Arethusa-class cruisers were oil-fired light cruisers in the Royal Navy, primarily for service in the North Sea. They had three funnels with the middle one somewhat larger in diameter than the others. All served in World War I.

General characteristics

Displacement: 3,512 tons

Length: 410 ft (125 m)

Beam: 39 ft (11.9 m)

Draught: 13 ft 6 in (4.1 m)

Speed: 27 knots (50 km/h)

Armament

• Two 6-inch (152 mm) in single mounts. Only the forward one had a gunshield .
• Six 4-inch (102 mm) quick firing in single mounts, no shields.
• One 4-inch (102 mm) anti-aircraft gun
• Four 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes

Ships

• Arethusa was sunk by mine off Felixstowe on 11 February 1916.
• Aurora took part in the sinking of the German raider Meteor .
• Galatea took part in the sinking of Meteor.
• Inconstant
• Penelope was damaged by a torpedo from the German submarine UB-29 on 25 April 1916.
• Phaeton fought at the Dardanelles in 1915.
• Royalist
• Undaunted took part in the sinking of four German torpedo boats on 17 October 1914.

Galatea, Inconstant, Phaeton and Royalist fought in the battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916.