Hawkins-class
An item reported that the British cruiser HMS Hawkins (1) commissioned in 1919 was to be replaced by the HMS Norfolk as flagship of the East Asiatic squadron and than to be decommissioned, In the magazine N.M.R. dated 4 October 1924 was wondered why a still very useful cruiser was to be broken up. Before the end of 1936 were three sister ships also to be broken up, despite the fact that the HMS Effingham (2) was yet even not 12 years old. The value of the London Naval treat was discussed if such obligations were asked while other countries were building cruisers superior to the British causing the British admiralty to reconsider her plans. The magazine hoped that this breaking up of 4 cruisers would be a warning for the advisors of the cabinet when attending the next naval conference.
Notes
1. Laid down at the Chatham Dockyard, England on 3 June 1916, launched on 1 October 1917, commissioned on 25 July 1919, decommissioned for refit and recommissioned in December 1929, decommissioned in May 1930, recommissioned in 1932, laid up in reserve in April 1935, main guns and torpedo tubes removed in 1937, rearmed and recommissioned in 1939, used after January 1947 for aircraft bomb tests, sold to be broken up on 21 August 1947 and broken up at Arnott Young, Dalmuir, Scotland in December 1947. Part of the Hawkins-class heavy cruisers consisting of the Effingham, Frobisher, Raleigh, Vindictive and Hawkins, succeeded by the County-class. Although it were heavy cruisers was the Hawkins-class in fact an modernized and enlarged Town-class subclass Birmingham light cruiser, In 1915 it became clear that light cruisers were not capable for a sufficient protected of the merchant shipping in distant areas. The heavy cruiser was a combination of a high speed, long range and heavy guns.
2. Building ordered in December 1915, laid down by Portsmouth Dockyard, England on 6 April 1917, launched on 8 June 1921, commissioned on 2 July 1925, modernized between 1937-1938 including rearmament, replacing the 2 funnels by one and rebuilding the bridge, wrecked off Bodø, Norway 18 May 1940 and destroyed by a torpedo by the HMS Matabele. Part of the Hawkins-class heavy cruisers consisting of the Effingham, Frobisher, Raleigh, Vindictive and Hawkins, succeeded by the County-class.
