Royal Navy third class cruisers of
the Topaze or Gem Class. Ships in the class were HMS Amethyst, HMS
Diamond, HMS Sapphire and HMS Topaze
Largest
of the Royal navy 3rd Class Cruisers. the Gem Class cruisers were
ordered as part of the 1902 /1903 naval programme. and two under the
1903 / 1904 programme. there were to be another 4 ships of
the class but these were cancelled before being laid down.
HMS
Amethyst built at Armstrong at Elswick and
laid down on the 7th January 1903, launched 5th November 1903 and completed
17th March 1905. At the outbreak of World War One HMS Amethyst was with
the Harwich Force and destroyer Command as command ship. She was relieved
of this duty by HMS Arethusa . For the rest of 1914 HMS Amethyst
served with the 1st Light Cruiser squadron of the grand fleet and in
1915 went to the Mediterranean serving in the Dardanelle's. and after
goignt o South America station in 1916 for two years. After the war she
was sold and scrapped in October 1920
HMS
Diamond built at Laird's at Birkenhead and laid down on the 24th March
1903, launched 6th January 1904 and completed January 1905. during
1911 and 1912 served with the 3rd Flotilla as Senior officers ship. In
1914 joined the 5th Battle squadron and in 1915 joined the newly
reformed 5th battle squadron of the Grand Fleet. In 1918 transferred to
the Mediterranean being used as a CMB carrier carrying six
CMB's in davits. after the war was sold to scrap in May 1921
HMS
Sapphire built at Palmer, at Jarrow and laid down on the 30th March
1903, launched 17th March 1904 and completed 7th February 1905.
HMS
Topaze built at Laird's at Birkenhead and laid down on the 14th
August 1902, launched 23rd July 1903 and completed November 1904
Displacement:
3000 tons. Speed: 21.75 Knots. Crew 296. Armament:
Twelve 4 -inch Guns, Eight 3 pdr guns and Four machine
Guns Two 18-inch Torpedo Tubes
