HMCS Aurora
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HMCS Aurora was an Arethusa light cruiser in the Royal Canadian Navy. She was originally commissioned as HMS Aurora for the Royal Navy and later transferred to Canada. She was one of 8 Arethusa light cruisers.
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[edit] Royal Navy Service
HMS Aurora was built by the Royal Navy at HMNB Devonport from 1911 to 1913. HMS Aurora saw service with the Royal Navy as an integral part of the "Grand Fleet" from 1914 to 1916. Her experienced crew and durability made her a natural choice as the Flagship during many offensive operations during World War I. She was the first British ship in action at Battle of Dogger Bank (1915). HMS Aurora was one of the ships present at the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet, in November, 1918. Between 1918 and 1920, the Aurora was decommissioned in order to relieve financial pressures of the Home Fleet by the Admiralty. Her manning was reduced to a custodian crew and the relieved personnel were sent to other units. In 1920, she was re-activated in order to outfit her for transfer to the Royal Canadian Navy.
[edit] Royal Canadian Navy Service
On November 1, 1920 HMS Aurora was presented to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). Commissioned and renamed HMCS Aurora, she was now a RCN vessel. She arrived with two destroyers that were also presented to Canada on December 21, 1920, in Halifax. After a minimal time in port, the three ships set out for a training cruise via the Caribbean to Esquimalt, British Columbia. She then returned to Halifax on July 30, 1921. In August 1921, drastic budget cuts resulted in the decommissioning of HMCS Aurora. She was immediately Paid Off, and in 1922 she was disarmed. Her weapons were placed ashore in training facilities, and on other active ships. Her crew was reduced to non-manned, and much of her up to date equipment was salvaged for use in other ships.
[edit] Post Royal Canadian Navy Service
The Aurora was left alongside a jetty until 1927 when her deterioration resulted in Halifax city officials demanding the RCN move her. The RCN immediately sold her for scrap, and she was broken up.
[edit] Specifications
- Launched: September 9,1913
- Crew: 318
- Length 436 feet
- Beam 39 feet
- Draught 14 feet
- Displacement 3,512 tons
- Propulsion: oil fired steam turbine, 40,000 shpHorsepower#Shaft_horsepower_.28shp.29 (30 MW)
- Speed: 25 knots
- Armour: 3 inch (76 mm) amidships, 2 inch (51 mm) at ends, 1 inch (25 mm) deck
- Armament: 2 x 6inch Naval gun, 6 x 4inch Naval gun, 2 x 3inch Naval gun, 8 x 21inch TT(TorpedoTubes)
[edit] Commanding Officers
[edit] References
- Macpherson, Keneth R. and Burgess, John. (1982)(Second Printing)The Ships of Canada's Naval Forces 1910-1981. Collins Publishers. ISBN 0-00-216856-1
| Arethusa-class cruiser |
| Arethusa | Aurora | Galatea | Inconstant | Penelope | Phaeton | Royalist | Undaunted |
List of cruisers of the Royal Navy |
