COURAGEOUS (5th February, 1916), GLORIOUS (20th April, 1916).

• Normal displacement, about 18,600 tons (about 22,700 tons full load).
• Complements C. 842. G. 829.
• Length (o.a) 786.5 ft. (p.p.) 735 ft. Beam (outside bulges), 81 ft. Draughts mean 22.25 ft. max. 26 ft
• Guns: 4 - 15 inch, 42 cal.; 18 - 4 inch both Dir. Con. 2 - 3 inch (anti-aircraft). 4 - 3 pdr. 5 M.G. (1 landing)
• Torpedo tubes (21 in.): 2 submerged; 12 above water (4 triple deck)
• Armour - Vertical: 3" Belt (amidships); 2" Belt (within bow); 2" (H.T.) Fore bulkhead; 3" - 1" (H.T.) After Bulkhead; 1.5" Side over belt; 7 " - 3" Barbettes; 9" - 7" Gunhouses; 1" - 1.5" Funnel uptakes; 2" C.T. base; 3" Tube; 10" C.T.; 6" Sighting hood; 3" Torpedo C.T. (2" tube)
• Armour - Decks (H.T.): 1" Forecastle; 1" Upper; 1.75" - .75" Main (between barbettes); 1.5" Lower (stern, flat); 3" Lower (stern, over rudder); 2" Lower (on slopes);
• Armour - Crowns: 4.25" Barbettes (since increased); 3" C.T. and sighting hd.; 1.75" - .75" Torpedo C.T.;
• Torpedo protection (H.T.): Modified bulges 25 ft. deep filled with oil fuel; 1.5" - 1" Outer internal screens between barbettes; .75" Inner screen to boiler and engine room vents
• Machinery : Parsons (all-geared) turbines. 4 screws. Boilers: 18 Yarrow (small tube). Designed H.P. 90,000 = about 31 kts.
• Fuel (oil only) : normal, 750 tons: maximum, 3160 tons.

Ahead: 2 - 15 in, 6 - 4 in. ;    Broadside: 4 - 15 in., 12 - 4 in., 7 - 21 in tubes     ; Astern 2 - 15 in, 9 - 4 in.

Gunnery Notes.- Range of 15-inch only limited by maximum visibility. 15-inch director tower on foremast under control tower. Arcs as plans: 20° elevation, 5° depression. 4-inch director tower on each mast, all 4-inch can be controlled from either tower, or half of 4-inch from one tower. Triple 4-inch guns are reported to be an indifferent type of mounting and rate of fire, singly or in salvo, is not good, as loaders are liable to obstruct one another. Arcs for 4-inch 155° fore guns, 180° amidships guns, 120° for forward centre-line triple, 150° after C.L. triple.

Torpedo Notes: Submerged tubes not successful, as bars bend when attempting to fire torpedoes at speeds over 22 - 23 kts.

Armour Notes: General scheme of armouring on Light Cruiser lines, the 3" belt being built up of 2" plating on 1" shell plating. Decks round magazines thickened during completion. Gunhouses : 13' face, 7" sides 11" rear, 4.25" roof (now thicker), 5" overhang. Barbettes: 7" - 6" above upper deck, 6" - 4" above main deck, 3" below main deck.

Engineering Notes: General arrangement of machinery as in Light Cruiser Champion. 4 - shaft geared turbines and double helical gearing. Have done 32 - 33 kts. in service. A rather singular point is that these ships are 1.5 kts. faster on deep load draught than when in normal trim.

Aircraft Notes: Flying-off platforms on barbette crowns: 2 aeroplanes carried.

General Notes: Emergency War Programme ships. Design of these ships is said to leave been formulated by Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, when First Sea Lord, 1914-15. Their shallow draught is said to have been planned with a view to future operations in the Baltic. In 1915, credits could not be secured for commencing extra Battle Cruisers, taking 2 years to build. But additional Light Cruisers had been approved, and the opportunity was taken to design these two ships as " Large Light Cruisers." They were designed about January, 1915, and it was intended that they should be finished in a year. Accordingly, the number of big guns and mountings available had to be taken into consideration in planning armament. The twelve months' projected building time was exceeded by six months, as these ships were not commissioned till October 1916.

The intended Baltic operations having been negatived, a tactical role as " Light Cruiser Destroyers " was assigned to these vessels. The objection is their end-on line of two 15-inch guns (when in chase), is too heavy and slow-firing. Against a small and rapidly-moving target, like an enemy Light Cruiser (continually altering her course), two 15-inch guns have only a fair chance of securing hits - but one salvo on the target would probably be decisive.

The lines of these vessels are remarkably fine the beam at fore barbette being only 71 feet. On her acceptance trials the Courageous met heavy weather and was driven hard into a head sea. Her hull became badly strained just before the fore barbette. She was docked and doubling plates added here; subsequent trials showing that the defect had been overcome. Glorious did not develop this weakness, but after twelve months' service she was strengthened in the same way as a precautionary measure. When running into a head sea, these two ships can easily outstrip destroyers. They are said to have done 35 kts. in service.

These vessels are abnormal in type - so abnormal they have been dubbed the " Outrageous Class." In 1919, they were laid up in reserve, as their cost of maintenance is very high. It does not appear that they will have a very long life. No figures are available for cost but they are said to have run to three millions each. A third unit, Furious of slightly modified Courageous design, was converted for service as an Aircraft Carrier.

Source: As extracted from Jane's Fighting Ships © for 1919 - Page 70-71

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