PROTECTED CRUISER - BAY CLASS 1903
Displacement: 7,819 t standard; 8,637 t normal; 9,293 t full load
Length: 424' OA/421' WL
Beam: 68'
Draught: 22'
Propulsion: Coal-fired Boilers, Triple expansion engines, 2 shafts, 20722 ihp
Speed: 22 knots
Range: 6500NM @ 10 knots
Complement: 480
Armament:
4 x 8"/45 (2 x 2)
8 x 6"/45 (8 x 1)
4 x 3"40(4 x 1)
4 x 18" TT (4 x 1 fixed)
Ships in Class
---------------
1903
Hammersley Bay
Moultrie Bay
1904
Hoods Bay
Temple Inlet
By the early 1900's the line between armoured cruisers and protected cruisers had begun to become blurred. In 1900 the Admiralty determined that new built cruisers would be placed in their classifications depending on the amount of armour protection they had, the more heavily armoured being the AC's and lighter units being the PC's. The Bay class, having the lighter amount (4" max belts and main turret) they were placed in the PC classification.
The Bay class, while well armed, ended up slower than anticipated, reaching only 22 knots. A top speed of 25 knots had been requested and planned for, but space for the engines was insufficient at the designed dimensions and specifications so smaller engines had to be settled for. Even so, the actual top speed of 22 knots was adequate for fleet operations.
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