HMS Shannon was a Minotaur-class armoured cruiser built for the Royal Navy in the mid-1900s. Before the First World War, she served with the Home Fleet, generally as the flagship of a cruiser squadron. The ship remained with the Grand Fleet, as the Home Fleet was renamed when the war began, for the entire war, but only participated in a single battle, the Battle of Jutland in May 1916. Shannon spent most of the war unsuccessfully patrolling the North Sea for German warships and commerce raiders. She was paid off in 1919 and sold for scrap in 1922.
Shannon with short funnels (1908–09)
Shannon after her funnels were lengthened.
Minotaur-class cruiser (1906)
The Minotaur class was a three-ship class of armoured cruisers built in the first decade of the twentieth century for the Royal Navy. These were the last class of armoured cruisers built for the Royal Navy, with that role being substantially replaced by the first battlecruisers. These initially served with the Home Fleet, generally as the flagships of cruiser squadrons. Minotaur became flagship of the China Station in 1910 and Defence served as flagship of the 1st Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean from 1912; Shannon remained at home as flagship of several different squadrons.
Minotaur at anchor, shortly after she was completed
Right elevation and deck plan as depicted in Brassey's Naval Annual 1912. The shaded areas represent her armour.
Shannon's 7.5-inch guns and turrets under construction. Note the 12-pounder guns and their mounts on the turret roofs.
Stern view of Shannon, November 1915
