RN Light Cruisers: Arethusa Class 1912

[Brian James]

A French built Deperdussin monoplane pictured undergoing Flight Trials aboard Arethusa Class Light Cruiser HMS Aurora in 1915...In February 1915, she was assigned as leader of the 10th Destroyer Flotilla of the Harwich Force, guarding the eastern approaches to the English Channel. While a member of this unit, the Cruiser was fitted with an aircraft flying-off platform over the forecastle allowing Aurora to launch a French monoplane. This was installed to counter the Zeppelin threat that harassed the Harwich Force. The design was ultimately unsuccessful as the aircraft could not intercept the Zeppelin fast enough and was uninstalled in August. The Cruiser left the 10th Destroyer Flotilla in June and joined the 5th Light Cruiser Squadron, which Aurora remained with until the end of the war. That year, the Cruiser also had her 3-pounder gun replaced with a QF 3-inch 20 cwt gun placed on the centreline aft.