Edgar-class cruiser


The Edgar class was a nine-ship class of protected cruiser built around 1891 for the Royal Navy. Nine ships were completed, all of which participated in the First World War. One,, was lost during the war, with the other eight being scrapped in the 1920s.

Design

Crescent and Royal Arthur were built to a slightly modified design with a raised forecastle and a pair of 6 inch guns replacing the forward 9.2 inch gun, and are sometimes considered a separate class. The Edgar class are noted for being the first ships fitted with anti-torpedo bulges, when four ships of the class had a refit in 1914.

Building programme

The following table gives the build details and purchase cost of the members of the Edgar class. Standard British practice at that time was for these costs to exclude armament and stores.
ShipBuilderMaker
of
Engines		Date ofDate ofDate ofCost according toCost according toCost according to
ShipBuilderMaker
of
Engines		Laid DownLaunchCompletion
Devonport DockyardElder3 Jun 188924 Nov 18902 Mar 1893£401,083£428,081£410,980
Chatham DockyardElder16 Jun 188911 Mar 189116 May 1893£365,491£413,101£400,702
C & W Earle, HullEarle22 Nov 188922 July 189126 May 1894£350,459£397,973£375,250

ex-Centaur		Portsmouth DockyardMaudslay20 Jan 189026 Feb 18912 Mar 1893£402,414£427,620£412,033
Robert Napier & Sons, GovanNapier2 Dec 188927 Apr 18921 Nov 1894£347,634£377,741£373,236
Thames Ironworks LeamouthHumphrys1 Jan 189030 Jan 189218 Oct 1894£351,851£381,958£372,890
C & W Earle, HullMaudslay23 Apr 189023 Jun 189225 Oct 1894£377,204£407,540£388,755
Thames Ironworks LeamouthMaudslay16 Jul 18908 Sep 189214 Jan 1894£347,577£377,913£370,359
Portsmouth DockyardPenn13 Oct 189030 Mar 189222 Feb 1894£383,068£411,108£392,453