Light Cruisers
Welcome
Following on from the development of protected cruisers, light cruisers first started appearing in the early 1900s with the German Gazelle-class, which featured numerous destroyer-calibre armament, light armour protection and decent speed. However, the term “light cruiser” wouldn’t be defined until the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 and later the London Naval Treaty of 1930. Light cruisers would be considered as such if they possessed 155mm (6.1 inches) guns or smaller versus heavy cruisers which would feature larger calibres (usually up to 203mm or 8 inches). It’s worth mentioning that the term “light” has nothing to do with ship size, armour or other features and only refers to the gun calibre, with the same going for heavy cruisers, although the latter usually featured heavier armour on account of their more frontline role and greater displacement.
Many older cruisers were redesignated as light cruisers, especially some of the earlier scout cruiser designs and fast lightly armoured cruisers of the 1900s and 1910s. Light cruisers were popular with many navies on account of being cheaper and smaller than their “heavy” counterparts and could be built in larger numbers. In addition, the often-faster rate of fire of the smaller calibre guns proved potent in surface combat and somewhat made up for their lower destructive power.
Anti-aircraft cruisers and “very light” cruisers were also developed around the Second World War, such as the Dido-class and Atlanta-class cruisers, which featured destroyer calibre guns on very small hulls, tightly packed with anti-aircraft armament for carrier screening, shore bombardment, and anti-destroyer work. Several light cruisers would be commissioned after the war’s end and the type served a little longer in most navies than heavy cruisers, however, all were eventually converted or replaced by guided missile cruisers and destroyers. The last all-gun armed light cruiser (and also the last all-gun ship of any type) was the BAP Almirante Grau of the Peruvian Navy which was decommissioned in 2017.
Countries
Argentina
La Argentina
General Belgrano-Class
Argentine Interwar & Second World War Light Cruiser Projects
Australia
Melbourne-Class
Adelaide
Perth-Class
Australian Interwar & Second World War Light Cruiser Projects
Austria-Hungary
Ersatz Zenta-Class
Monfalcone-Class
Brazil
Bahia-Class
Barroso-Class
Canada
Aurora
Quebec
Ontario
Chile
O'Higgins-Class
Almirante Latorre
Chilean Interwar & Second World War Light Cruiser Projects
China
Monfalcone-Class (For China)
Ning Hai-Class
Tchoung King
France
Lamotte-Picquet-Class
Duguay Trouin-Class
Jeanne d'Arc
Émile Bertin
La Galissonnière-Class
De Grasse-Class
Colbert
Foreign Acquisitions
Colmar
Mulhouse
Strasbourg
Metz
Thionville
Châteaurenault-Class
Germany
Gazelle-Class
Bremen-Class
Königsberg-Class (1907)
Dresden-Class
Kolberg-Class
Magdeburg-Class
Karlsruhe-Class
Graudenz-Class
Pillau-Class
Wiesbaden-Class
Königsberg-Class (1916)
Cöln-Class
FK Designs
Emden
Königsberg-Class (1929)
Leipzig
Nürnberg
M-Class
Q-Class
German Interwar & Second World War Light Cruiser Projects
Foreign Acquisitions
KH-1-Class
Greece
Antinavarhos Kontouriotis-Class
Elli
India
Delhi
Mysore
Indonesia
Irian
Italy
Giussano-Class
Cadorna-Class
Montecuccoli-Class
D'Aosta-Class
Abruzzi-Class
Costanzo Ciano-Class
Capitani Romani-Class
Italian Interwar & Second World War Light Cruiser Projects
Foreign Acquisitions
Taranto
Ancona
Bari
Etna-Class
Japan
Tenryū-Class
Kuma-Class
Nagara-Class
Yūbari
Sendai-Class
Mogami-Class
Katori-Class
Agano-Class
Ōyodo
Kai-Agano-Class
Japanese Interwar & Second World War Light Cruiser Projects
Netherlands
Java-Class
De Ruyter
Tromp-Class
Eendracht-Class
De Zeven Provinciën-Class
New Zealand
Chatham
Dunedin-Class
Achilles-Class
Gambia
Black Prince-Class
Pakistan
Babur
Peru
Almirante Grau-Class (1959)
Almirante Grau-Class (1973)
Poland
Dragon-Class
Russia
Admiral Nakhimov-Class
Svetlana-Class
Muravyov-Amurskiy-Class
Kirov-Class (Project 26)
Maxim Gorkiy-Class (Projects 26bis & 26bis2)
MLK Designs
Russian Interwar & Second World War Light Cruiser Projects
Project 65-Class
Chapayev-Class (Projects 68 & 68K)
Sverdlov-Class (Project 68bis)
Shcherbakov-Class (Project 68bis-ZIF)
Project 84-Class
Foreign Acquisitions
Murmansk
Admiral Makarov
Kerch
Spain
Reina Victoria Eugenia
