RZS Celeborn (CA-1917)
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The Rohan class were under construction when the need for Fleet cruisers was
pinpointed. An expanded Rohan class was designed, continuing with the 7.5" twin
mounting, but adding one more than the Rohan class mounted. The Celeborn class
of four ships started being layed down at the end of 1913 with the final ship of
the class being completed in 1919. Being completed so late into World War One,
the ships had little high speed war time use. This left the ships in superb
condition when they were surveyed at age 20 to see whether money should be spent
on them to upgrade them to continue in their roles as fleet cruisers to the
older battleships still being used by the Zealandian Navy.
The Washington Treaty passed them by as their 9,500 ton standard displacement
brought them within the Treaty Limits.
| Displacement |
9,500 tons standard, 12,750 tons full load |
| Length |
540 ft |
| Breadth |
58 ft |
| Draught |
18 ft |
| Machinery |
4 shaft steam turbines, 70,000shp |
| Speed |
30 knots |
| Range |
8,500 miles at 14 knots |
| Armour |
5" belt, 1.5" deck, 4"/3"/2" turrets. |
| Armament |
8 x 7.5" (4x2)
7 x 4" (7x1)
4 x 2pd (4x1) |
| Aircraft |
nil |
| Torpedoes |
12 x 21" (4x3) |
| Complement |
690 (720 as Flagship) |
| Notes |
RZS Celeborn (12/1917)
RZS Galadriel (02/1918)
RZS Thranduil (08/1918)
RZS Elrond (01/1919) |
The ships had been state of the art when built, with good AA capabilities and
a heavy torpedo armament. By the mid-1930's they looked their age. The refit
given to the ships was comprehensive with the latest cruisers bridge being
duplicated onto the ships, twin 4" heavy AA, quad 2 pounder and single 20mm
Hispano cannons rounding out the light AA armament. The new bridge structure
came with a new set of Gun Directors for the Main and Secondary armaments. The
two old funnels were replaced with a new single funnel. These new bits and
pieces provided space amidships for the placement of a catapult and other
aircraft handling facilities. To reduce some of the added topweight, the aft
most set of torpedoes was removed. The other set of torpedoes was removed in
late 1940 early 1941 on surviving ships.
| Displacement |
9,500 tons standard, 20,750 tons full load |
| Length |
540 ft |
| Breadth |
58 ft |
| Draught |
18 ft |
| Machinery |
4 shaft steam turbines, 70,000shp |
| Speed |
30 knots |
| Range |
8,500 miles at 14 knots |
| Armour |
5" belt, 1.5" deck, 4"/3"/2" turrets. |
| Armament |
8 x 7.5" (4x2)
8 x 4" (4x2)
8 x 2pd (2x4)
8 x 20mm (8x1) |
| Aircraft |
1 |
| Torpedoes |
6 x 21" (2x3) |
| Complement |
700 (728 as Flagship) |
The 20mm Hispano cannon found fame in being fitted to literally hundreds of
thousands of aircraft. Before this they were trialed on board ships. Their light
construction was fine for land and air use but aboard ship where the mounting
can be moving in almost three dimensions they literally fell apart. The more
robust 20mm Oerlikon replaced them as they became available.
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