Frequently, on this website as well as other websites' discussion boards, a question is asked as to the current state of HMS Caroline, the last ship still afloat that fought at the Battle of Jutland.
HMS Caroline is berthed at Alexandra Wharf in the Titanic Quarter of Belfast, Ireland. She serves at the headquarters, depot, and training ship for the Ulster Division Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) unit, with 130 reservists meeting each week on board. She has served in this role since 1924, and will continue to do so for several more years. Preliminary plans are to move the vessel upon her retirement, and berth her near HMS Warrior as a museum.
A Caroline Class Light Cruiser of 3,750 tons displacement, HMS Caroline was launched at Birkenhead on 28 January 1914; she was commissioned on 4 December 1914 and joined the Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow. Oil-fired boilers drove geared steam turbines to develop 40,000 shaft horsepower on 4 propeller shafts, which gave her a maximum speed of 29 knots. Class distinctions included three funnels, cut-away bows, and the after 6" gun superimposed.
Her main armament originally comprised 2x6", 7x4" and 1x3" guns and 2xtwin 21" torpedo tubes, but this proved unsatisfactory and the 4" guns were replaced by a smaller number of 6" guns. Tripod masts were fitted in 1917.
With a ship's company of 17 officers and 272 ratings, she spent most of the Great War as part of the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron that played an active role in the Battle of Jutland (May 1916).
Built for conditions in the North Sea, and rather cramped, cruisers of this class were nonetheless admirable little ships, which formed the basis for wartime development and bore the brunt of the fighting, often surviving severe damage.
Here are some pictures of HMS Caroline today. She is in fine material condition, though all armament was removed many decades ago, and her decks have been built up with wooden barracks.
