These vessels are among the best of the older armoured cruisers. Each displaces 14,100 tons, is 500 ft. long, and has engines of 30,000 h.p., giving a speed of 23 knots. On trial and in service this speed has been much exceeded, and the ships can still steam at 24 knots. They are armed with two 9·2-in. breech-loaders, sixteen 6-in., and twelve 12-pounder quick-firing guns. The big weapons are in single turrets, one placed at each end of the ship, the 6-in. guns being mounted in casemates. Two torpedo tubes are fitted. The armour protection on the turrets, casemates, and belt has a uniform thickness of 6-in. Coal to the amount of 2,500 tons is stored in the bunkers. The complement consists of 900 officers and men. These cruisers averaged about one million sterling complete. CRESSY CLASS. (Completed 1901-04.) CRESSY. SUTLEJ. ABOUKIR. HOGUE. BACCHANTE. EURYALUS. The Cressy group are the oldest class of armoured cruisers on the active list. They displace 12,000 tons, are 440 ft. in length, and have engines of 21,000 h.p., producing a speed of 21 knots, which was exceeded on trial by one knot. The armament comprises two 9·2-in. breech-loaders, twelve 6-in., and twelve 12-pounder quick-firing guns, with two torpedo tubes. [Illustration] _H.M.S. Agamemnon._ _Photo: Cribb, Southsea._ =AGAMEMNON CLASS.= AGAMEMNON AND LORD NELSON. Displacement: 16,500 tons. Speed: 18½ knots; Guns: 4 12in., 10 9·2in.; Torpedo tubes: 5. [Illustration] Astern fire: Broadside: Ahead fire: 2 12in. 4 12in. 2 12in. 4 9·2in. 5 9·2in. 4 9·2in. The big guns are mounted in single turrets fore and aft, the 6-in. weapons in casemates. There is a 6-in. belt amidships, armour of the same thickness on the turrets, and 5-in. plating on the casemates. The coal bunkers can store 1,600 tons. A complement of 750 officers and men is carried. The cost of this class when complete averaged £750,000. ARETHUSA CLASS. (Completed 1914.) ARETHUSA. AURORA. GALATEA. INCONSTANT. PENELOPE. PHAETON. ROYALIST. UNDAUNTED. These are the light armoured cruisers which Mr. Churchill has described as “destroyers of destroyers.” They displace 3,600 tons, are 410 ft. long, and have turbines of 37,000 h.p., giving a speed of 30 knots. The armament consists of two 6-in., six 4-in., and four machine guns, with four torpedo tubes. There is a belt of 3-in. armour amidships, with 3½-in. plating above this. The boilers are fired entirely by oil fuel, of which about 750 tons are carried. The complement numbers about 270 officers and men. The cost of this class has not yet been made public. PROTECTED CRUISERS (With protective decks instead of armoured belts.) EDGAR CLASS. (Completed 1893-94.) EDGAR. HAWKE. THESEUS. ENDYMION. GRAFTON. GIBRALTAR.