page_title: C-class cruiser
section_title: First World War service
hierarchical_section_title: C-class cruiser / First World War service
caption_attribution_description: English: IWM caption: THE SURRENDER OF THE GERMAN HIGH SEAS FLEET, NOVEMBER 1918: Royal Navy light cruiser HMS Cardiff leading the German battle cruisers into the Firth of Forth.
context_page_description: The C class was a group of twenty-eight light cruisers of the Royal Navy, and were built in a sequence of seven groups known as the Caroline class, the Calliope class, the Cambrian class, the Centaur class, the Caledon class, the Ceres class and the Carlisle class. They were built for the rough conditions of the North Sea, and proved to be rugged and capable vessels, despite their being somewhat small and cramped.
context_section_description: In March 1916, Cleopatra rammed and sank the German destroyer G.194 while she covered a raid at Tondern. Ships of the C class were extensively involved later that year in the Battle of Jutland. In 1917, Centaur hit mines that blew her bow and stern off. Despite the extensive damage, Centaur survived and was repaired. The year also saw ships of the class involved in action at the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight.
  In 1918, Cardiff had the honour of leading the  German High Seas Fleet to the River Forth, where the ships were held before being moved to various other ports.
  No C-class ships were lost during the First World War; however, in December 1918, Cassandra hit a mine and subsequently sank.
  Ships of the C class performed a variety of duties after World War I, including service on overseas stations. In 1919, Curacoa hit a mine that badly damaged her, but she survived and was repaired. The Caroline, Cambrian and Centaur classes were all scrapped or consigned to minor roles, such as training ships, by the 1930s.
caption: Cardiff leading German battle-cruisers into the Firth of Forth at the end of the First World War
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