HMS Blonde (1910)

HMS Blonde was the lead ship of the Blonde-class light cruisers built for the Royal Navy. These two vessels (the other being HMS Blanche) were essentially repeats of the Boadicea-class scout cruisers, but reclassified as light cruisers due to the increasing size and armament of newer cruiser designs.

Blonde was built by Pembroke Dockyard, being laid down on 1 December 1909, launched on 22 July 1910, and completed in April 1911. She displaced 3,350 long tons (3,400 t) and was armed with ten 4-inch (102 mm) guns and two 18-inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes. Her power plant consisted of Parsons steam turbines driving four shafts, giving her a top speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph).

Upon commissioning, Blonde served with the Home Fleet. During World War I, she initially served as a destroyer depot ship. She later saw active service with the Grand Fleet. Notably, she participated in the Battle of Jutland in May 1916, serving as part of the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron.

After the war, Blonde was used as a training ship. She was sold for scrap in 1920. While her career was relatively short, she provides a tangible link between the smaller scout cruisers and the larger light cruisers that became prevalent during and after World War I.