British Light Cruisers of the First World War: Arethusa to Enterprise: design, development and service history, 1912-1948

A wholly new kind of cruiser for the Royal Navy, intended to work with the fleet, was developed in 1912.With its first units completed during 1914-15 as the Arethusa class, the concept was developed during the war years through the ‘C’ and ‘D’ classes, culminating in the ‘E’ class, ordered in 1918, and which would be the fastest and most heavily torpedo-armed cruisers ever built for the Navy.Although intended for North Sea service, during the postwar years the survivors would be deployed all over the world, and play a significant role in every theatre of the Second World War.Today, one of their number, HMS Caroline, still survives, the last British ship left to have fought at Jutland.They were indeed valiant ships. This new book explains their origins and technical development, their many modifications, and service in war and peace.During the First World War they were in the thick of the battles in the North Sea, before Cardiff had the honour of leading the High Seas Fleet into internm