Méndez Núñez-Class
Príncipe Alfonso-Class
Project 124-Class
Spanish Interwar & Second World War Light Cruiser Projects
Sweden
Gotland
Tre Kronor-Class
Taiwan
Chung King
Thailand
Taksin-Class
Turkey
Midilli
United Kingdom
Bristol-Class
Weymouth-Class
Chatham-Class
Birmingham-Class
Birkenhead-Class
Arethusa-Class (1914)
Caroline-Class
Calliope-Class
Cambrian-Class
Centaur-Class
Caledon-Class
Ceres-Class
Carlisle-Class
Danae-Class
British First World War Light Cruiser Projects
Emerald-Class
Leander-Class
Amphion-Class
Arethusa-Class (1935)
Southampton-Class
Gloucester-Class
Edinburgh-Class
British Interwar Light Cruiser Projects
Dido-Class
Fiji-Class
Ceylon-Class
Bellona-Class
Minotaur-Class (1944)
Neptune-Class
Minotaur-Class (1947)
British Second World War & Postwar Light Cruiser Projects
Tiger-Class
United States of America
Omaha-Class
Brooklyn-Class
St. Louis-Class (1939)
Atlanta-Class
Cleveland-Class
Oakland-Class
Fargo-Class
Juneau-Class
CL-154-Class
American Interwar & Second World War Light Cruiser Projects
Worcester-Class
Norfolk
In order of appearance, left-to-right, top-to-bottom. Only where attribution is required has it been provided:
Hero Image & Edinburgh-Class Image: By Images George Rex from London, England – HMS Belfast / (C35), CC BY-SA 2.0
La Argentina Image: https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-60000/NH-60514.html
General Belgrano-Class Image: By Samuel Scorpio – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
Argentine Interwar & Second World War Light Cruiser Projects Image: https://reportedebatalla.wordpress.com/2021/10/29/propuesta-linea-de-cruceros-panamericana/
Australian Interwar & Second World War Light Cruiser Projects Image: By Tzoli https://www.deviantart.com/tzoli/art/Royal-Australian-Navy-1944-Design-Light-Cruiser-761831373
Ersatz Zenta-Class Image: By Tzoli https://www.deviantart.com/tzoli/art/Ersatz-Zenta-Modified-Project-845818359
Monfalcone-Class Image: By Tzoli https://www.deviantart.com/tzoli/art/Monfalcone-type-Great-Cruiser-Revised-Design-846974634
Barroso-Class Image: By Marinha do Brasil – Barroso8, CC BY-SA 2.0
Chilean Interwar & Second World War Light Cruiser Projects Image: By Tzoli https://www.deviantart.com/tzoli/art/Vickers-Export-Design-758A-for-Argentina-820086654
Monfalcone-Class (For China) Image: By Tzoli https://www.deviantart.com/tzoli/art/Monfalcone-type-Small-Cruiser-Design-V2-for-China2-846789663
Lamotte-Picquet-Class Image: By Garlicdesign of Shipbucket, Avaiable Under CC-BY-NC 4.0 License http://www.shipbucket.com/license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Thionville Image: https://hajoregiszter.hu/hajoadatlap/thionville_exsms_novara/1939?nyelv=en
Magdeburg-Class Image: By Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-2007-0221 / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Graudenz-Class Image: By Raphodon – Own work – photo Archive navale, CC BY-SA 3.0
FK Designs Image: By Maomatic of Shipbucket, Available Under CC-BY-NC 4.0 License http://www.shipbucket.com/license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Emden Image: https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/germany/kriegsmarine/emden/san-diego-30/
Leipzig Image: https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/germany/kriegsmarine/leipzig/leipzig-kopenhagen-41/
M-Class Image: By Maomatic of Shipbucket, Available Under CC-BY-NC 4.0 License http://www.shipbucket.com/license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Q-Class Image: By Maomatic of Shipbucket, Available Under CC-BY-NC 4.0 License http://www.shipbucket.com/license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
German Interwar & Second World War Light Cruiser Projects Image: By Earl_of_Arland of Shipbucket, Available Under CC-BY-NC 4.0 License http://www.shipbucket.com/license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
KH-1-Class Image: By ALVAMA of Shipbucket, Available Under CC-BY-NC 4.0 License http://www.shipbucket.com/license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Elli Image: https://www.navalanalyses.com/2016/12/elli-cruiser-of-royal-hellenic-navy.html
Costanzo Ciano Image: https://stefsap.wordpress.com/2015/11/04/the-regia-marina-costanzo-ciano-light-cruisers/
