 aircraft 1 catapult |
| Max speed | Hawkins 29.5 kts, Effingham and Frobisher 30.5 knots |
| Engines | Geared turbines, 4 shafts |
| Power | Hawkins 55000 HP, Effingham and Frobisher 65000 HP |
| Notes on class | HMS Effingham was re-armed as light cruiser in 1937/38
she received nine 6" guns, of which three were fitted in a super firing arrangement forward, two abeam amidships, and three in a widely separated arrangement aft. Four 4" AA guns in single mountings and three quadruple .5" machine guns were also added. She was fitted for, but not with, two multiple 2pdr mountings abreast the bridge at shelter deck level. Two HACS directors were provided for, but not fitted; one atop the rebuilt bridge and the second on the after superstructure. Provision was made for aircraft, but again the equipment was not fitted. Internally, she had the two after boilers and the after funnel removed, all uptakes being trunked into an enlarged single funnel, like the Leander class light cruisers. Finally, the submerged tubes were landed. This refit had been completed by the summer of 1938, but it was not until the following year that the missing equipment was eventually fitted. By this time she had also received twin 4" AA guns instead of the singles. HMS Effingham was lost in this state.
HMS Frobisher only started refitting on 5 January 1940. By completion of this refit in March 1942, her armament consisted of five 7.5" guns, five single 4" AA, four quadruple 2pdr AA guns and seven single 20mm Oerlikons, In May 1944 two eight-barrelled 2pdr replaced the four quadruple, and twelve single 20mm Oerlikons were added. HMS Hawkins received four single 2pdr AA guns when she re-entered service in January 1940. In 1942 she received two quadruple 2pdr AA guns and seven single 20mm Oerlikons but the two single 2pdr AA guns were landed. In August 1944 she received two eight-barrelled 2pdr AA guns in exchange for the four quadruples and an additional two single 20mm Oerlikons were also fitted. |
All ships of the Cavendish class
Heavy cruiser | ||
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 | HMS Frobisher (D 81) | |
| | HMS Hawkins (D 86) | |
Light cruiser | ||
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| | HMS Effingham (D 98) | Lost on 18 May 1940 |
Full wartime service history on this vessel. | ||
Royal Navy (more on See all Heavy cruiser classes.
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