History of  Royal Navy cruisers ( , light cruisers). Royal Navy cruiser website dedicated to the Birmingham Class. HMS Vindictive, HMS Effingham, HMS Frobisher, HMS Hawkins including crew and families of ex-crew members notice board for the Birmingham Class cruisers.

Cavendish Light Cruiser Class of the Royal Navy included: HMS Cavendish, HMS Effingham, HMS Frobisher, HMS Hawkins, and HMS Raleigh.  These Light Cruisers did not see service during world war one, and HMS Cavendish was converted June 1918 into the Aircraft Carrier  becoming HMS Vindictive.

Please note the new improved Birmingham class cruiser is not the same as the Birmingham class cruisers of the first world war.

Displacement: 9,770 tons (Vindictive), 9,550 tons (Effingham), 9,860 tons (Frobisher), 9,800tons (HMS Hawkins)    Speed: 30.5kt    Complement: 400 increasing to 437 as a Flagship.

Armament: Eight 4 inch anti-aircraft guns and four 2pdr anti-aircraft guns.   Eight 0.5 inch machine guns.

Although originally an aircraft carrier HMS Vindictive became a cruiser in 1925, served as a training ship in 1936-37 and then as a repair ship in 1940. In this role she served in the South Atlantic from 1940-42, followed by a stint in the Mediterranean Fleet from 1943-44, ending up in the Home fleet and reserve in 1945. HMS Effingham served in the Americas and West Indies during 1939 transferring to Atlantic escort and Home fleet duties in 1940. HMS Frobisher served in the Eastern fleet from 1942-44 then in the Home fleet in 1944 and became a training ship in 1945. HMS Hawkins served in the South Atlantic from 1940-41, later in 1941-42 she served in the East Indies and transferred to the Eastern fleet from 1942-44. Hawkins was used as a training ship in 1944-45 after serving in the Home fleet in 1944, and was then put into reserve in 1945.

Hawkins Class Cruiser. (identified by Brian Currie.)  The spacing and size of the stacks, one thicker than the other, The sloop down to the low quarterdeck, the tripod observation tower, The Blast Guard and the forward gun mount , all  confirm the identification

From the collection of Reginald Spencer Lear, who served on Caradoc, Hood, Warspite, Revenge, Thunderer and Isis, until his death on Isis in 1944.

Left to right: HMS Hawkins, Constance and Frobisher pictured c.1930

Original book photo plate available, image size 7" x 4". Printed in 1930. Price £10 including post. Order code HAR35.

This is either HMS Hawkins or HMS Effingham at Casablanca in 1929.

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HMS Effingham 

HMS Effingham, 1925.

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HMS Effingham, July 1935.

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The launch of HMS Effingham, 8th June 1921.

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HMS Effingham.

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HMS Effingham  

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HMS Effingham at Karachi 

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Some men from HMS Effingham in the Far East.

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HMS Effingham.

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HMS Effingham in the Far East.

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HMS Frobisher

HMS Frobisher   Built at Devonport Dockyard, Plymouth and launched 20th March 1920 and completed September 1924. The reason for the long delay in completion. Because of the Armistice  HMS Frobisher along with HMS Effingham were given low priority as they had been built by Naval Dockyards. She was reduced once finished to training duties but was re armed for the out break of world war Two. Joined Eastern Fleet 1942 - 1944, then Home Fleet for rest of 1944. became once again a training ship 1945 and finally sold and scrapped at Newport May 1949.

Displacement:   9,860 tons      Speed: 30.5kt    Complement: 400  

Armament: Eight 4 inch anti-aircraft guns and four 2pdr anti-aircraft guns.   Eight 0.5 inch machine guns.

HMS Frobisher, July 1935.

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HMS Frobisher, May 1937.

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HMS Frobisher, May 1938.

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HMS Frobisher, 1943.

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HMS Frobisher.

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HMS Frobisher.

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HMS Frobisher.

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HMS Frobisher.

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HMS Frobisher, July 1937.

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HMS Frobisher.

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Click image for larger version

The cruiser HMS Frobisher dominates this scene off Houlgate at the Normandy landings of 1944.  The monitor HMS Roberts lies beyond Frobisher with a Large Infantry Landing Ship or LSI (L) unshipping its LCAs on the extreme right of the picture.  In the foreground, a motor launch attends a group of LCP (L)s as they head for the French beaches.  Two Spitfire Mk.IXs conduct sweeps overhead as Operation Neptune gathers momentum.

Signed Limited Edition of 1,150 prints plus 50 artists proofs. From the limited edition 50 are available as Giclee canvas prints at a larger size of 36" x 30". Canvas print price £660 or 36" x 24" price £550 ($950). To know more about Giclee prints and our range click here. 

Print Serial Number DHM1323. Print image size 25 x 17". Print price £80 ($145). 

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HMS Raleigh

HMS Raleigh, in dock, 1919.

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HMS Raleigh, 1919.

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HMS Raleigh, wrecked, July 1922.

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HMS Raleigh entering St John's Harbour, Newfoundland.

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HMS Raleigh wrecked after running aground in the Labrador Straits on the 8th August 1922.

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HMS Raleigh.

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HMS Raleigh.

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Some crew form HMS Raleigh pictured c.1920.

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HMS Raleigh.

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