Italian Interwar & Second World War Light Cruiser Projects Image: By Enrr of Shipbucket, Available Under CC-BY-NC 4.0 License http://www.shipbucket.com/license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Taranto Image: By Dr. Hans Andreas Schönfeldt – This file was donated by Europeana. It is part of the user generated content in the Europeana 1914-1918 collection.In accordance with the Europeana 1914-1918 terms of use, the owner of the object has also released any rights that they may retain under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license, this file is displayed as such on the Europeana portal., CC BY-SA 3.0
Etna-Class Image: By ALVAMA & Enrr of Shipbucket, Available Under CC-BY-NC 4.0 License http://www.shipbucket.com/license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Kai-Agano-Class Image: By BB1987 of Shipbucket, Available Under CC-BY-NC 4.0 License http://www.shipbucket.com/license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Japanese Interwar & Second World War Light Cruiser Projects Image: By Tzoli https://www.deviantart.com/tzoli/art/The-Anti-Aircraft-Oyodo-779197354
Eendracht-Class Image: By ALVAMA of Shipbucket, Available Under CC-BY-NC 4.0 License http://www.shipbucket.com/license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Babur Image: By Novice & K.W.Vestergaard of Shipbucket, Available Under CC-BY-NC 4.0 License http://www.shipbucket.com/license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Almirante Grau-Class (1973) Image: By Lswarte – Own work, CC BY 3.0
MLK Designs Image: https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/russian-post-war-aa-cruiser-project.20557/
Russian Interwar & Second World War Light Cruiser Projects Image: By Karle94 of Shipbucket, Available Under CC-BY-NC 4.0 License http://www.shipbucket.com/license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Project 65-Class Image: https://wiki.wargaming.net/en/File:Project_65_1_zpsudtejbnw1.png
Chapayev-Class (Project 68) Image: By Svch433 – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
Project 84-Class Image: https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/russian-post-war-aa-cruiser-project.20557/
Méndez Núñez-Class Image: https://naval-encyclopedia.com/ww2/spain/blas-de-lezo-class.php
Project 124-Class Image: By Toryu84 https://www.deviantart.com/toryu84/art/Crucero-N-124-A-941603934
Spanish Interwar & Second World War Light Cruiser Projects Image: By Enrr of Shipbucket, Available Under CC-BY-NC 4.0 License http://www.shipbucket.com/license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Taksin-Class Image: By Kingpin6100 of Shipbucket, Available Under CC-BY-NC 4.0 License http://www.shipbucket.com/license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Caroline-Class Image: By William Murphy – https://www.flickr.com/photos/infomatique/47456373772/, CC BY-SA 2.0
British First World War Light Cruiser Projects Image: By Hood of Shipbucket, Available Under CC-BY-NC 4.0 License http://www.shipbucket.com/license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
British Interwar Light Cruiser Projects Image: By Tzoli https://www.deviantart.com/tzoli/art/Design-K-25F-Light-Cruiser-565846342
Ceylon-Class Image: By Photo: Royal Navy/MOD, OGL v1.0
Bellona-Class Image: https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22782749
Minotaur-Class (1944) Image: By Börje Dilén – Finna: hkm.HKMS000005:km0000muuv, CC BY 4.0
Neptune-Class Image: By Garlicdesign of Shipbucket, Available Under CC-BY-NC 4.0 License http://www.shipbucket.com/license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Minotaur-Class (1947) Image: By Deskjetser of Shipbucket, Available Under CC-BY-NC 4.0 License http://www.shipbucket.com/license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
British Second World War & Postwar Light Cruiser Projects Image: By Bombhead & K.W.Vestergaard of Shipbucket, Available Under CC-BY-NC 4.0 License http://www.shipbucket.com/license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
CL-154-Class Image: By Tzoli – https://www.deviantart.com/tzoli/art/The-Super-Atlanta-Scheme-1945-Variant-2-867019655 This site page states "I place this illustration in the public domain", Public Domain
American Interwar & Second World War Light Cruiser Projects Image: By Dalamace of Shipbucket, Available Under CC-BY-NC 4.0 License http://www.shipbucket.com/license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
